What happened
On June 9, 2022, at approximately 07:52 UTC, an A119 helicopter, registration I-ELOP, crashed in the Rio Lama area near Monte Cusna, in the municipality of Villa Mino and Minozzo (RE). The aircraft was performing a commercial personnel transport flight, having departed from Lucca Capannori Airport (Tassignano) with the intention of reaching an occasional helisurface in Castelminio di Resana (TV).
During the flight, the main rotor blades struck tall beech trees at an altitude of approximately 1,585 meters. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into a stream bed, where it subsequently caught fire. All seven people on board—the pilot and six passengers—died instantly due to multiple traumatic injuries.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation established that the pilot had been operating a series of similar transport flights in the preceding days. However, for the flight in question, the pilot did not file a flight plan and had provided incorrect destination information to the Lucca Capannori airfield, stating the destination was Pavullo nel Frignano instead of the actual intended location.
Investigators found that the search for the wreckage was significantly delayed by several factors, including the lack of a flight plan, the absence of radio communications with air traffic services during the flight, and the dense vegetation at the crash site. The aircraft's Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) failed to activate, likely due to the extreme destruction of the airframe and antenna upon impact.
Technical analysis of the onboard Electronic Display Units (EDU) showed no system warnings or malfunctions prior to the accident. Furthermore, medical examinations and toxicology reports confirmed the pilot was fit for flight and had not consumed alcohol or drugs.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was controlled flight into terrain (CFIT), specifically the main rotor striking trees.
- The pilot misjudged the prevailing meteorological conditions; visibility in the area was significantly reduced by cloud cover, likely falling below the minimum requirements for Visual Flight Rules (VFR).
- The flight path taken on the day of the accident was further west than the routes used in previous successful flights.
- The operator of the aircraft was unaware of the private commercial agreement being used to facilitate these specific passenger transport services.
- The aircraft was operating near its maximum takeoff mass (MTOM).