What happened
On April 26, 2011, at 17:43 UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration I-ETEC, was performing an aerial survey of a pipeline in a mountainous region approximately 1.3 nautical miles south-southeast of Sulmona, Italy. The aircraft, operated by Elicompany srl, was carrying a crew of two: a pilot and an observer. During the mission, the helicopter struck electrical power lines. The impact resulted in the destruction of the aircraft and caused the deaths of both occupants.
The investigation
ANSV investigators conducted a review of the available evidence, which included data retrieved from the aircraft's flight monitoring system. This data allowed investigators to reconstruct the flight path taken by the helicopter on the day of the accident. The investigation also considered the meteorological conditions at the time of the event, noting the presence of low clouds and limited visibility in the area.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with electrical power lines.
- Meteorological conditions, characterized by low clouds and poor visibility, were present during the flight.
- The aircraft was engaged in an aerial work mission (pipeline reconnaissance/observation) at the time of the impact.