What happened
On May 3, 2019, a Robinson R22 Beta II helicopter, registration I-GPES, crashed in the industrial area of Pegognaga, Italy. The aircraft had departed from Carpi airport for a local recreational flight. While flying over the industrial zone, the pilot was performing a series of low-altitude maneuvers, including rapid changes in altitude, bank, and airspeed, reportedly to wave to a friend on the ground.
During these maneuvers, the helicopter experienced a sudden loss of structural integrity. Surveillance footage captured the aircraft falling vertically toward the ground. The impact destroyed the helicopter and caused damage to a nearby gas station component. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed in the crash.
The investigation
The ANSV investigation focused on the mechanical state of the aircraft and the flight conditions leading to the impact. Investigators examined the wreckage and found that the main rotor blade had struck the tail boom, and the teeter stops showed clear evidence of severe impact. Fractographic analysis of the pitch links and control rods revealed that these components had failed due to overload.
Technical examination of the Lycoming engine showed no evidence of pre-existing malfunctions, seizure, or mechanical failure prior to the impact. The investigation also noted that the RPM governor switch was in the OFF position. While weather conditions were generally compatible with flight, the possibility of light to moderate turbulence could not be entirely ruled out.
Findings
- The crash was likely caused by flight maneuvers that exceeded the aircraft's operational envelope, specifically inducing a low-G or low-RPM condition.
- The pilot's limited experience and lack of recent flight time on the R22 type may have contributed to the inability to correct an uncommanded right roll.
- The specific design of the R22 rotor head makes the aircraft susceptible to mast bumping and blade strikes when subjected to low-G conditions.
- The performance of aggressive, low-altitude maneuvers for non-essential purposes increased the risk of encountering critical flight conditions.