2022 Robinson R22 Beta accident in Albosaggia (I-JADE)

Incident Overview and Location On 10 August 2022, at approximately 16:15 UTC, a Robinson R22 Beta helicopter with registration I-JADE was involved in an accident in the locality of Albosaggia, in the province of Sondrio, Italy. The aircraft had departed from the heliport of Eurotech S.r.l. in Caiolo for a sightseeing flight. During the visual flight rules (VFR) navigation, conducted without a flight plan, the helicopter struck the guard cable of a high-voltage power line and crashed to the ground. The impact occurred approximately 2.5 km from the departure heliport. ## Casualties and Damage The pilot sustained fatal injuries in the accident. The passenger was seriously injured and was airlifted to a hospital in Bergamo; the passenger was not in life-threatening condition and was discharged after six days. The helicopter was destroyed. The guard cable of the 132 kV high-voltage power line, identified as T.895 “Stazzona – Verderio,” was severed. ## Personnel and Aircraft Information The pilot was in his 60s and held a valid Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) for helicopters. He also held various instructor and examiner ratings, including Flight Instructor (FI), Instrument Rating Instructor (IRI), Type Rating Instructor (TRI), Flight Examiner (FE), and Type Rating Examiner (TRE). He held a valid second-class medical certificate, but his first-class medical certificate, required for commercial single-pilot operations with passengers, was expired due to an ECG test. The pilot was employed by the operator, which held an Approved Training Organization (ATO) certificate, and served as Head of Training. As of 8 August 2022, the pilot had a total of 13,273 flight hours, including 58 hours and 11 minutes in the preceding 30 days. The Robinson R22 Beta is a two-seat helicopter manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Company, with a maximum takeoff mass of 1,370 lb (622 kg). It is equipped with a two-blade main rotor and a Lycoming O-360 piston engine. The specific aircraft involved, serial number 3428, had its certificate of registration issued on 12 August 2003. The helicopter had experienced a prolonged period of inactivity, with 901:12 flight hours in September 2013 and 911:24 hours in June 2021. The engine was overhauled on 26 June 2021 and reinstalled on 22 April 2022. The airframe underwent restoration work primarily between January and April 2022, after which it resumed flight operations. ## Weather and Environmental Conditions The Caiolo heliport did not have a weather station. However, witnesses and nearby weather stations reported optimal visibility and cloud cover at the time of the accident, with light winds from the west and temperatures around 30°C. METAR reports from Milan Malpensa and Bergamo Orio al Serio airports for the relevant time period indicated CAVOK conditions. A local weather station near the accident site recorded average wind speeds of 3.5 knots from the west, with light gusts up to 6 knots. The sun was relatively low on the horizon, positioned toward the west at an elevation of 43.22° and an orientation of 243.25°.