Overview
On 12 August 2001, at approximately 09:00 UTC, a Eurocopter EC 120B helicopter, registered as I-TECH, was involved in an accident during a local flight in Todi, Italy. The helicopter, operated by El Air s.r.l., was being used for a private flight by the pilot, who intended to depart and land in the garden of his residence. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the helicopter but no injuries to the pilot.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The Eurocopter EC 120B (serial number 1235) is a single-engine turbine helicopter with a fenestron tail rotor. It had accumulated 17 hours and 6 minutes of flight time at the time of the event. The engine, a Turbomeca Arrius 2F (serial number 34274), was also manufactured in 2001. The helicopter was equipped with five seats and had a maximum takeoff mass of 1715 kg.
The pilot, a 48-year-old Italian male, held a valid private pilot license for helicopters, with type ratings for Robinson R22 and R44. He had approximately 870 total flight hours, of which 6 hours and 55 minutes were as a student pilot on the EC 120. At the time of the accident, he had completed the required training for an EC 120 type rating but had not yet passed the theoretical and practical examinations; thus, he was not formally qualified to operate the EC 120.
Location and Weather
The accident occurred in a rectangular grassy area adjacent to the pilot's private residence in Quadro, Todi. The area, approximately 80 meters long and 20 meters wide, was bordered by a hedge, a dirt road, a wooden shed, a swimming pool, and an embankment. The pilot reported that the wind was from the north at an estimated 15 knots, with good visibility.
Accident Sequence
After starting the helicopter and performing pre-flight checks, the pilot lifted into a hover at about 1.5 meters above ground. He then initiated a left turn (counterclockwise rotation) to align the helicopter with the wind. The rotation proceeded normally until about 90 degrees, when the helicopter began to spin uncontrollably to the left. The pilot applied right pedal to stop the rotation, but the helicopter did not respond. He then applied left and right pedals in rapid succession, which increased the rotation rate. The helicopter completed three full rotations before the tail struck an olive tree branch, the main rotor blades contacted the ground, and the helicopter impacted a hedge and came to rest on the dirt road. The pilot shut down the engine and exited the helicopter unaided.
Damage
The helicopter sustained damage to the main rotor blades (completely destroyed), tail boom, tail rotor cover, left front plexiglass, left door frame, left stabilizer tip and position light, right stabilizer trailing edge, engine deck deformation, and swashplate displacement. The surrounding vegetation, including two olive trees and a hedge, was also damaged.
Investigation Findings
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the main rotor blades were severed and the tail boom was damaged. The pilot's interview indicated that he attempted to counter the rotation with pedal inputs but lost effective control. The rapid pedal applications likely exacerbated the rotation rate, leading to loss of directional control. No mechanical malfunctions were identified. The pilot was not authorized to fly the EC 120 due to the outstanding type rating requirement, though the investigation noted that the training had been completed.