What happened
On July 18, 2022, at approximately 16:36 local time, a near-collision occurred near Manresa, Spain, involving two aircraft engaged in wildfire suppression. The incident took place during a period of intense firefighting activity following a second wildfire outbreak in the area.
A formation of four helicopters, operating as a "carousel" for water drops, was transitioning from a waiting area over a nearby river toward the active fire zone. Simultaneously, a tandem of fixed-wing aircraft was performing water drops. The first helicopter in the formation, an Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 with registration EC-NXN, was flying toward the drop zone when the pilot was alerted by the following helicopter of an aircraft on a converging path.
The aircraft involved in the close proximity was an Air Tractor AT-802, registration EC-LLT, which was flying a trajectory that intersected with the helicopter's path. To prevent a collision, the pilot of the Airbus Helicopters AS 350 B3 was forced to perform an immediate evasive maneuver, banking sharply to the left. No injuries were reported, and no damage to the aircraft was sustained.
The investigation
The CIAIAC investigation focused on the coordination procedures between the various aerial assets managed by the air media coordinator. The investigation examined the communication protocols established by the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and how they were implemented by the different flight crews during the high-pressure environment of active firefighting.
Investigators analyzed the movement of the helicopter carousel and the fixed-wing tandem, specifically looking at the timing of water drops and the transition of aircraft between the waiting area and the drop zone. The investigation also reviewed the use of electronic visibility aids and the consistency of operational procedures among the different operators, including Martínez Ridao Aviación and Pegasus Aviación.
Findings
- The primary cause of the loss of separation was a lack of situational awareness by the air media coordinator, who authorized the helicopter carousel to enter the fire zone without visually confirming that the fixed-wing aircraft had already cleared the area.
- The coordinator's lack of situational awareness was exacerbated by inconsistent communication; the fixed-wing crews were not following the established regional coordination procedures regarding how to signal their entry into and exit from the drop zone.
- The implementation of coordination procedures was disparate among the various participating crews, leading to a breakdown in the shared understanding of the airspace occupancy.