Eurocopter AS350 accident near Barcelona, Es, June 22, 2009
On June 22, 2009, a Eurocopter AS350 (helicopter), registered ECIOJ, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Barcelona. It was a firefighting flight under non-U.S. private rules. 2 people were killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 22, 2009
- Place
- Barcelona, Spain
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Eurocopter AS350 B3 · all AS350s on the register
- Registration
- ECIOJ · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On June 22, 2009 a Eurocopter AS350B3, Spanish registration EC-IOJ was destroyed while filling the fire attack system with water during a fire extinguishing operation. The pilot and passenger both were killed. According to several witness statements, the helicopter had completed the refill operation and began a climb to continue the mission when the water tank unloaded at the same time the cable link to the tank rebounded and coiled into the main rotor system. The helicopter immediately began an emergency decent and impacted the terrain. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviacion Civil of Spain (CIAIAC). Any further information may be obtained from: Ministerio de Fomento Comision de Investigacion de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviacion Civil C/ Fruela, 6, Primera Planta 28011 Madrid, Spain
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff defining event
- External load event (Rotorcraft) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: Barcelona
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: not reported
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.