Overview

• The pilot reported a sudden loss of rotor lift known as hundimiento con potencia and deployed emergency floats to execute a controlled water landing off La Barceloneta.
• All four occupants escaped without injury and were brought ashore by the Salvamar Mintaka before a Guardia Urbana boat towed the floating helicopter to the port helipad.
• Port of Barcelona authorities used a crane to recover the Robinson R44 from the water and secured it in a hangar sealed for investigative access.
• Spain’s Comisión de Investigación de Accidentes e Incidentes de Aviación Civil and local police have opened a technical probe to determine the precise cause of the incident.
• SkyTour BCN operates single-engine Robinson R44 helicopters for brief coastal sightseeing tours, which are barred from flying directly over the city under current safety regulations.