Eurocopter AS 355NP Ecureuil 2 crash near La Mojonera, Almería, Andalusia, Spain

After a morning of traffic surveillance flights, the pilot decided to land for lunch beside the Cortijo Blanco restaurant at La Mojonera, having telephoned ahead. Landing on unprepared ground, the main rotor raised a dust cloud and the pilot lost visual reference with the terrain. The tail rotor struck a tree and the helicopter fell to the ground. Both occupants were unhurt and the aircraft was destroyed. Final report A-019/2023.