Bell 407 crash near Montearagón Reservoir, Loporzano, Huesca, Aragon, Spain

The Bell 407 was working a fire at Loporzano, continuing operations begun the previous day. It had flown a first two-hour cycle carrying a six-person crew, dropped them at the fire, made water drops and returned to base at Plasencia del Monte to refuel. On the second sortie, with only the pilot aboard, it headed for the Montearagón reservoir to refill. According to the pilot the helicopter yawed during the transition to the hover, before water collection had begun, and the skids contacted the surface, tipping the aircraft onto its right side. He escaped through the left door, inflated his life vest and swam to shore. Two other helicopters in the area witnessed the accident and alerted the command post. The pilot was unhurt; the helicopter was submerged and later recovered. Classified as loss of control in flight. Investigated by CIAIAC as A-016/2026.