Airbus Helicopters H135 crash near Zalduondo, Álava, Basque Country, Spain

The Ertzaintza surveillance and rescue helicopter flew from its base at Yurreta to Zalduondo to take part in firefighting operations, carrying a pilot, copilot and hoist operator. A firefighter boarded to overfly the fire area and assess the response. Returning to Zalduondo, during the landing manoeuvre the tail rotor ingested a raffia bag lying beneath a van, which the hoist operator could not have seen on approach. The tail rotor transmission broke, pedal control was lost and the helicopter yawed uncommanded. The commander lowered the collective to land immediately and the tail rotor struck a traffic sign. During the yaw the hoist operator, who remained secured throughout, was left hanging outside, and the copilot struck his head against his door window. Investigated by CIAIAC as A-013-2026.