Before suffering a fatal crash April 22, the joint Bell/Agusta AB139 helicopter was enjoying a notably trouble-free development program that was at times well ahead of its original development schedule, and being warmly received by its target markets, both rarities in commercial aviation today and nearly miracles in the helicopter business. Three preproduction development prototypes were in flight test, with the first making its maiden flight on February 3 last year, followed by the second on June 4 and the third on October 22.
According to preliminary reports, the aircraft lost in the April 22 accident was the first preproduction prototype. Flying the aircraft at the time of the accident was test commander Pietro Vananzi, assisted by flight-test engineer Vincenzo Iellamo. The two were reportedly practicing high-altitude autorotations at 6,000 ft near the northern Italian air force base at Rimini, some 25 mi from Bologna. Following a malfunction of as yet undetermined nature, eyewitnesses said they saw both men exit the airborne helicopter safely. However, engineer Iellamo’s chute fouled in the AB139’s tail rotor and he was swept to his death and killed.
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