28.08.2025

Helicopter recovery

Italian crane rental company Bendini gru has completed the recovery of a helicopter that made an emergency landing in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Northern Italy, using a 15.5 tonne Jekko JF545 spider crane.

The Elifiulia Helicopter Service craft was travelling from Ronchi dei Legionari in Friuli Venezia Giulia to Garfagnana for firefighting activities when it encountered low cloud cover caused by adverse weather conditions. The pilots lost visual orientation and were forced to make an emergency landing to avoid collision with the mountain or power lines.

The 12 by two metre helicopter, weighing two tonnes - landed on steep terrain affected by ground instability from recent severe weather in the Emilia Romagna area.

Bendini gru selected the Jekko JF545 for the operation after considering three recovery options: using a larger helicopter to lift and transport it, deploying a truck mounted crane, or organising a relay of vehicles including truck mounts, tractors and mini cranes.

The JF545 has a maximum tip height of over 30 metres and can handle 2.5 tonnes at 16 metres and 600kg at its maximum radius of 28 metres. Weighing 15,500kg, it has an overall width of 1.84 metres and an overall length of 5.4 metres. It also has variable outrigger set up with five different stability levels, and its compact dimensions suited the ground conditions.

The recovery team transported the crane three kilometres along dirt roads and steep terrain using a tractor and after stabilising it, used the tractor to position the helicopter within lifting range.

The JF545, operating with a 16 metre main boom, lifted the aircraft after the propellers were removed manually and transported it to level ground. The helicopter was then manually moved 10 metres to a position where it could be loaded onto a tractor trailer for transport to the base camp.

The operation took approximately 10 hours including preparation and return to Bendini gru's headquarters in Lama di Reno, Bologna.