Accident Details
At 0755 coordinated universal time on December 9, 2010, a Robinson R22 helicopter, United Kingdom registered G-CBVL, was destroyed when it collided with mountainous terrain under unknown circumstances near Tourrettes-sur-Loup in southeastern France. The aircraft was operated by Spiral Wing, Ltd. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from Sospel, France.
Aircraft and Operator
The helicopter involved was a Robinson R22, a light two-seat single-engine rotorcraft. Its registration was G-CBVL, and it was operated by Spiral Wing, Ltd. No further details about the aircraft’s maintenance history, weight and balance, or pilot qualifications were released by the investigating authority.
Investigation
The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government through the Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA). No probable cause has been determined as the circumstances leading to the impact remain unknown. The BEA has not released any additional information regarding the accident sequence, meteorological factors, or mechanical issues.