What happened
On September 23, 2002, at approximately 19:45 local time, an Eurocopter SE-313-B (Alouette II), registration F-GLRC, was performing a commercial general aviation mission to support a group of hikers traveling along the southern Pyrenees. After departing Clermont-Ferrand and refueling in Perpignan, the pilot filed a VFR flight plan for Girona airport.
While attempting to land in a valley at Port-Lligat, near Cadaqués, the aircraft struck a telephone cable. The impact caused the helicopter to crash into the terrain, resulting in the destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained minor injuries and survived the accident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and interviewed witnesses, including local firefighters. The investigation established that there was no post-crash fire and no evidence of fuel leaks from the main tank. A 200-liter metal jerrycan was found loose inside the cabin; the pilot stated it was empty and intended for future refueling needs.
Analysis of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft's horizontal speed was low at the moment of impact. Based on the height of the utility poles and the sag of the cable, the aircraft was approximately 3 to 5 meters above the ground when it struck the line. The impact caused the main rotor disk to tilt sharply to the left, leading the blades to strike the ground at a high angle. No mechanical failures were identified prior to the accident.
Meteorological conditions at the time of the accident included good visibility and clear skies, with a strong, steady Tramontana wind from the north-northwest. Because the accident occurred near sunset, the sun was positioned low on the horizon.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was that the pilot failed to detect the telephone cable due to sun glare and the low visibility of the thin cable stretched between small wooden poles.
- The landing site itself was considered suitable for an aircraft of this type, provided the obstacle had been identified.