Incident Overview
On July 28, 2004, at 16:15 UTC, a Bell 206B helicopter with registration F-GEQE crashed in the commune of Verlinghem (59), France. The aircraft was operated by Proteus Hélicoptère for an aerial photography mission. The pilot and one passenger were killed in the accident, and the helicopter was destroyed upon impact.
Flight Details
The flight originated from Lille Lesquin aerodrome at 15:31 UTC. The pilot, accompanied by a professional photographer, conducted aerial surveys west of Béthune and near Armentières. At 16:14 UTC, the pilot reported an engine shutdown to air traffic control and initiated an autorotation procedure. Witnesses observed the helicopter descending until it struck the ground in a wheat field.
Aircraft and Maintenance
The Bell 206B, serial number 3163, was powered by a Rolls-Royce Allison 250-C20B turboshaft engine. At the time of the accident, the airframe had accumulated 4,793 flight hours. The engine had 7,412.5 total operating hours. Maintenance records indicated that bearings 1, 5, and 7 were replaced by Patria workshops in Stockholm approximately 60 hours prior to the crash.
Investigation Findings
The investigation determined that the accident resulted from an in-flight engine failure. The pilot attempted an autorotation but was unable to avoid a ground impact. The helicopter destroyed a street lamp and a safety barrier during its descent. Fuel and debris contaminated the surrounding agricultural land. No flight data recorder was installed, as it was not mandatory for this aircraft type.