What happened
On March 4, 2014, an AS350 B3e helicopter, registration F-OPCD, was performing aerial work involving sling load operations near Saint-Elie, French Guiana. During the seventh landing of the day, the pilot was transporting a flexible container. After depositing the load on the Coulor helisurface and releasing it, the pilot repositioned the aircraft to align the left door with three empty containers previously placed on the landing area by a ground assistant.
During this maneuvering, one of the tail rotor blades struck a fuel drum that had been covered with a tarp. The impact caused the helicopter to enter a yaw rotation before the pilot was able to force the aircraft down onto the ground. The collision resulted in the tail boom being severed in front of the vertical stabilizer, damage to the tip of a main rotor blade, and the tail rotor and rear transmission box being thrown several meters from the aircraft. One person on the ground sustained slight injuries due to flying debris.
The investigation
The investigation examined the operational environment and the pilot's experience. The pilot, who had 9,300 total flight hours, noted that the fuel drum used for refueling had been present at the landing site for approximately three weeks. The pilot also observed that the empty containers were positioned about two meters behind their usual location, closer to the fuel drum.
The investigation also reviewed the nature of the landing site. The site used was a helisurface—an unpaved, occasional landing area. While regulations require standard landing sites to be clear of all non-frangible obstacles, these requirements do not strictly apply to such temporary helisurfaces.
Findings
- The pilot failed to detect the obstacle while maneuvering at a low altitude.
- Routine familiarity with the landing area likely led to a decrease in the pilot's situational awareness and attention to detail during the maneuver.