What happened
On May 2, 2018, an Agusta Bell AB206-B helicopter, registered F-HGJL, departed from Macouria, French Guiana, bound for the Grand Usine gold mine. The flight was being conducted as an own-account transport to deliver a mechanic and a trainee to a mining site.
During the flight, the pilot deviated from the planned path before a sudden loss of altitude and a significant drop in load factor to 0 g were recorded. The helicopter entered a rapid left turn and descent, colliding with dense vegetation in the jungle between Mont Souffle and Montagne Chevaux. The impact destroyed the aircraft. The pilot and one passenger were killed, while the second passenger sustained serious injuries and was rescued five hours later.
The investigation
The BEA examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the helicopter was in operational order and maintained according to manufacturer recommendations. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's experience, noting he held a valid commercial license but had only 14 hours of experience on this specific type. Flight data from the GPS and Helisafe computer were analyzed, alongside wreckage examination and meteorological data.
Findings
- The accident occurred while the helicopter was operating in adverse meteorological conditions (a squall line) during a VFR flight.
- The pilot lacked an instrument flight rating (IFR) and the aircraft was not equipped with windshield wipers.
- The pilot lost control of the aircraft while performing maneuvers that involved reducing engine power via the collective pitch lever.
- The pilot's limited experience as a pilot-in-command and his recent type rating may have contributed to an underestimation of the risks posed by the weather.
- The lack of a GNSS-integrated Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) hindered the accuracy of the initial search, as the signal was located 7 km away from the actual wreckage.
Safety action
Following the accident, a protocol was established to allow for the exchange of radar data between the French Guiana armed forces and air navigation services to improve search and rescue accuracy. Additionally, the BEA issued a safety recommendation to the DGAC to ensure that individuals organizing own-account flights are properly informed of the safety and regulatory differences between such flights and commercial air transport.