Flight History
The pilot and a passenger took off at about 11:30 from Aix-Les-Milles aerodrome, bound for a helipad on a golf course in Pierrevert. After passing south of the destination, the pilot flew east before heading toward the helipad. He did not overfly it but made a wide right turn to land facing northwest. On final, at a height of about 30 m, the helicopter suddenly began yawing to the left. It rotated several times, lost height, then hit the ground and rolled over.
Wreckage Examination
The wreckage was located approximately 150 m upwind from the touchdown area, between two trees. It lay on its right side, with the front right part of the cockpit destroyed. Components were strewn across a radius of ten metres. Failures on the tail boom were caused by ground impact. A fuel system union broke, spilling fuel. The collective pitch lever was near the maximum high position. Examinations of flight controls, main rotor, Fenestron, and the governor revealed no failures that contributed to the accident.
Helicopter Information
The Guimbal Cabri G2 has a clockwise-rotating three-blade main rotor and a Fenestron. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was within weight and balance limits and not at its power limit. The flight manual included service letter SL12-001 A, which warns of yaw control characteristics during approach. It states that failure to maintain zero sideslip when reducing speed can cause left yaw departure, aggravated by a right crosswind. Raising the collective lever accelerates the yaw. The departure can be stopped with full right pedal input.
Between 2008 and 2018, the BEA identified 12 occurrences involving Cabri G2 helicopters and uncontrolled yaw departures; at least three involved insufficient right pedal input, and at least two involved inappropriate collective lever input.
Meteorological Conditions
Météo-France estimated the wind at 3 knots from 060°, gusts from the northeast less than 10 knots, visibility over 10 km, broken clouds, and temperature +3°C. These conditions were similar to the critical case in the service letter.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a PPL(H) since July 2017 and had a Cabri G2 rating since October 2018, with 15 hours on type and 244 total flight hours. He had completed additional training on landing in confined areas. He had landed at this helipad four or five times before. He stated he felt less at ease in the Cabri than in the R44 and may not have applied sufficient right pedal. He could not recall the service letter content.
Witness Statements
The pilot did not remember the loss of control; he asked the passenger to assess wind. The passenger said the helicopter suddenly began spinning on final. A ground witness saw a flat left rotation; after one or two turns, the tail boom dropped, and the helicopter completed at least four more turns before the tail boom touched the ground. After impact, the witness helped both occupants; the passenger could not release her seat belt buckle due to taut straps and injuries, and the buckle had to be cut.
Survival Aspects
Both seats had energy-absorbing devices and four-point harnesses with single-point release buckles. The passenger could not release herself because her weight tensioned the straps, preventing buckle rotation. The pilot lost consciousness. Witnesses had to cut the straps to evacuate both occupants before emergency services arrived.
Helipad Information
The helipad was on a golf course green with no windsock. Helicopters had been landing there for about three years; pilots called ahead for clearance but received no instructions. No flight register was kept.
Flight Recorder Data
The Multi-Purpose Display (MPD) read-out revealed no failures explaining the accident. A portable tablet allowed reconstruction of the flight path.