What happened
On 6 January 2022, a Robinson R44 Raven II, registered F-HARY, was performing a cross-country ferry flight from Saint-Crépin et Carlucet to Villefranche-Tarare. The pilot was accompanied by one passenger. The flight was part of a two-helicopter operation, as the pilot was intended to follow an instructor flying a second helicopter, F-HOHE, to complete the ferry mission.
During the return leg, the two aircraft flew toward the Forez Mountains in the Massif Central. As they approached the Pas de la Croix area, the weather conditions had deteriorated. Radar data indicated that the pilot of F-HARY initiated a left turn while climbing. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The wreckage was located approximately 100 meters from the last radar fix on the Pas de la Croix plateau. The impact occurred with a steep nose-down attitude, and a fire subsequently destroyed the helicopter. The pilot and the passenger were both fatally injured.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the meteorological conditions, flight preparation, and the sequence of events leading to the loss of visual references. Investigators examined weather reports, including SIGWX charts and METAR data, which indicated potential for mountain obscuration, low cloud ceilings, and icing. The investigation also reviewed the communication between the two helicopters and the air traffic controller. Evidence from the wreckage confirmed that the main and tail rotors were rotating at impact and that the engine was transmitting torque, suggesting no mechanical failure of the drive system prior to the collision.
Findings
- The pilot likely entered a cloud layer during the left turn, leading to spatial disorientation due to a lack of external visual references.
- The pilots failed to consult the most recent meteorological information before the return flight, which would have confirmed the presence of adverse weather.
- There was a lack of adequate flight preparation, specifically the absence of a formal briefing between the two helicopters before the flight.
- The decision to continue the flight in weather conditions unsuitable for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) was a critical factor.
- The presence of an experienced instructor in the lead aircraft may have influenced the pilot's decision to proceed despite the degraded conditions.
- Communication between the two aircraft was insufficient, as no radio contact occurred between the pilots after the initial flight information sector change.