What happened
On January 7, 2007, an SE 313 B Alouette II, registration F-GZFS, was performing a vertical takeoff from a private helisurface located at a restaurant in Arles, France. The pilot was returning to a residence with three passengers.
As the pilot attempted to rotate the aircraft to a northward heading at an altitude of approximately 15 meters, the helicopter began to drift backward in a nose-up attitude. The aircraft performed a 150-degree backward turn while descending, eventually striking trees and ground obstacles. The flight path ended in a spectator area where several people were watching the takeoff. The impact caused the engine's freewheel unit to be ejected, leaving the engine running at full power despite the pilot's attempts to shut it down. The crash resulted in 3 fatalities among bystanders and 1 serious injury to another person, while the three passengers on board sustained minor injuries.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the aircraft's mechanical condition, the pilot's experience, and the takeoff environment. Investigators examined the wreckage, including the main transmission box, the rotor blades, and the engine. No mechanical failures or malfunctions in the flight controls were identified.
Analysis of the flight controls revealed that the collective pitch lever was stuck at its maximum position, a result of the structural deformation caused by the impact. The investigation also reviewed the pilot's training records, noting that the pilot had received his private helicopter license only two months prior and had accumulated fewer than 60 total flight hours, with very limited experience in high-mass configurations or operating from confined helisurfaces.
Findings
- The pilot was newly licensed and lacked the experience necessary to manage the aircraft's performance in a high-mass configuration.
- The takeoff was performed from a confined helisurface bordered by tall, leaning trees, which likely provided misleading visual references.
- The pilot's attempt to maneuver toward the north, rather than toward an open area to the south, contributed to the loss of control.
- Inadequate experience in managing high-mass takeoffs from restricted areas led to improper control inputs, specifically an uncoordinated use of the cyclic and collective controls.
- The presence of observers on the ground may have impacted the pilot's concentration during the critical phase of flight.