What happened
On Tuesday, September 15, at 09:00, an Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette 3, registration F-GIYE, was performing aerial work near Gavarnie. While in a stationary hover approximately ten centimeters above a rocky platform, the pilot was deploying a team of technicians to the site. The platform was located roughly ten meters away from a high rock face measuring about one hundred meters in height.
Following the disembarkation of the crew, the pilot heard a dull thud and felt a slight vibration throughout the aircraft. The pilot then proceeded to return to the original departure helisurface, where the aircraft landed without further incident.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and identified damage to the tips of three main rotor blades. The investigation focused on the environmental conditions at the site, known as "Le Chaos de Coumely," which is characterized by highly unstable and friable rock walls. Meteorological conditions at the time of the incident included winds from 300° to 340° at 15 to 20 knots, visibility of 8 to 10 km, and an overcast ceiling at 6,600 feet.