2010 Héli Air Monaco Eurocopter AS 350 B2 accident (3A-MTP)

Overview and flight details On 7 December 2010, a Eurocopter AS 350 B2 helicopter, registration 3A-MTP, operated by Héli Air Monaco, was destroyed in a collision with terrain near Piène Haute, in the Alpes-Maritimes department of France. The accident occurred at approximately 15:20 local time. The pilot and two passengers on board were killed. The helicopter departed Nice airport at 14:54 in visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with two passengers aboard. The flight was directed toward the Roya valley, where a landslide had occurred. The passengers were tasked with assessing potential hazards associated with the landslide. The pilot left the Nice frequency at 15:00. The helicopter disappeared from radar screens at 15:07, likely due to terrain masking. ## Witness accounts and recovery Around 15:20, witnesses in Piène Haute reported hearing the helicopter overhead, as if the pilot was attempting to land. They could not see the aircraft because dense fog limited visibility to about 15 meters. The helicopter appeared to descend toward the Roya valley along a ridge line. The slope of the ridge increased sharply about 300 meters from the summit. Shortly afterward, witnesses heard a rotor blade slap, indicating a turn or climb under high load factor, followed by a dull thud. At 16:25, a Civil Security helicopter overflew the area but had to turn back due to poor weather conditions. The wreckage was found seven hours later in a very difficult-to-access area. The estimated weather conditions at the site were light winds, 6 to 8/8 stratus on the south side of the valley, and a temperature of 12°C. ## Impact and pilot background The helicopter struck the rocky side of a ravine at an altitude of 550 meters. The impact occurred about 20 meters below the nearest ridge line. Traces of explosion and fire beyond the impact point indicated that the helicopter was following an ascending slope. Rotor blade marks on a tree indicated a nose-up attitude at the time of impact. The damage observed at the site and on the wreckage showed that the energy at impact was very high and that the rotor was being driven by the engine. The pilot held a commercial pilot license (CPL(H)) since 1995 and a valid instructor qualification. He was not instrument-rated. He had a total of 4,670 flight hours, including 120 hours in the last three months. His total hours on type could not be determined. As the company's pilot training manager, he had decided to carry out this mission. According to a witness, he was accustomed to helping his passengers complete their missions, including participating in visual reconnaissance of the work area. Professional tensions appeared to exist within the company, but the investigation could not establish a link between these tensions and the accident.