2007 Blandine autogyro accident in Saint-Vincent-les-Forts (N965DM)

Overview and flight details On Wednesday, 13 June 2007, at approximately 13:30, a privately operated Blandine autogyro, identified 06-ZH, collided with terrain near Saint-Vincent-les-Forts (04), France, at an altitude of 1,085 m. The aircraft was destroyed and the sole occupant, the pilot, was killed. The flight was a private trip from Gap (04) to Barcelonnette (04), where the pilot intended to meet friends. ## Aircraft and pilot The aircraft was a Blandine autogyro of amateur construction. The pilot was 64 years old and held a PPL(A) from 1976, a multi-axis UL rating from 1996, and an autogyro UL rating from 2004. He had 566 hours 30 minutes on airplanes and 52 hours 30 minutes on autogyros, including 9 hours in the three months preceding the accident. His experience on multi-axis ULMs was unknown. ## Weather and circumstances Estimated weather at the accident site was CAVOK with a QNH of 1008 hPa. The automatic weather station at Barcelonnette, 17 km east of the site, recorded wind from 240° at 07 kt, a temperature of 22 °C, and a dew point of 10 °C. The pilot had checked regional weather conditions before departure, and an autogyro flight instructor had indicated that conditions were favorable. ## Investigation findings A witness saw the autogyro in stable flight shortly before the accident, and another heard the impact without seeing it. The wreckage was found on a mountainside northeast of a tree-covered valley. Examination showed the fuel tank contained fuel, the propeller was delivering power at impact, the rotor was rotating with significant energy, and flight-control continuity was maintained. The aircraft was equipped with a GPS, but the recorded track did not provide useful information. No autopsy was performed. The investigation was unable to determine the cause of the accident.