Incident Overview
On June 9, 2012, at approximately 15:30 UTC, a Pilatus Porter PC6 with registration F-GIHM was involved in a serious incident at the Le Blanc aerodrome (LFEL) in France. The aircraft, operated by Ecole Française de Parachutisme and owned by CERPCO, was conducting a local VFR flight for parachute drops. The pilot was accompanied by six parachutists, one tandem instructor, and one passenger.
Flight Progression and Loss of Control
The flight had been interrupted earlier in the day due to deteriorating weather conditions but resumed based on an expected improvement from the west. During the climb toward 2,000 meters, visibility degraded, and the aircraft entered a misty zone. At flight level 135 (FL135), while operating in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), the pilot lost control of the aircraft, which entered an inverted spin.
Outcome and Recovery
During the loss of control, the six parachutists successfully evacuated the aircraft. The tandem instructor and their passenger remained on board. The pilot regained control at approximately 1,000 meters. The engine had stopped during the spin but was restarted, allowing the pilot to land safely. No fatalities or serious injuries were reported.
Investigation Findings
The Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses (BEA) determined that the loss of control resulted from the pilot’s disorientation following the decision to continue the flight in IMC to reach the designated drop point. Contributing factors included an erroneous assessment of weather evolution, the lack of an alternative strategy for dropping in Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC), and the pilot’s fixation on GNSS guidance while attempting to complete the jump.