What happened
On the evening of October 31, 2002, an Agusta 109 C helicopter, registration F-GTLP, departed Saint-Brieuc for a flight to the Île des Rimains. The pilot, who was the owner of the island, had previously completed a daytime flight to Caulnes and returned to Saint-Brieuc. After confirming favorable weather conditions with a caretaker on the island, the pilot departed Saint-Brieuc at 17:30 UTC under night Visual Flight Rules (VFR) with one passenger.
During the flight, the pilot contacted Dinard air traffic control, reporting an altitude of 1,800 feet and a flight path toward Cancale. At approximately 17:46 UTC, while maneuvering near the Île des Rimains, the helicopter executed a right turn and struck the surface of the sea. The impact resulted in two fatalities, including the pilot, and the destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the flight conditions, the aircraft's technical state, and the pilot's approach maneuvers. Investigators examined the wreckage, which was recovered from the sea, and found that the engines were delivering power at the moment of impact and no mechanical malfunctions were present. The autopilot was set to standby.
Analysis of the cockpit instrumentation revealed that the right altimeter had been removed by a maintenance workshop prior to the flight. While the aircraft was equipped with an altimeter probe, the investigation established that this instrument provides unreliable altitude readings during turns. Furthermore, the investigation reviewed meteorological data, noting that while visibility at Saint-Brieuc appeared acceptable, the local conditions near the coast involved mist and low ceilings. Witnesses also noted that the pilot frequently flew at low altitudes (between 80 and 100 meters) to maintain visual contact with the water surface during poor visibility.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the decision to conduct and continue a night VFR flight in heavily degraded meteorological conditions.
- The pilot's excessive confidence in his flying abilities contributed to the accident.
- The flight information service failed to transmit the most recent visibility measurements to the pilot.
- The absence of the right-side altimeter hindered the pilot's ability to maintain situational awareness during the final turn.
- The pilot likely executed a turn to the east to adopt a preferred landing pattern, which, combined with the lack of fixed visual references in the mist, led to the collision with the water.