What happened
On the morning of July 9, 2011, a private Robinson R44 helicopter, registered OO-HNE, departed from a private pad in Willebroek, Belgium, bound for Empuriabrava, Spain. The flight plan involved a multi-stage journey, with the first leg intended for Auxerre, France.
Approximately 42 minutes into the flight, the aircraft was traversing hilly terrain with elevations ranging between 1,500 and 2,000 feet. During this period, the aircraft encountered deteriorating weather. Witnesses in the Luzoir area reported heavy rain and extremely poor visibility due to mist, with cloud ceilings estimated between 50 and 100 meters. Eyewitness accounts noted the helicopter circling above the area before emerging from the clouds in a steep dive, impacting a grassy field one to two seconds later. The impact resulted in two fatalities and the total destruction of the aircraft.
The investigation
The investigation examined the pilot's pre-flight preparations and the prevailing meteorological conditions. The pilot had compiled a weather dossier via the internet, which included METAR and TAF reports for Brussels and Reims, as well as the Brussels FIR GAMET. This forecast had indicated the passage of a cloud system with isolated cumulonimbus at 1,200 feet and stratocumulus between SCT and BKN at 1,400 feet. However, Météo-France confirmed that at the time of the accident, Luzoir was experiencing drizzle and stratus clouds below 500 feet.
Investigators also reviewed the pilot's qualifications and the aircraft's mechanical state. The pilot held a night flying qualification but was not IFR rated. The pilot's total flight time was 347 hours, with 248 hours specifically on the Robinson R44. An examination of the wreckage revealed no mechanical malfunctions that contributed to the crash. Additionally, an autopsy of the occupants showed no abnormal findings.