What happened
On Thursday, October 30, 1997, at 17:35, an Eurocopter SE 313 B Alouette 2, registration F-GCGN, was performing a flight for training purposes at Toussus-le-Noble aerodrome. While returning from a trip, the pilot attempted to land the helicopter on a mobile platform located on the parking area.
During the approach, the pilot encountered difficulties positioning the aircraft on the platform. In an attempt to correct the position, the pilot initiated a rearward translation while simultaneously applying aft cyclic pitch. This maneuver caused the tail rotor to strike the ground, leading to a violent impact near the platform. The aircraft came to rest in a nose-up position, supported by the exhaust nozzle and the fuel tank. The three occupants managed to evacuate the aircraft while the engine was still running and the main rotor was destroyed. A mechanic witnessing the event used the fire extinguisher lever to shut down the engine.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of maneuvers leading to the impact and the operational constraints of the flight. It was noted that the operator's regulations only permit landing on the mobile platform for instructors, whereas the pilot involved had 64 total flight hours, with only 7.5 hours logged in the preceding three months.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was an erroneous assessment of the environment during the landing maneuver.
- The pilot's attempt to stabilize the aircraft via rearward translation and aft cyclic pitch resulted in the tail rotor striking the ground.
- The accident resulted in two minor injuries (the pilot and one passenger) and the total destruction of the aircraft.