What happened
On November 20, 1998, at approximately 10:15 AM, an Eurocopter SA 315B Lama, registered F-GFCV, was engaged in an airwork mission near Bastelicaccia, France. The pilot was performing sling-load operations, transporting bags of equipment. During the pre-takeoff phase, one of the bags was positioned approximately two meters from the edge of the main rotor disk.
As the pilot increased engine power to initiate takeoff, the airflow caused the bag to become airborne. The object flew into the path of the main rotor, striking the blades before being projected into the tail rotor. Upon observing a shadow cast within the rotor system, the pilot immediately engaged the fuel cutoff lever to shut down the engine and applied the rotor brake. The aircraft experienced intense vibrations immediately following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the mechanical damage of the aircraft. Investigators examined the positioning of the cargo and the environmental conditions at the takeoff site. The investigation established that the aircraft's rotors and tail boom sustained damage as a direct result of the object striking the rotating components.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was the insufficient preparation of the takeoff area, which allowed unsecured items to remain within the rotor's influence.
- The movement of the bag was triggered by the increased aerodynamic forces generated during the power increase for takeoff.
- The aircraft sustained damage to both the main rotor and the tail boom.