What happened
On the morning of April 8, 2003, a Bell 47 G 2 helicopter, registered F-GFFV, was engaged in agricultural spraying operations in a hilly region near Le Lamentin. The pilot departed from Le Lamentin aerodrome at 06:25 local time to treat banana plantations.
After completing the treatment of an initial plot, the pilot moved to a second area, performing two reconnaissance passes at altitudes of approximately 50 meters and 25 meters. During these low-level passes, the pilot noted the presence of electrical lines. While the pilot successfully crossed an initial set of lines, approximately 800 meters later, the aircraft struck and severed three cables from a different power line. The impact caused the canopy to shatter, and the aircraft subsequently landed in a nearby field. There were no fatalities in the accident.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the circumstances leading to the collision and the visibility conditions at the time of the impact. Investigators examined the pilot's flight path, the presence of obstacles, and the environmental factors affecting the crew's perception.
It was established that the pilot was using a 1/25,000 scale map which depicted high-voltage lines; however, the specific lines involved in the collision were not marked on this chart. Furthermore, the support poles for the lines were obscured by trees, making them difficult to identify from the air. At the time of the impact, the sun had just risen above distant hills, placing it directly in the pilot's line of sight. Additionally, the canopy was contaminated with residue from the spraying product, which may have further obscured the view.