What happened
On August 2, 2012, at 16:35 local time, an Agusta Bell AB 47 G2, registration F-GFHL, was performing aerial spraying operations in Le Lamentin, Martinique. After completing the treatment of a banana plantation, the pilot began navigating toward a refueling point for phytosanitary products. During the flight, the pilot decided to perform a supplemental spray on a field that had remained unfinished from the previous day.
As the aircraft aligned with the spraying axis, it encountered sudden downdrafts that forced the helicopter toward the ground. The aircraft struck the banana trees, slid along the terrain, and eventually overturned onto its left side. The helicopter was destroyed in the impact.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and found no technical anomalies or mechanical failures that could account for the accident. The pilot, an experienced professional with 2,540 total flight hours—including 2,360 hours on this specific type—was highly familiar with the local environment and spraying procedures.
At the time of the accident, the pilot was flying on a south-north axis with an easterly crosswind. While meteorological conditions were generally suitable for spraying, a tropical storm was forecasted to hit the island the following day. The pilot noted that the first effects of this approaching storm were already present, manifesting as an increase in the strength of the easterly wind. The accident site was located in a hilly area, bordered to the east by a north-south ridgeline.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the insufficient consideration of changing aerological conditions brought about by the approaching tropical storm.
- The pilot was operating at a low altitude for spraying purposes, which left very little margin for error when encountering the downdrafts.