ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 226484
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| Date: | Tuesday 13 February 2018 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Eurocopter EC 135 |
| Owner/operator: | SAF Hélicoptères |
| Registration: | F-GOPG |
| MSN: | 62 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise -
 France
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Sainte-Foy-Tarentaise |
| Courchevel Airfield (CVF/LFLJ) | |
| Investigating agency: | BEA |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot was informed by the head of the mountain rescue station that a rescue mission had been launched in the Tarentaise valley. The pilot took off from the Courchevel helipad to the intervention site. As he approached the pass, in order to identify the elements at risk around the landing zone, he contacted the trackers by radio, who indicated the presence of the chairlift and a Catex cable. The pilot identified them, then passed over the landing area and began his approach. He landed on the ski slope near the trackers and the injured skier at about 15:16. The emergency physician informed the pilot of the decision to evacuate the injured skier by helicopter. The pilot completed the start-up procedure at 15:20. He made sure that all passengers were tied up and then hovered over the ski run a few metres above the ground. He took off following the trail towards the valley. A few seconds later, during the level speed increase, the helicopter struck the cable of a Catex. Very strong vibrations appeared, the pilot kept control of the helicopter and force landed in the snow near a ski slope below.
The accident resulted from the pilot's choice of a flight axis and an inappropriate take-off profile that led to the helicopter striking the cable of a Catex network. The impact damaged the rotor mast and caused strong vibrations that forced the pilot to make an emergency landing. The apparent "ease" of the response mission given the favourable weather conditions compared to the previous days and a possible state of fatigue due to very sustained activity during the previous nine days may have contributed to a decrease in pilot vigilance.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.bea.aero/en/investigation-reports/notified-events/detail/event/accident-de-lhelicoptere-airbus-ec135-immatricule-f-gopg-survenu-le-13022018-a-sainte-foy-tarenta/
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 23-Jun-2019 17:01 | harro | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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