Accident Hughes 500E F-GHLF, Wednesday 22 August 2012

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Date:	Wednesday 22 August 2012
Time:
Type:	Hughes 500E
Owner/operator:
Registration:	F-GHLF
MSN:	361E
Year of manufacture:	1989
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lançon-de-Provence Helipad - France
Phase:	Landing
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	Avignon-Caumont Airport (AVN/LFMV)
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	BEA
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
The pilot took off from Avignon Caumont aerodrome (84) bound for the helipad located on his property in Lançon-de-Provence.
During the final approach for a landing facing west, in slow translation and out of ground effect, he felt unusual vibrations. As it continued its descent, the helicopter turned left around the yaw axis and assumed a nose-down attitude. The pilot countered the rotation to the left using the right rudder. The direction of rotation reversed and the helicopter began to turn rapidly to the right around the yaw axis, still descending.
The pilot put power back on and lost control of the helicopter which hit the ground.

Accident investigation: