Pyrénées, France
Helicopter Accident, 2020
Pyrénées, France
In the afternoon of the 15th April 2020, the helicopter of the type Cougar takes-off at 14:43h local time, from its base in the Hautes-Pyrénées in France.
After the last winching, as part of the last exercise, the consequence of a power failure was simulated while hovering. The helicopter lost altitude, felt vertically and crashed into a field. After the impact the helicopter caught fire and was destroyed.
The flight path with the helicopters attitude and groundspeed could be reconstructed based on eyewitness video information.
Further, the wind direction and wind speed was verified based on a 3d reconstruction of the column of smoke.
After the last winching, as part of the last exercise, the consequence of a power failure was simulated while hovering. The helicopter lost altitude, felt vertically and crashed into a field. After the impact the helicopter caught fire and was destroyed.
The flight path with the helicopters attitude and groundspeed could be reconstructed based on eyewitness video information.
Further, the wind direction and wind speed was verified based on a 3d reconstruction of the column of smoke.
| rapport_denquête_de_sécurité_t-2020-03-a.pdf |