Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil crash near Terre Adélie, Antarctica

Two helicopters were ferrying passengers and equipment from the research vessel L'Astrolabe to the Dumont d'Urville base in Adélie Land, 207 nautical miles away, after damage to the ship's propeller halted its progress. Conditions at both ends were good when the decision was made. The aircraft departed about twenty minutes apart. The first pilot met poor weather in the cruise and descended below the cloud layer, at times below 200 feet. The pilot of F-GJFJ initially climbed above the cloud, then turned back and descended below it, making two 360-degree turns at low speed and low height. The helicopter struck the pack ice; the last recorded data point showed a height of about 30 feet. All four aboard were killed. The BEA concluded the pilot had likely lost all external visual references following his decision to undertake and continue the flight in unfavourable conditions in an environment offering few alternatives. The specific context of the mission, the absence of operational documentation for operations in Adélie Land, and the operator's failure to submit part C of its operations manual to the oversight authority were contributing factors. The pilot having taken medication with a sedative effect may also have contributed.