CEN12WA677

On September 3, 2012, about 0845 UTC, a Robinson R44 helicopter, Spanish registration EC-IVT, was destroyed when while in level cruise it departed controlled flight and impacted in mountainous terrain near Nyons, France. The pilot and a passenger on board the helicopter were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The foreign, non-scheduled personal flight had departed Clermont Ferrand Auvergne, France and was en route to Le Luc Le Cannet, France. According to information provided by the Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses, the helicopter was in level cruise flight about 1,500 feet agl in a mountainous area and at 110 knots when it encountered severe turbulence, departed controlled flight and impacted terrain. This investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of France. Any further information regarding the investigation can be obtained from the French BEA at: Bureau d’Enquetes et d’Analyses pour la Securite de l'Aviation Civile Zone Sud – Batiment 153 200 rue de Paris Aeroport du Borget F-93352 Le Bourget Cedex France Telephone: +33 1 49 92 72 00 Facsimile: +33 1 49 92 72 03 web: www.bea.aero