# NTSB CEN14WA093: Robinson Helicopter R 44, Bordeaux, France, December 20, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Foreign investigation
- Date: December 20, 2013
- Place: Bordeaux, France
- Coordinates: 44.936111, -0.348611 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9361&lon=-0.3486&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Unknown](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/990) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 4 fatal
- Status: Led by another country's authority
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Lead agency: Other
- NTSB case key (mKey): 88576
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14WA093
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88576/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14WA093

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Other authority investigated (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Unknown: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)

## Factual narrative

On December 20, 2013, about 1715 central European time, a Robinson R44 helicopter, French registered F-GPJG, owned and piloted by the accident pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the Dordogne River under unknown circumstances near Bordeaux, France. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and 3 passengers were fatally injured. The flight originated from the Chteau de la Rivière near Bordeaux, France. The accident investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the French government. This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the French Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses Zone Sud 200 rue de Paris Aêroport du Bourget 93350 Le Bourget Cedex

## Aircraft

- Registration: F-GPJG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: ROBINSON HELICOPTER COMPANY R 44
- Category: Helicopter
- Serial number: 567
- Engines: unknown
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Non-U.S., non-commercial
- Operator: Heli-Cognac Sarl
- Registered owner: Heli-Cognac Sarl
- Departed: Bordeaux
- Destination: Bordeaux

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; injuries: fatal

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC)
- Wind: calm
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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