Accident to the Hélisport - SRL - CH 77 Ranabot identified 83ARU on 30/11/2019 at Gréoux-les-Bains (Alpes-de-Haute-Provence)

Cat. 2 investigation report: simplified-format report, adapted to the circumstances of the occurrence and the investigation stakes.

Alone on board and seated in the right-hand seat of his class-6 microlight helicopter, the pilot took off at 11:00 from Vinon aerodrome (Var) for a local flight. One minute later, he announced that he was leaving the circuit to head north-west.
At 11:47, on the return leg of his local flight[1], the pilot made another announcement over the Vinon A/A frequency. He stated that he was near Manosque on a heading for the aerodrome and would be overhead the airfield in two minutes time. He did not report any problems.
When the microlight was in straight flight and at a height of around 50 metres according to the statements, the left side door detached from the airframe followed by the right side door shortly afterwards. The microlight suddenly descended, struck the trees and collided with the ground.
Probably caught off guard, the pilot lost control of the helicopter. The low height at which this occurrence happened did not enable the pilot to prevent the collision with the ground.
Damage observed on the hinges of the two doors was similar, which indicated an identical detachment process, without prior damage.
The examination of the passenger door suggested that the inside latch was very probably in the closed position when the door detached in flight.
The examination of the door bores and the lock bolts was unable to determine the exact configuration (closing and locking) of the doors before they detached from the airframe.
Information gathered during the investigation was unable to explain the reasons for the successive separation of the two doors.