Rescue Helicopter Strikes Power Lines During Hoist

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 05/10/2019 at 14:05 • Filed to: wingspan, Planelopnik, Helicopterlopnik

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A Eurocopter EC145 of Sécurité Civile was hoisting a rescue swimmer and victim to safety in the French West Indies when the pilot strayed into power lines. The flight engineer immediately cut the hoist line (fortunately they were still over water) and the pilot, after checking the condition of the swimmer and victim, landed safely while the two made their way to shore.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > ttyymmnn 05/10/2019 at 14:24

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I bet there was some serious puckering going on for everyone involved.

I always thought the little forward sticking bit above the canopy was an antenna, but apparently it's for situations where a helicopter does strike a wire.

ttyymmnn > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/10/2019 at 14:33

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Yes, that vane is designed to cut cables. You will often see one both above and below the fuselage. I would think, though, that you would have to be flying a lot faster to cut the lines. You can see two on this Jet Ranger.

and 100 more > ttyymmnn 05/10/2019 at 14:46

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Yeah, those cables are braided aluminum with a steel core. They’ll snap, but it would take some speed to do it.

ttyymmnn > BaconSandwich is tasty. 05/10/2019 at 14:55

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Here you go.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 05/10/2019 at 15:46

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Be advised we are Code Brown at this time.