Aerospatiale AS350B2 Ecureuil crash near Valpaços, Portugal

An AS350B2 operated by Aeronorte for the national fire service was making a water drop on a fire in the Padrela mountains near Lamas, Valpaços, when the pilot lost directional control and the helicopter began to rotate at low height. The rotor blades and horizontal stabiliser struck bushes and it fell to the ground, badly damaging the tail, both rotors, the gearbox support and the right skid. The pilot was unhurt. Investigators found the tail rotor drive shaft had come away after the tail cone deformed, when the water pump and valve assembly broke loose during an abrupt recovery from an uncommanded sink close to the slope.