Eurocopter AS350B2 crash near Glencoe, Argyll, Scotland, United Kingdom

During the refurbishment of an electricity line, G-PDGF was carrying an underslung load consisting of a 700 kg wooden pole which was then inadvertently released. The pole broke into two pieces when it struck a steep hill approximately 200 m from a minor public road, but clear of any built-up areas and third parties. There was no damage to the helicopter or lifting equipment. The operator considered the most probable cause for the inadvertent release of the load was that the sling, which was carrying the load, was not positioned correctly in the helicopter’s hook which was of the spring-loaded keeper design. As a result of this incident, the operator is continuing to phase out the use of this design of hook for most of its operations and has changed its procedures so that only the operator’s employees are permitted to load the hook when spring-loaded keeper hooks are used. Eurocopter_AS350B2_G-PDGF_07-20