Aerospatiale AS350B2 Ecureuil crash near Valongo, Portugal

A Helibravo AS350B2 was running in for its second water drop on a wildfire at Sobrado, Valongo, when the suspended bucket and the tail rotor touched high voltage cables crossing a canyon. The helicopter lost control and fell a short distance, and fire broke out immediately and consumed it. The pilot, the only person on board, was killed. Investigators cited the drop path chosen almost perpendicular to the lines and the pilot''s focus on the mission close to cables in complex terrain.