Lessons for rescuers from helicopter mishap

A review of procedures at rescue sites has been sought by the Air Corps after a helicopter came close to crashing during a search and rescue operation in Co Waterford.

The incident, in which the Alouette helicopter plummeted towards the sea after a blanket became entangled in its rotors, happened just three months after an accident in Tramore last year in which four Air Corps men died.

The pilot, Capt Shane Bonner, was preparing to ditch the craft when it regained power. An internal Air Corps investigation into the incident at Ardmore Head last October 10th concluded that it "could easily have had more serious consequences".

In its report the investigation team said the helicopter suffered "an uncontrolled loss of altitude" during an operation to rescue a woman who had fallen 150 feet to the ledge of a cliff.

The report has been supplied to the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise, so its recommendations can be brought to the attention of organisations working with the Air Corps in search and rescue operations.

In this instance, members of the local coast and cliff rescue service, an ambulance crew, a local doctor and the Youghal lifeboat were on the scene before the Waterford-based Air Corps crew arrived, shortly after noon.

As the helicopter approached the overhead position and its winchman prepared to descend, a thermal blanket covering the casualty was lifted into the air by the craft's downwash.

The helicopter commander observed this, "but owing to the critical phase of the approach with the winchman on the cable", evasive action was not possible. "He then lost sight of the blanket as it went past his three o'clock position," the report said.

A loud bang was then heard by the crew accompanied by "severe vibration and loss of lift". Uncontrolled loss of altitude followed.

"The aircraft was moved away from the cliff face and the winch operator commenced winching in the winchman." The vibrations continued - accompanied by a loud clicking noise - and the pilot was unable to arrest the descent.

"The pilot recognised that impact with the surface of the sea was an imminent possibility and he opened the flotation gear switch-guard on the cyclic stick to prepare for ditching. The aircraft then regained power and the pilot was able to level out at 40 feet, having descended from 80 feet above sea level.

"At this point the winchman was still on the hoist cable some 30 feet below the aircraft. When the winchman was hoisted up to the aircraft and was brought aboard safely, the aircraft was landed and inspected. No significant damage was found."

The helicopter performed satisfactorily on being restarted, and it was decided to complete the rescue operation. The woman, who had suffered multiple fractures, was taken to Cork Regional Hospital and made a full recovery.

The report said the incident re-emphasised the need for joint training between helicopter operators and other agencies involved in search and rescue operations. "Ground-based personnel in these circumstances must be constantly aware of the power and consequent dangers of helicopter downwash.

"Lightweight items must be removed from the helicopter's working area, or if necessary, must be strongly secured. In this instance there were some 10 personnel of various agencies around the casualty. This precluded the helicopter crew from seeing the casualty before the aircraft moved in to lower the winchman."

It also recommended that the Irish Marine Search and Rescue Committee review the syllabus and frequency of training of ground personnel engaged in such operations, such as marine rescue teams, gardai and mountain rescue teams. Command and control procedures at rescue sites should also be reviewed. It was essential, it said, that its recommendations be implemented.

Capt Bonner, from Monaghan, subsequently received the Air Corps' search-and-rescue award for 1999 for his actions during the incident. The craft had a total crew of three.

Four Air Corps members were killed last July when their Dauphin helicopter crashed into a sand dune near Tramore beach while returning from a successful night-time search and rescue operation. An investigation into that accident is due to be completed shortly.

The report on the October incident is available on the website of the air accident investigation unit of the Department of Public Enterprise. The address is: www.irlgov.ie/tec/aaiu