On 26 August 2011, the pilot of an MD Helicopter Inc. 369D helicopter, registered YJ‑HEL, was conducting sling load operations near a small village 183 km north‑north‑west of Port Vila, Vanuatu. As the helicopter approached the village, with two passengers onboard, witnesses heard a single, loud bang and watched the helicopter fall 10 to 15 m to the ground before coming to rest on its right side. One of the passengers received minor injuries and was able to exit the helicopter unaided. The other passenger received serious injuries and the pilot was fatally injured.
The ATSB found that as the helicopter approached the village to land, the wire rope attached to the helicopter’s cargo hook contacted a tree. That contact resulted in the rope fouling on the main rotor blades, which in turn led to the detachment of segments of the rotor blades and the tail boom. This rendered the helicopter uncontrollable. It was also found that the occupants of the helicopter were not wearing the installed shoulder harness restraints or using flight helmets during the flight.
Read more here: http://www.atsb.gov.au
In Vanuatu, the pilot of a helicopter is dead after his aircraft crashed in the mountainous terrain of South Malekula.
The Daily Post newspaper says the pilot’s two passengers, both Telecommunications Vanuatu Limited technicians, received serious injuries.
They were rushed to Norsup Hospital Malampa Province and later flown to Vila Central Hospital in Port Vila.
It is not clear how the crash happened.
The aircraft is owned by Helicopters Vanuatu, which are piloted by highly experienced pilots.
This is the first helicopter crash in the country.
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