Crew member dangled from winch as rescue helicopter flew

A Queensland government rescue chopper had a crew member dangling from the winch when it collided with trees.

Rescue helicopter involved in an incident at Caboolture while trying to winch an injured bushwalker into the aircraft. Picture: Michael F@cqplanespotting

A Queensland government helicopter that collided with trees during a rescue operation, had a crew member dangling from the winch at the time.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s preliminary report on the incident near Caboolture north of Brisbane on June 20, revealed the crew member was dragged through trees for a terrifying 60-seconds as the pilot fought to regain control of the Leonardo AW139 chopper.

The incident occurred after the rescue helicopter had been tasked to the heavily wooded site at night to retrieve a patient who had fallen from a horse and then down a steep embankment.

Damaged rotor blades of the rescue helicopter involved in an incident at Caboolture, Queensland. Picture: MichaelF@cqplanespotting

A paramedic had reached the injured man on foot and helped prepare him for extraction from a tree-lined clearing.

After winching down a crew member and flight paramedic, the helicopter’s hover position shifted but no-one thought it was significant enough to mention.

As it began to rain lightly, the patient and paramedic were successfully winched back to the chopper but things began to go awry after the crew member attached to the winch.

“At about this time, the ground paramedic reported the helicopter ‘seemed to drift’ from the initial extraction winch position,” the report said.

Flight data showed in the space of 23-seconds, the helicopter did in fact drift about 10-degrees towards surrounding trees, and descend from 65-feet to 50-foot above ground level.

Rescue helicopter involved in an incident at Caboolture. Supplied: ATSB

“The medical officer reported at about this point, becoming concerned regarding the helicopter’s proximity to the tree-line. However in the limited time available this concern was not communicated to the aircrew,” said the report.

Seconds later, as the crew member was being lifted, the chopper’s main rotor blades struck trees causing a branch to fall.

In response the pilot immediately started to climb and move away from the trees prompting the aircrew officer to remind the pilot the crew member was still on the winch.

“As the helicopter moved away from the confined area the crew member was partially dragged through surrounding trees (then) started to spin due to the main rotor downwash,” the report said.

When the crew member was safely back on board, the pilot made the decision to return to base at Archerfield Airport, at a reduced speed.

Back on the ground, an inspection found damage to three main rotor blades which were returned to the manufacturer in Italy.

The ATSB investigation would continue to focus on weather conditions at the time and the operator’s procedures and risk controls.

A final report is expected by mid-2021.