Swiss Military "Super Puma" (?) down at Gotthard

[StephanKoelliker]

A Swiss military "Super Puma" (?) is down in the area of the Gotthard pass in the central Swiss alps. Rescue operations are going on.

Unglück auf Schweizer Pass: Militärhelikopter am Gotthard abgestürzt - NZZ Schweiz (http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/unglueck-auf-schweizer-pass-militaerhelikopter-am-gotthard-abgestuerzt-ld.119196)

Stephan

[SilsoeSid]

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A//www.nzz.ch/schweiz/unglueck-auf-schweizer-pass-militaerhelikopter-am-gotthard-abgestuerzt-ld.119196

2 Pilots killed, flight assistant injured. Possibly hit power cable, tbc

RiP
:(

[jymil]

This picture was supposedly taken just before the crash:
http://s5.srfcdn.ch/images/auftritte/news/bilder/2016/09/28/node_11256769/124814459-5-ger-DE/bild_s8.jpg

This picture shows the crash site:
http://f1.blick.ch/img/incoming/origs5541840/1930142443-w980-h653/Unknown.jpg

The tailboom separated:
http://f1.blick.ch/img/incoming/origs5542749/8570149969-w980-h653/20160928-114815.jpg

And a powerline was cut :
http://f3.blick.ch/img/incoming/origs5543357/8040147448-w980-h653/heli-absturz6.jpg

So that would mean the crash site is behind where the helicopter was in the 1st picture. Also, the heli looks already quite high, it should be clear of those type of powerlines. But of course, you never know what kind of maneuvering was done after the picture was taken.

[212man]

The gear is down, so maybe it was doing a left hand circuit to land, in the first picture, and hit the power lines on short final?

[Armchairflyer]

According to the nzz.ch-article from the OP the helicopter landed, let several passengers deboard, and hit the powerline after taking off again.

[jymil]

Good point, but according to the news, the crash happened shortly after takeoff. This doesn't rule out a circuit, of course. Or the picture was taken before the helicopter landed the first time. Not sure when exactly they select gear up/down.

[Vertical Freedom]

Rest in Peace Brothers

[Nescafe]

Some militaries routinely leave the gear down...

[jymil]

Now it's officially confirmed that the wire strike was the initial cause. The backward takeoff maneuver was not confirmed yet, but if that was the case, then it's pretty hard to see obstacles. I don't think that kind of takeoff profile is suitable for anything other than a surveyed site (i.e. a helipad). In such a cable-infested area, you want to climb out vertically.

[[email protected]]

Agreed - the PC1-style slowly up and back isn't really the best option for this type of LS - a high power, low exposure time, vertical climb to TDP would probably have been the better choice.

[Frying Pan]

With respect...Coulda, woulda, shoulda...Makes you wonder. I'm tempted to start two aviation companies and call one Highsight Aviation and the other **** Happens Air. I'll let you know how it goes.