I have been pulling rope, draw wire and conductor since the year 2000, initially with MD500'S and from 2004 with the AS350. The stringing with the MD500 was side pulling with the "Colorado Helicopter's" Side Pull. I then started stringing with the AS350 using the belly hook with a counter weight. I found this method very limiting with less control of the wire and was penalized by the weight of the counter weight. Seeing the advantage of the "side-pull" method, we developed a side-pull for the AS350. We pull the cable out side ways, not backwards, and to date have strung in excess of 30,000km of rope, draw wire & conductor without incident or accident. I believe this success has been contributed to the type of helicopter, the technique used and the extensive training and experience of the crew.
The accident to which this thread was started has been attributed to lack of experience and training and just adds to the long list of accidents that this operator has had over the years.