Horrifying to watch!
One surely hopes they were using a tag line and sadly it failed. To not have a tag line attached is inconceivable.
So many questions around this event.
- did they use a tag line (hi-line)
- if so to above did the weak link fail prior to spin commencement (if it failed why?)
- was there air to ground comms
- was there some form of hoist (winch) malfunction
- crew training issue
- SOPs in place to deal with a situation like this (winching out)
it appears in the video on the first attempt to bring the stretcher in once the spin began he did winch out and the spin did slow somewhat. But why in h€ll did he try again? Appears to be a small road directly in front of the AC, why not rest it there till some other solution was discussed. On the second attempt to winch in the HO must have seen the spin developing again but yet continued (??) To a point that was critical. It looks like he did winch out somewhat and as the video ends the AC had began to translate.
Hoisting ALWAYS last option. But unfortunately mostly only one at times.
Personally had a scary training exercise at night somewhat similar (but larger AC) Hoisting in a empty (though weighted litter) with all crew on goggles as the litter was approaching the sill a rapid and violent spin began. We had a tag line attached but was beyond the capabilities of the rescue man on the ground to control it. The onset was so quick and violent that there was a brief second of confusion bewteen all crew.
The litter ended up contacting the underbelly, sponson and unbelievable directlying behind the PF's window. No crewmember had ever seen such a rapid onset. The cable was immediately winched out and we regained control. We never encountered a similar situation after but became more vigilant then ever.
sometimes sh!t just happen sadly enough.