TorqueStripe
I've also heard about this witness. But i couldn't believe in such a scenario. Why?
1. Much more witnesses from the the other gondolas stated the load was lost in a distance to the cable.
2. The cable of the cable car was damaged on the upper sector.
3. The kettle showed no signs of a hauled contact to the cable/condolas.
4. If the slinged load had hit the cable or gondolas direct then the hook, the load steel rope and the helicopter will show signs of overstress. The investigations don't showed signs of overstressed helicopter parts.
After a great and unfair media campaign after the accident day with a lot of pressure to the pilot and the operator without any basics the "end of investigations" message with the technical problem was posted in very small letters or in 5 "on air" seconds. Now the medias have again a lot of time to broadcast the new speculations.