Helicopter Long Line hits Power Cable and causes Fireball in Hong Kong
 

Another incident has been reported in Hong Kong today. I believe the helicopter involved is a Lama from Heliservices (HK) Ltd, but I have no confirmation of this. The report didn't mention anything about the well-being of the helicopter or the pilot.

RTHK reports:

A 62-year-old worker is fighting for his life in hospital after being struck by an electric fireball in Fanling. Police say he was with another worker on the hilltop of Kau Lung Hang when the cable of a helicopter, which was winching building material, struck an overhead power line. A fireball erupted and fell to the ground striking him. He suffered burns to 40 percent of his body. Emergency units were called but overhead power lines in the area made it impossible for a Government Flying Service helicopter to land. Eventually, firemen had to carry the injured man downhill. His fellow worker suffered burns to his face. Both men were workers for a CLP Power contractor hired to carry out works in the area.

From another thread:

R.OCKAPE


Anything you want to tell us?

Heliservices
 

If this report is true, this is the second such incident in the last 8 weeks. The previous incident resulted with the long line wrapped around the transmission line and tower knocking out the power.
Heliservices has had five different Chief Pilots in the last 20 months and four out of five pilots leave. Three out of the four were the companies most experienced long line pilots.
Rumor has it that after the last power line incident, the companies General Manager was removed from his post after the CAD informed him he was to have no further involvement in the companies operations.
Will be a busy time for the CAD this week.

Curious
 

I have no dog in this fight but am curious as to how much experience this company has in the powerline construction business. Where do their pilots come from?

I know they have been operating since at least 1993. They have employed quite a number of ex-pats, often from NZ or Australia.

HeliServices were a mature op on t'other side of the airfield at Sek Kong way back in 1981, when I first saw them. An ex-28 Sqn gentleman working for them had an empty net wrap itself around his tail rotor the following year, but generally they were considered a good, professional bunch

being an ex employee of HS and 7000 km's from HK I can't comment on this incident

I regret my post on the GFS incident and apologise for such

safe flying all

No dog? Strange question then. Google shall giveth... Heliservices - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and Heliservices (HK) Ltd. Over 30 years of Aviation Excellence.

Given that they have essentially connected all of HK to the grid over the last 25 years, the company CV is OK. Pilots from all over the world, and some of the best lifting pilots I've seen.

I know some guys from there, and of course they're up against the usual pressures of commercial work.

Interestingly, I know the ground crews are contracted (the client's people, not the company's). They are given a short course on safety and procedures before the job and then let loose, with a single (powerless) company staff overseeing. This sometimes has caused problems since the ground crews then don't fully appreciate the risks, and do things like standing right under the approach or departure path or similar faux pas which we would all take as basic 101 stuff.

It's true, there has been some significant movemement recently, both upstairs and on the shop floor.

That's not speculation at all, just an observation that sometimes, things might not be how they seem without the facts....



Let's wait and see...

(Still 2 incidents in as many weeks...that's not good press for the HK helo industry which is in fact pretty well (and tightly) regulated. Coincidence I think, rather than incompetence. Tell that to the press though...:ugh:)

bigtskyheli
 

We, in my country, since two years ago and until last October, working with us, had a very good man, and more, a very good professional pilot, who decided to go to take over a poisition, like, something as chief pilot on that company.
Guess what.
Is back in Europe now.
Why ? I don't know.
But as I can understand, that it is not the right place for a person like him.
For sure our DOV will desire to have him with us for the next fire fighting season.
My 2 cents.
VSOP

VSOP

Pity he didn't tell anyone he was leaving.

VERY Professional!

I'm sure the HS management will appreciate the confirmation.

A major shareholder of Heliservices (the Kadoorie family) is also a major shareholder of CLP. CLP has faced very significant safety issues before (prolly not through any material fault of their own, as power generation and transmission have inherent risks) but I do recall they fell out badly with their own lawyer over a previous fatality at one of their power stations - the lawyer seemingly felt obliged to disclose things told to him in confidence and got his a*se sued off him.

I hope CAD investigates this very thoroughly, without fear, favour or affection, and wish the injured men a speedy recovery.

Huh?
 

What does a "single powerless ground crew" have to do with the two incidents of pilots wrapping their long lines around power lines in the last two months?
There has been significant movement in the experienced pilot core in the last few months as well as in the senior management level. Rumor has it that the company also recently had their AOC suspended by the CAD for a significant number of MOR's. If true, the CAD obviously had concerns about the company's ability to continue to do their job as safely as they had been, for numerous years. As the saying goes " where there's smoke, there's fire".

Bigskyheli,

Not a lot from the 'pilotiing' point of view. The two incidents are serious from a flight operations point of view and hopefully will be properly investigated.

My point is from an overall operational point of view where some risks the pilot's take as part of their daily lives just can't be mitigated for various reasons.

The point is more that in the business there are known risks. We mitigate those by putting in place safety measures. If everyone involved is not totally on board with those safety measures ...

...as in the case of say a lone ground crewman who decides to eat his chow fan (rice) leaning against the telegraph pole for a bit of shade, (which is live and right under the departure path of the helicopter which is working) - despite being told in the safety briefing to stay clear from that area and by the company staff member)...

....then the fault for the incident is not soley the pilot's. No?

I guess the point I'm trying to make is we just don't have enough facts to jump right in an slate the pilots or even the operation. They are just one part of a complicated 'swiss cheese' right?

I have no interest in the politics of this thread what so ever...I read it out of general interest...I do however, lose respect for those that start revealing names......

Always thought this was an "anonymous" forum for those that wanted. Obviously my name is Gordy...I also post under a different name...hmmmm....but I think it is "un-cool" to reveal someones true identity...take it to PM's if you have an issue with someone and feel the need to call them out..

Added-----My post is irrelevant now as the post to which I was referring has been deleted.

"VSOP

Pity he didn't tell anyone he was leaving.

VERY Professional!

I'm sure the HS management will appreciate the confirmation."


There are two sides to every story. Knowing the pilot concerned I feel sure there would have been a good reason. I have twice worked for companies that didn't deserve notice, maybe this was one of those cases.

Phil

Chin sin gei si
 

I agree with you that the long lining role is complicated and that it is impossible to mitigtate out all of the possible hazards completely. The HS ground crews work hard to keep the clients ground crew on the safe side of the op. When HS works on the power lines the work is spread out over long distances and the HS ground crew is not at the drop off sites but only at the pick up staging area. The customer ground crew is at the drop off site usually located very close to the tower in order to receive and hook up the loads. The crew wouldn't be relaxing against the pole eating their lunch. Wrapping the long line around the transmission line would likely have nothing to do with the ground crew but unfortunately most likely pilot error. This type of work is very challenging and can be unforgiving. I know as I have also made mistakes performing this type of work and have flown away knowing that it was a close call. I am sure the company and the CAD will investigate and make changes where needed. My concerns have already been expressed regarding the exodus of experienced employees over a short period of time and I would hope the company looks at this seriously as well when determining what needs to be done to make the company as safe as it can be doing the dangerous type of work they undertake. I most likely worked with the crew that were injured and wish them all the best in their recovery.

BigSkyHeli,

That's all fair enough. You know the operation and risks far better than me.

Snagging the powerline is possibly an error...possibly only the pilot's. The injury and it getting to the newspapers and radio, and even this forum, might or might not have been the pilot's error, depending on factors unknown to us.

It never ceases to amaze me the speculation and presumptions that are posted after every incident. In this thread it was the suggestion of the current politics in the company as being cause of possible decline in standards which led to this incident!

Yet, there is absolutely no evidence posted thus far on that matter which link the two...I guess that's why its called a 'rumour network'.

My example was not the best, but it was meant to be a wild card; a 'what if it actually had nothing to do with the politics and standards but simply was one of those things? Or even a 'non-newsworthy' incident made worse by factors totally beyond the control of the pilot and operator? Say, a careless ground crew.

Why am I interested? I know many of the drivers in the area. Every helicopter incident in HK, inevitably becomes unproportionally big news in a small town, and only damages the industry's freedom as CAD regulate tighter, and ultimately makes it harder for mates and colleagues to earn a crust...or in the case of HKAC, enjoy themselves. (That's why I cringe when I see the R22s hotdogging around Sai Kung - - but that's another topic!

Having to explain to friends why there is a helicopter in the habour, a bus, a resevoir today doesn't help support promotion of our proffession or passion, whether it be utility, passengers, tours or free flight. And they're lucky...they have me to give them as straight a story as I can. Joe Public only can rely on the media, who in turn seem to rely on guess work and forums like this for their news.

Discussion like we've just seen here (and in GFS thread) does nothing to help, especially with lack of evidence as to the cause.

That's me done on this! HNY.

Chin sin gei si
 

Maybe better yet it should be called the opinion network. LOL. I appreciate that this is only my opinion and certainly expect it to be challenged, debated, and possibly, even proved wrong once all the facts are in.
HNY to you as well.

Dear Chi Sin Gei Si
 

Accidents do not happen by themselves. I have been slinging (over 75,000 rotations in LAMAs, 205´s, 350´s...) in mountains up to very high altitudes without accident for more than 10 years. There are ways to avoid such as happened in HK, but only if you adopt a different look at things. It sounds to me like you are trying to find excuses. Go a different route if your does not work. Check your OM and change it, I think it is necessary. Ground crew should never be from another company and there must always be one at point A and one at point B - with radio contact to the pilot. If you can´t afford this, forget operating in this environment, it will cost you more than you gain.

alpine,

Thanks. Wow! All really impressed down here, I can tell you. (Be careful though...you don't want to tempt fate do you?)

Actually, not trying to make excuses. I don't know anymore the cause of this than you do (or joe bloggs does). That's my only point. Not enough facts yet. Let's not make them up. That's all I'm saying.

I'll let another person comment on the recomended operating procedures for this kind of work. I am not worthy enough to do so.

Ciao!