From the last 2 pictures, streetlights looks to be installed between the first and 2nd picture was taken. They seem to ''stand out'' more, and I will not be surprised if not the pilot's main focus was to clear that, preparing for a low-vis snowy landing causing him to miss the higher span. The poles for that span looks also like they are almost hidden against the trees.

Very sad regardless of reason.

Condolences to the families, colleagues and all involved.

Here is a video from a different angle.

Does the rotorhead not appear to "wobble" on the way down?

Video of the AIBN lifting the a/c onto transport: dagbladet.no

Yes, probably due to damage because of the blades hitting the wires.

M609
 

No disrespect to you,but, having lost close friends in crashes, I find that a very harrowing video and won't be watching it again.

Again thoughts with all friends, families and colleagues

That's pretty bad.


As an outsider, it would seem logical to me that those calling in air support from the ground should try (note try) and establish a safe landing area and advise back via the controller of obstacles/ hazards like this?


Does this happen in the UK?

The helicopter is often first on scene in rural areas

Latest information indicates that the air ambulance service has six channels for radio communication and one mobile phone onboard. Police have also stated that they tried to warn the incoming helicopter about the wires, but no response was given from the helicopter.

Further, it has been informed that preliminary checks have confirmed the most current version of map system used onboard these helicopters have the power lines in question indicated. However, it still remains to be confirmed if this also was the case for the map version loaded onto the downed helicopter.

Pretty sad all around that people died on their way to help others.

The pilot was a highly skilled veteran with just over 20 years of flying for the NLA. Before that he was an airforce pilot in the 771 squadron.

It just goes to show just how dangerous wires are, when they even knock out such a skilled and experienced pilot.

My thoughts and condolances goes to the families of the two deceased men.

I hope the paramedic turns out just fine.

try to warn
 

You are pretty lucky, when you recieve information about obstacles from the landing site. Most of the time there are police and rescueteams, who not even think about an information for the helicoptercrew:ugh:.

By the way, It´s always a miracle, when we loose a "highly skilled veteran". I have to remember, that you won´t find a greenhorn on an HEMS mission.

Normally, you will see the black cables in front of the white background. Except, you´ll do a very steep approach and you fix a reference point in the front of you to avoid a "white out". In this case, the wires are exactly under the helicopter and for all crew members "invisible".

Very sad...

One man ops. Why!
 

Time for a change.
When I first saw this tragic news I recall all my fellow pilots that are no more due to money.
Is it not time for two pilots in HEMS ?
I hear them overhead here on the westcoast on the most hidious of snowy nights, low level.
And I think :that is what I wanted to do , before someone gave me a first-officer and a twin, to warn me off,,,. Off,,,anything,,.!
While he gets experiance,,,!
Take as many details as You want, heli-ops will never get safer untill you get a First officer. Get the Government contractor to pay, or We shall pay.
I am tired of funeralls.
Yours Sincerely
Capt B

Some problems exist in the UK with on-scene comms. A/C would normally be expected to talk to each other on 123.1 but air-ground comms are a bit of a mess. Our emergency services are heavily "infected" with Airwave which is the equivalent of Nodnett. At rural locations where a major incident occurs, trunked systems have been known to overload and fail. Additionally, mountainous terrain seriously affects coverage. Police, road ambulance and volunteer agencies are never likely to get 123.1 and only SAR a/c use Land SAR frequencies. Even if you have experienced heli-ops personnel on the ground at the scene, waving our arms can be the best comms available.


Huge respect for these guys. En trist dag.

Has the injured paramedic been named?

Preliminary information from the AIB-Norway
 

A brief preliminary report was just published.
It is i Norwegian, but with two pictures. One of them showing that one of the wires got wound around the mast and severed the pitch-links.

Sondre Bjartland

www.vg.no
http://static.vg.no/uploaded/image/2...ed_ramme_1.jpg

Pitch links.....

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/labrador/313...ctive/978x.jpg

Was the aircraft equipped with a Wire Strike Safety System (Wire Cutter)?

Looking at the Video's.....it would question if it would have helped due to the very slow speed the aircraft was moving while doing the slow cautious approach the Pilot seemed to be making.

It was equipped with a WSPS, it could be seen on the video of the salvage, the upper part was red.

Photo: LN-OON (CN: 1033) Norsk Luftambulanse Eurocopter EC 135P2+ by Stig Rokkones - JetPhotos.Net

skadi

That makes this all the more tragic.

The wire(s) were quite small....and should not have been that hard to cut....but very hard to see.

I saw a Bell 206 with WSPS hit a wire and it ended up with severed pitch change rods as well. They reckoned that the wire went through a 1 inch gap between the top of the cutter and the rotor disc.

Speaking of single pilot ops..

The irony in this is that once you got big enough ships, you are required to have dual crew, even if the operations are not nearly as hazardous as EMS flying can be, escpesially in mountainious countries.

If there are any operations that should have two pilots, its such one as this. Clearly, it works well most of the time (2004 was the last accident they had, wihtout fatalities, 1996 with fatalities).

But the question they should ask them self is:

Is it really worth the money saved on single pilot ops when we
have loss of lives that could have been avoided?