Dragon 972 hits overhead power lines in Martinique
 

How often does something like this happen (April 3)?

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/video-helicoptere-securite-civile-percute-sectionne-trois-lignes-haute-tension-697172.html

Page contains video of the incident.

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/marti...on-697172.html

That must have been a scary experience for all involved, hopefully all are ok. My only question would be, was it really necessary to deploy a helicopter in the first place as the rescue seems very close to the shore(well it appears close) surely a small boat would have sufficed?

I am curious if the cable was cut by the Hoist Operator or the pyrotechnic cartridge was triggered by the power lines...
And also, man they were lucky that they did not hit with the rotor...


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Jet ski accident initially?
 

https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/marti...ef-1053466.jpg

In the video linked in post above the diver and the casualty can be seen falling 'off the winch' but were somehow unhurt?

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&tab=wT&sl=fr&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fla1ere.fr ancetvinfo.fr%2Fmartinique%2Fcable-haute-tension-tombe-rn2-perturbe-circulation-schoelcher-696964.html

"a bathing accident"
...
Fortunately, according to firefighters " no casualties were reported"."

Video linked in post above says - "scooter des mers" - A Jetski I guess?


Perhaps Eurocopter EC-145 B F-ZBPP.

I am curious if the Hoist Operator cut the cable or the pyrotechnic charge went off due to the cable hit.

And man, they were lucky they did not hit those wires with the rotor...

Classic gotcha. Posts widely spaced, wires over a "clear" area.

FloricaH135
I think it was the high voltage arc that cut right through the hoist cable. There was an incident during hurricane Harvey recovery operations out in Houston where a hoist cable contacted a power line while the guys were trying to retrieve a survivor in a rescue basket; the power line arc welded right through the cable. Fortunately the basket wasn't very high off the water line yet and no one was hurt.

I don't know the mechanics of that hoist system but it looks like the winchperson foresees the upcoming problem, reaches up and manually releases.

Cheers

TeeS

it looks like the wire strike protection kit didn't get a chance to do its thing as the wires seem to strike the nose, part and arc without being fed up or down to the cutters.

Unless the winchman and casualty fell into the water - someone's head obscures that - I find it difficult to believe they weren't injured.

The poles look very visible even if the wires themselves weren't.

I don't know of any winch system where the winchman can cut the wire - only the winchoperator or the pilot.

Apologies for the broken link. The witness in the video does indeed say that the cable broke, and that the winchman and casualty fell into the water, apparently an inlet spanned by the power lines.

Geographic Features for Helicopter Pilots:

Valley or Re-entrant: Two or more shoulders of higher ground connected by high tension electricity cables. (See also "cleared area").

Longer version , location is " Fond Bellemare , Martinique ":



skadi

Did the high tension wire arcing activate the winch cable cutting device as it happened immediately on contact ?

I think that is very likely.

What is interesting is how much the winchman is struggling in the water - I'm sure the impact would have knocked the wind out of him - he doesn't appear to have a lifejacket which would have given them both buoyancy and made things easier.

Look at his neck, but it was not inflated. I think he was struggeling with undonning his winchgear, fins and the rest of the winchcable

skadi

The Eurocopter EC 145 (BK-117 C-2) is F-ZBQK (c/n 9372), based at Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (TFFF/FDF).

Curious to see what the hoist manufacturer says about explosive squibs around energized powerlines. Hoisting seems to be the flavor of the day for many utilities. Not sure if fixed line might be a better option.
Spectra line, especially coated, does not conduct like a steel hoist cable.
Glad to see it only resulted in a short swim rather than loss of the machine and crew.

I can see what might be the straps of his winching harness but not anything that looks much like an uninflated lifejacket but I stand to be corrected.

He seems to be struggling with the casualty hanging desperately on to him and trying to drown him.