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Miami, FL
THIS WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR RECURRENT TRAINING AND INVOLVED AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION WITH A 10 FT LINE. WHILE PREPARING TO PICK UP AN 800 LB LOAD, THE HELICOPTER WAS MANEUVERED OVER THE OBJECT WITH SLACK IN THE LINE. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT AND ADVISED THE OTHER PILOT TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE INSTRUCTOR BELIEVED THAT THE OTHER PILOT APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC, BUT ALSO PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HIS ACTION WAS TO PULL THE MANUAL RELEASE AND TRY TO MAKE A CORRECTION WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE LOAD DID NOT RELEASE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, STRIKING THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT AIRFRAME OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE EXTERNAL LOAD RELEASES (ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL) WERE CHECKED AND BOTH OPERATED NORMALLY.
THIS WAS AN INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT FOR RECURRENT TRAINING AND INVOLVED AN EXTERNAL LOAD OPERATION WITH A 10 FT LINE. WHILE PREPARING TO PICK UP AN 800 LB LOAD, THE HELICOPTER WAS MANEUVERED OVER THE OBJECT WITH SLACK IN THE LINE. THE INSTRUCTOR OBSERVED THAT THE HELICOPTER BEGAN DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT AND ADVISED THE OTHER PILOT TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION. THE INSTRUCTOR BELIEVED THAT THE OTHER PILOT APPLIED LEFT CYCLIC, BUT ALSO PULLED UP ON THE COLLECTIVE. THE INSTRUCTOR REPORTED THAT HIS ACTION WAS TO PULL THE MANUAL RELEASE AND TRY TO MAKE A CORRECTION WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS. THE LOAD DID NOT RELEASE, AND SUBSEQUENTLY, THE HELICOPTER ROLLED TO THE RIGHT, STRIKING THE GROUND. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO PREIMPACT AIRFRAME OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE EXTERNAL LOAD RELEASES (ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL) WERE CHECKED AND BOTH OPERATED NORMALLY.