Final report after water bucket rollover
Feb 20, 2014
The Swedish Accident Investigation Board (Statens Haverikommission, SHK) has published its final report after an accident that occurred near Gällivare on 15 August 2011, involving a Swedish helicopter with the registration SE-HVI.
The aircraft, a Bell 206L-3 Long Ranger, was engaged in a water-bombing mission at the Aitik copper mine in Gällivare in order to prevent dust from forming in the dry tailings pond. The pilot had been spreading more than 80 rounds of water that day, and he was currently in the process of filling up the Bambi Bucket at a nearby lake. On lift-out from the pound a suspension line belonging to the bucket got caught in the rear left skid, resulting in a subsequent rollover. The aircraft impacted a swampy part of the lake and ended up resting on its side. The sole person on board, a highly experienced pilot, escaped with minor injuries.
The SHK concludes that the accident was caused by a dynamic rollover that was triggered by the bucket suspension line that was entangled in the rear left skid. The Board says that the position of the sun and possible shadows could have reduced the pilot’s ability to see the bucket through the cargo mirror. It further states that the skid gear layout made it possible for a suspension line to get caught whilst in flight. SHK recommends the Swedish Transport Agency and EASA to ensure that operators have established operative limits that covers possible risks in the helicopter design during sling-load operations.