Long line crash video

[Hobie]

Since it has been so quiet around here lately, maybe this crash video will get some people talking again.

1.  Why such a short line?

2.  Hot dogging or some other reason to come in so hot?

 

[Spike]

1.  Why such a short line?

The bucket is not on a line. Its belly hooked and common for the type of environment you work in along with the type of equipment used and the experience you have. In this case, a “belly hooked” bucket on an Astar and dipping from this size of water source is good to go. However, utilizing a machine with fixed floats is odd but maybe it’s common for French firefighting aircraft.

As purely speculation on my part, you can see, the water is glass which creates a depth perception hazard. Plus, when descending for the dip, the pilot is probably watching the bucket through the mirror which also creates a depth perception challenge. Moreover, dipping in the middle of the pond maybe isn’t best technique. Normally, you’d want a shoreline in your peripheral vision to provide a visual reference. Helicopter downwash on water can give you an illusion of movement and can be scary stuff.

2.  Hot dogging or some other reason to come in so hot?

Again, one hundred percent speculation. I wouldn’t say he came in “hot”. However, I believe the depth perception issues and little to no peripheral visual reference ques are what caused an overarched approach resulting in a high sink rate.

Me…… with a belly hooked Astar, a shallow(er) approach continually moving forward until the bucket contacts the water, rolls and sinks at the appropriate hover height is optimal (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Np8Lc5q4rK0). Think scooping the water with the bucket rather than dunking it. Going vertical is for confined dips and should be done while hanging on the engine(s)……

All the above is purely based on what I see in the video and my experience/opinion.