Crashed helicopter pilot says a bird forced him to take a diversion
The Government declared a day of mourning after five GNR personnel were killed in a crash on Friday.
The pilot of the helicopter that crashed into the Douro River last Friday, killing 5 GNR personnel, said that before the accident he had seen “a medium-sized bird” on the same flight line, forcing him to “take a diversion”.
The pilot survived the accident, which happened in Lamego a little after 12.30pm on Friday afternoon while the helicopter was returning from fighting a fire near Baião, just inland from Porto.
According to a preliminary investigation, “on the flight back to the base in Armamar (Viseu), the aircraft began a steady descent, where it flew over the left (south) bank of the Douro river towards the city of Peso da Régua”.
“During this descent, according to the pilot’s [sole survivor] statements, he observed a medium-sized bird at the same altitude and in the helicopter's trajectory, which forced him to take a right turn and resume his route immediately afterwards. From the data collected so far, it has not been possible to independently determine the point at which this manoeuvre was executed,” the investigation stresses.
Then, at 11.32am, the investigation adds, “while descending towards the river to the left, the aircraft collided with the surface of the water at a speed of around 100 knots (185 km/h) for reasons to be determined”.
“In the process of energy dissipation that occurred during the collision, the pilot, seated on the right, and the occupant of the left cockpit seat were projected out of the aircraft,” the NI also reads.
The victims, aged from 29 to 45, are all members of the Emergency Protection and Rescue Unit (UEPS) of the National Guards (GNR), the country’s civil protection authority said in a communique.
The crashed helicopter, an AS350 – Écureuil model, was operated by the company HTA Helicópteros, based in Loulé, Algarve.
Another crash
On Monday, an air ambulance operated by INEM, the National Institute for Medical Emergency, crash-landed in Atei, Mondim de Basto, carrying four medical personnel.
Thankfully, all four suffered only minor injuries, although they were taken to hospital as a precaution.
The accident happened at 12.30, after the helicopter responded to a call to an accident at a local quarry.
According to an INEM source, “during the landing, the propellers (of the aircraft) raised a lot of dust” causing the helicopter to crash into trees, and then tip over on its side.
bird...or drone?