Incident Overview
On 13 January 2005 at 11:30 UTC, a Bell 212 helicopter (registration CS-HFJ) operated by Helisul – Sociedade de Meios Aéreos, Lda was conducting a rescue training flight near Salir, Loulé, at the location known as Rocha da Pena. The helicopter was carrying five persons on board: two pilots, a winch operator, and two rescuers/salvadores.
Sequence of Events
During a winch recovery maneuver in a wooded mountainous area, the recovery cable broke. At the time, two rescuers were suspended approximately 20 meters above the ground. The cable failure caused both individuals to fall. The accident occurred in the final phase of the exercise when the two men were being recovered, about 2 meters below the helicopter's skid. No prior warning was observed; a loud noise was heard as the cable parted.
Injuries and Damage
The fall resulted in the death of one rescuer. The other rescuer was hospitalized in critical condition with multiple traumas. The remaining three persons on board (pilots and winch operator) sustained no injuries or minor injuries. The aircraft itself was not damaged.