Flight History
On 4 October 2015, an Airbus Helicopters AS350-B3 registered F-OIAO, operated by Hélicocéan, was conducting a firefighting mission near Voh, New Caledonia. The pilot, accompanied by a mechanic, took off from Koné at approximately 10:50 after being instructed to fight a fire. They initially coordinated with a civil defence officer and a Bell 214 B1 from another company. After several water dropping runs, the crew returned to Koné at about 12:45 for refueling, taking on 330 liters of fuel. At 13:03, the pilot sent an SMS indicating refueling was complete. No further radio contact was made.
Accident Sequence
Following refueling, the pilot performed several maneuvers interpreted as scooping attempts in a mangrove area. During these maneuvers, the Bambi Bucket external water scooping device became snagged in vegetation. This caused the helicopter to tip forward and subsequently collide with vegetation and the ground.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot and mechanic sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was destroyed.
Causes
The accident was caused by the snagging of the Bambi Bucket in vegetation during a scooping phase, which led the helicopter to tip forward and collide with the ground. The investigation noted several factors that may have influenced safety margin management, including pressure from the fire and high workload on the pilot, who was still in the learning phase of firefighting helicopter operations, and insufficient training and supervision in specialized activities.
Additional Information
The investigation was conducted by the French Civil Aviation Safety Investigation Authority (BEA). No malfunctions or failures of the aircraft or its systems were found. The Bambi Bucket was a 2024S model with a capacity of 910 liters.