What happened
On 29 August 2003, an Aerospatiale AS350B Squirrel, registration G-PLMB, was conducting aerial filming of marine traffic on Loch Ness and the Caledonian Canal. Following the completion of filming on Loch Ness, the pilot descended to 200 feet to capture footage of a cabin cruiser moving southwest along the canal near Fort Augustus, Scotland. During this phase of the operation, the aircraft performed several right-hand orbits.
As the pilot transitioned from a north-westerly to a southerly heading, power cables were observed approximately 65 metres ahead across the flight path. In an attempt to avoid the obstacle, the pilot applied aft cyclic to climb. However, the cameraman reported a potential contact with the wires. The pilot subsequently landed the aircraft in a nearby field and shut down the engines.
The investigation
Investigators examined the aircraft and found that both tail rotor blades and the lower vertical fin assembly had sustained damage from a wire strike, though the components remained intact. The investigation established that one of the power cables, which was carrying 132,000 volts, had been severed by the impact. Due to the local terrain and the necessity of maintaining clearance for vessels on the canal, the cable was positioned only 314 feet above the ground.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the pilot allowing himself to be distracted by the secondary task of filming, which diverted attention from the essential duties of aircraft command.
- The power cable was positioned at a low height due to topographical constraints and maritime clearance requirements.
- There were no injuries to the crew during the incident.