Description

On May 21st 2011, National Airborne Service Corps (NASC), Ministry of Interior, a UH-1H helicopter, registration No. NA-511, had the captain and co-pilot, one flight engineer and 3 rescuers from Special Search and Rescue Team of National Fire Agency, Ministry of Interior on board. The aircraft took off at 0913 hrs from Tainan and during its third training operations at Longxiang Riverside Park on the right bank of the Gaoping river at Ligang Township, Pingtung County, the co-pilot performed the hoist up rescue training, the helicopter was in normal condition during approach with a stable hovering altitude of 60 feet. Flight engineer released the wire rope and started to retrieve the rope to hoist personnel after seeing the end of the rope was hooked well with the trainee. Then the helicopter started moving forward slowly, and at the same time the flight engineer kept on retrieving the wire rope. At 30ft from the ground the flight engineer felt the rope retrieving process was stopped and the rope started to slip down. After inspection flight engineer found that the pulling device could not be controlled, which led the rope to slip downwards and saw the hoisted personnel falling off to the ground  The captain took over to perform descent and landing, and let the injured person get on board. Flight engineer retrieved the wire rope manually back to the cabin. The helicopter flew back to Tainan Airport and landed at 10:40 hours; the injured personnel was sent to Tainan City Hospital. The helicopter had no damage.