The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating after the Bell 412EP helicopter, which bears New South Wales Rural Fire Service livery, experienced a “control issue” on March 10.
The Helicopter was being used in Tasmania to support fire fighting operations which burnt out 100,000 hectares of bushland on the Westcoast of Australia’s most southern state.
The incident occurred when the Bell 412 VH-VJF operating as Helitak 204 which is part of the Coulson Australia fleet was conducting a hover fill using its underslung bucket. The helicopter unexpectedly sank 50ft.
The pilot on board the helicopter then initiated a manoeuvre to regain control where forward flight was selected and while jettisoning the bucket. Before this could be done the bucket became taut, causing a sudden stop and an abrupt tail-down motion. This resulted in the external hook and longline making contact with the lower fuselage.
The pilot flew back to the base at Zeehan where inspection identified damage to the helicopter’s fuselage, control tubes for both the engines and the tail rotor. Damage was also identified to the bucket and longline.
The ATSB noted that the evidence collection phase of the investigation will involve interviewing involved parties, retrieving and reviewing recorded data, and the collection of other relevant information.
A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.
The damage to the airframe has been classed as substantial, meaning that if repairs can be done they may exceed the airframes value, thus becoming a write off. Images circulating online show significant airframe structural damage.
By Dave Soderstrom – March 22nd 2025 – Australian Contributor
