The Civil Aviation Department has issued a safety advisory to Heliservices, after an investigation found an electrical fault might have caused a fire.
Its Aerospatiale SA 315B LAMA helicopter was conducting an underslung load operation on a hillside at Kau Lung Hang Lo Wai in Fanling on January 3 last year.
When it was setting down a load onto a work site near an overhead high-voltage electricity line pole, a sudden flash of fire occurred below the helicopter. The sparks and smoke cascaded to the ground, injuring two workers.
Releasing the tentative findings of its investigation into the accident today, the department said it has advised the company to suspend the use of underslung cable assemblies on that model of helicopter, which consist of electrical conducting material, in the vicinity of overhead high-voltage electricity lines until the investigation is completed.
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