Inverness helicopter company warns pilots after identical scares

A helicopter operator which provides aerial filming for Hollywood blockbusters has ordered its pilots to slow down after two of its aircraft were damaged in almost identical incidents eight days apart.

Two helicopters were damaged by low-hanging cargo hooks which were blown upwards due to the pilots flying at maximum speeds. The incidents were revealed in the latest official bulletin by the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

The first incident occurred in Cairngorms National Park on October 8. An almost identical incident occurred eight days later in Kettlewell, North Yorkshire, involving the same model of aircraft.

Both pilots, who were aged 60 and 66, landed the helicopters safely and were unharmed.

The bulletin concluded: “The helicopter operator conducted an internal investigation into the two accidents, which concluded that the sling had entered the tail rotors due to high airspeed.”

Both aircraft were operated by Inverness-based PDG Helicopters.