Alert 10 – 04 Large Container Lifted by Helicopter Downdraft
Alert 10 – 04 Large Container Lifted by Helicopter Downdraft
WHAT HAPPENED:
During a scheduled helicopter landing, the helicopter’s downdraft caused a large container weighing around 200 kilograms (440 pounds) to be lifted over handrails and then fall around 10 metres (33 feet) to the deck below. The container had been in place for some months and had experienced several similar helicopter landings without incident. The container was placed on the roof of a structure adjacent to the helipad on wooden battens and was not secured. The container was damaged in the fall. While no injuries were sustained, there was significant potential for serious injury.