Date:	29-JUN-2015
Time:	13:25 LT
Type:	Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil
Owner/operator:	Proteção Civil
Registration:	CS-HMH
C/n / msn:	4246
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category:	Accident
Location:	Lamoso, Paços de Ferreira -   Portugal
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Fire fighting
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency:	GPIAA Portugal

Narrative:
The helicopter of Civil Protection was loading water from pond in Lamoso to provide fire-fighting support to a fire that was being fought in Sanfins. The helicopter crashed into the pond and sank. The pilot survived and received minor injuries.

FACTORS:
1 - The fact that the pilot was dazzled by the reflection of the sun light during the most critical phase of his final approach to the water, was the main contributive factor to this accident
2 – The fact that this accident has occurred at the time when the sun, in this season was passing its Zenith, could also have contributed for the angle of reflection of the sun to fall upon the eyes of the pilot with more intensity when he was in the most critical phase of the flight.
3 - The fact that this has been the first time that the pilot operated in this specific site, a small pond surrounded by rocks, can be considered as a contributive factor, too.
4 – This accident also occurred in the first day and in the first mission in which this pilot was in charge in 2015 firefighting season. He was not still used with the routine of procedures in this new environment.

http://www.gpiaa.gov.pt/wwwbase/wwwinclude/ficheiro.aspx?tipo=0&id=10350&ambiente=WebSiteMenu

http://www.dn.pt/inicio/portugal/interior.aspx?content_id=4651158
http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/nacional/portugal/detalhe/helicoptero_de_combate_a_incendios_despenha_se.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20160619141750/http://www.prociv.pt/pages/noticias.aspx?NoticiaId=1022
http://sicnoticias.sapo.pt/pais/2015-06-29-Helicoptero-de-combate-a-incendios-cai-perto-de-Cavaleiros-Pacos-de-Ferreira-
http://www.bea.aero/fr/enquetes/2015/2015.semaine.27.pdf

Safety recommendation 13/2017 issued 25 January 2017 by GPIAA to ANAC Portugal
Safety recommendation 14/2017 issued 25 January 2017 by GPIAA to ANAC Portugal
Safety recommendation 15/2017 issued 25 January 2017 by GPIAA to ANAC Portugal
Safety recommendation 16/2017 issued 25 January 2017 by GPIAA to ANAC Portugal

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
29-Jun-2015 17:35	jfigueiredo	Added
29-Jun-2015 17:39	harro	Updated [Aircraft type, Operator, Source]
29-Jun-2015 20:32	Aerossurance	Updated [Narrative]
01-Jul-2015 18:40	KaliKeira	Updated [Registration, Cn]
11-Jul-2015 16:18	Aerossurance	Updated [Time, Source, Narrative]
12-Jul-2017 19:18	harro	Updated [Source, Narrative]