atsb final report released 16 may 2013 - Ambulance Service of NSW

Figure 19: Severed winch cable and hookSource: ATSBThe duty paramedic’s equipment that was retrieved from the accident site by therescue party was also examined by the ATSB. The tag line that had been used todeliver the winch hook, together with a number of other roping-related componentsused by the duty paramedic, was also retained for further examination.Examination of recovered componentsAll of the retained helicopter and roping-related components were examined at theATSB’s technical facility in Canberra. The results of those examinations areoutlined in the following paragraphs.Multi-purpose flight recorderThe recorded audio and flight data from the accident flight were successfullydownloaded from the helicopter’s MPFR. Elements of those recordings wereparticularly important in understanding the conduct of the flight and the interactionbetween the flight crew and paramedical officers.Relevant extracts of the audio recordings and recorded flight data are referencedthroughout this report.Rescue winch cableThe surfaces of both ends of the severed winch cable were compared to the surfacefrom a sample of cable that was severed by the ATSB using the helicopter’s manualcable cutters. Magnified visual comparison of the cut surfaces confirmed that thewinch cable was severed on the day of the accident using manual cutters.- 25 -