Tragic Helicopter Crash in Douro: Investigation Launched into Fatal Incident

Investigation Launched into Helicopter Crash

The Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) has officially opened an investigation into the helicopter crash that occurred in the Douro River in Lamego, Viseu district, resulting in the tragic deaths of five GNR soldiers. This announcement was made by the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR) on Thursday.

According to the PGR, "the inquiry is underway at the 1st Section of Lamego of the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of Viseu."

On August 30, when the accident transpired, there were six occupants aboard the helicopter: the pilot, who survived, and five members of the GNR's Emergency Unit returning from a fire in Baião, Porto.

The helicopter, a model AS350 - Écureuil, was operated by HTA Helicópteros, based in Loulé, Algarve, and was on its way back to the Air Means Center (CMA) in Armamar when the accident occurred.

In a Note Informative released on Tuesday, the Office for Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft Accidents (GPIAAF) stated that the pilot had noticed a medium-sized bird in the same flight path prior to the crash, which forced him to divert. However, the investigation has yet to determine where this maneuver was executed.

As the helicopter was returning to base, it began a constant descent, flying over the left bank of the Douro River towards Peso da Régua. The pilot reported that during this descent, he observed the bird at the same altitude and trajectory, compelling him to execute a right turn, but he quickly resumed the original course. The GPIAAF emphasized that so far, it has not been possible to independently establish the point of this maneuver.

At approximately 11:32, while continuing its descent towards the river, the aircraft collided with the water's surface at a speed of about 100 knots (185 km/h) for reasons yet to be determined. During the collision, the pilot, seated on the right, and the occupant in the left cockpit seat were ejected from the aircraft.

Evidence suggests that the helicopter's engine was producing power at the time of the impact. In statements to Lusa on Wednesday, the pilot's lawyer called for an impartial investigation, asserting that the crash was due to a mechanical failure of the aircraft.

The lawyer, Albano Cunha, insisted on the need for a guarantee of an unbiased investigation into the accident, which involves multiple entities. He firmly believes that the crash was caused by mechanical failure, unrelated to the pilot's maneuver to avoid the bird shortly before the disaster. "We have no doubt that it was a mechanical failure. My client claims that the controls became stuck and blocked, and we now await the investigation to clarify why. We want it to be clear that the bird was not the reason for the helicopter's crash. Avoiding a bird is a perfectly normal maneuver that was executed successfully and had no relevance to the accident," emphasized Albano Cunha.