Tasmania firefighting accident.

[catseye]

No further details yet.

Firefighting helicopter crashes in Tas | The Courier-Mail (http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/tas-firefighters-brace-for-heat-winds/story-e6freono-1226572508456)

A HELICOPTER pilot has been rescued after his chopper crashed while he was fighting a bushfire in Tasmania.

A Tasmanian police rescue helicopter evacuated the pilot at 5pm (AEDT) after his helicopter crashed while he was fighting the fire near Molesworth in the state's south, police said.

The pilot was flown from the scene and taken to hospital in a stable condition.

The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

The Tasmanian Fire Service (TFS) says the fire danger in the Molesworth area is very high with a large bushfire burning at Glen Dhu Road.

The fire is impacting the areas of Suhrs Road, Fehlbergs Road, Valley Road and Collins Cap Road to Springdale Road, it says in a statement.

TFS warns it is likely to be too late to leave the area, with residents advised to activate their bushfire survival plan.

Spot fires may threaten homes earlier than the main fire front.

The TFS says there may be embers, smoke and ash falling on Molesworth, Glenlusk and Collinsvale, Myrtle Forest Road, and Old Springdale Road.

TFS said an out-of-control fire on the Huon Highway at Franklin, south of Hobart, has prompted a high fire danger rating for the area.

TFS says the fire may now affect the Huon Highway, Castle Forbes Road and Fleurtys Road to the south of Franklin.

Communities south of Franklin and Castle Forbes Bay may experience embers, smoke and ash falling on them.

A low-moderate fire danger rating has also been made for the Lefroy area, between Bridport and George Town on the north coast, with a large bushfire burning out of control at Shaw Street.

The fire may affect the communities of the Lefroy township and properties southeast of Lefroy are also at risk from smoke and embers, the TFS said.

The 52-year-old Hobart man crashed into a clearing near the bushfire before being rescued.

His helicopter was one of a team of four choppers water-bombing the Molesworth blaze that started on February 6.

Police said the man was airlifted to the Royal Hobart Hospital for assessment and was shaken by the incident but not seriously hurt.

The Air Transport Safety Bureau has been advised of the crash. Investigators will look into the cause of the accident.

[John Eacott]

Update from The Mercury: (http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2013/02/08/372031_tasmania-news.html)

EXPERTS are trying to determine what caused a helicopter to crash while battling a bushfire near Collinsvale.

Tasmania Police officers today walked to the scene of the crash to examine the badly damaged machine.

Air crash investigators will conduct a mechanical investigation but access to the stricken chopper has been hampered by fires burning nearby.

The helicopter was water bombing a home near paddocks behind Collinsvale, north-west of Hobart, late yesterday afternoon when the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing because of a sudden mechanical failure.

The Tasmania Fire Service says the pilot was badly shaken but walked away without injury.

The loss of the helicopter was a major blow for the 38 crews on duty last night, battling to save Molesworth and Collinsvale homes.

The TFS says a drop in wind speed and temperature, coupled with a small amount of rain, has improved the situation today and so far no homes have been lost.

The fire has ripped through more than 1000ha of land and evacuated residents are being asked to stay away from the area until further notice.

Glen Dhu Rd and Collins Cap Rd remain closed, with pastures scorched, fences destroyed and power poles still smouldering.

Speaking at Molesworth today, TFS district officer Mark Klop said the main fire front was burning in the cliffs behind Glen Dhu Rd.

The rugged terrain was making it very difficult to put in more containment lines.

"We've got two dozers working to build fire breaks at the moment but the helicopters have proved invaluable to us fighting this fire," he said.

"We can't get ground crews or dozers into most of the areas where the fires have been burning, so without the aircraft the situation would've been very different."

The TFS has three helicopters water bombing and conducting fly-overs to map the fire today.

Mr Klop said homes would have been lost without the aerial presence.

"They've certainly protected a lot of homes and they've also kept our ground crews safe," Mr Klop said.

"Something flares up, we tell them, and they come in and bomb it until the danger passes and we're right. They're doing an excellent job."

A "watch and act" alert is in place for residents of the fire-affected areas, with regular updates available on the TFS website.

Glad to say the pilot is OK :ok:

[Rotor Work]

Investigation: AO-2013-026 - Collision with terrain involving Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter, VH-EWM, 31 km west of Hobart Airport, Tas. on 7 February 2013 (http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2013/aair/ao-2013-026.aspx)


Collision with terrain involving Eurocopter AS350B2 helicopter, VH-EWM, 31 km west of Hobart Airport, Tas. on 7 February 2013

Fly Safe
RW

[infloweffect]

From the picture I saw of the scene, EWM impacted some very large trees up slope of where the airframe rests. The pilot looks to have had a miraculous escape. Has any one spoken to the pilot for a first hand account? Or are the posts copy and paste PRESS releases which we all know are ALWAYS accurate?

[Nigel Osborn]

Poor Helires won't have much of a Squirrel to return to Queensland! I'm told the very lucky pilot was picked up in a fire bucket!!:D

[Aesir]

Video of a 214 slinging a downed AS350B2

Contour | Stories | B2 Recovery.. Molesworth Fire Ground.. (http://contour.com/stories/b2-recovery-molesworth-fire-ground)

[belly tank]

EWM was a new machine I've seen it quite a few times it was one of Bill Haffners rebuilds from pacific crown Helis. Only had around 500hrs since rebuild. Glad pilot walked away and looking at the spot he got into very lucky indeed!

[gulliBell]

What's the purpose of the ring on the toe of the 214 skid?

The VH- Register records EWM as having an LTS101 engine, doesn't that make it an FX Squirrel?

[Lama Bear]

It's not a ring, it's a mirror sometimes used to clear the tail rotor and/or watch lines being attached to the belly hook.

[BigMike]

It's a SuperD-2. Real shame as it was a really nice aircraft.

[Steve76]

The ring is a tie-down used for ship board operations or more commonly, blade tie down.

[Semi Rigid]

That ring is where the ground handling tow strut appendage is attached - should be one on left side as well and see them on most other Bell type's.

Gullibell I thought you asked about the tow ring, not the mirror. My bad.

[gulliBell]

Lama Bear answered the question, it's a mirror, not a ring...

[Flying Binghi]

Thats one handy ring. Use it to look behind, tye down and a bit of ground handling..:}

[Squeaks]

A couple of days after the EWM accident, Kestrel's 212 had an 'oopsie' moment ;)

PhbljMbtL4U

Skilled? :p

[Ag-Rotor]

""" oh that's amazing skill ??? The knob didn't even know he left the bucket in the tree....then he didn't even bother to check the bucket for damage.

[icedriver]

As Forrest Gump would say, "It happens".

[gulliBell]

Yeah, definitely an oopsie moment. He couldn't have been watching the bucket at that late stage of the termination because he kept descending for a while after the bucket went into the trees...the 212 is not an easy platform to long-line from because you really need to get in an awkward seated position to observe the line. I note also the co-pilot door was on and it's hard to pick from the video whether that door is fitted with a bubble window....

[Squeaks]

I note also the co-pilot door was on and it's hard to pick from the video whether that door is fitted with a bubble window....

Yes, it is: VH-NEN Bell 212 leased from Commercial, IIRC.

[Rotor Work]

Flying firies saved the day Tasmania News - The Mercury - The Voice of Tasmania (http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2013/02/23/373036_tasmania-news.html)

HELICOPTERS may have saved the day at Molesworth, Franklin and Gretna but the international pilots who man the aircraft say it's all in a day's work.

Video of the 214 Water Bombing
Well done Piers & Dave.
Regards R W :ok:

[infloweffect]

Squeaks can you please re post the 212 bucket in tree please. It is saying removed! That would be great for a training video. Of what not to do. Sounds like some serious horse power was being pulled getting that hog out if the trees. Did anyone else notice that. Though it was windy the pilot may have expected the bucket to be well forward of where it actually was when it tangles with the koalas. Could have led to bad outcome had the pilot not noticed! Amazing vid!

[mustering guru]

Bit harsh calling him a knob!

He might not of been having a good day or was distracted by something else right at that moment,I think your 'name calling' is childish and immature. If its the pilot I think thats flying he is a very good driver with lots of experience in OZ/PNG and Canada.

I have over 2000 hrs long line time and plenty in the 212 doing fires and other things and speaking from my experience, you have your good days and bad and she aint the most nimble ship to pull up in a hurry.

[Drumpump]

I agree with MG,

The guy is an excellent pilot with lots of experience unfortunately he had an embarrassing moment and someone was there recording it,

Just go's to show, you only have to f*#k one goat!