Ambulance Victoria Winching Accident

[Rotor Work]

From ABC News
Man dies in rescue chopper mishap - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-31/man-dies-in-chopper-mishap/4926894)

A man has died during a helicopter rescue operation in Victoria's north-east this afternoon.
Police say the man was being lifted with a winch into the Ambulance Victoria helicopter near Mansfield when he fell to the ground about 12:30pm AEST.
He was being rescued after he was injured in bushland at Macs Cove.
Police and Work Safe are investigating.

[Brian Abraham]

Aircraft from Bendigo?

[ersa]

who is the operator ?

I also noticed the current contract is up for renewal

[Rotor Work]

From the Age,
A man has died during a rescue mission in north-east Victoria after he fell from an ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Kelly Yates said the man was injured around 10am on Saturday while bushwalking, and was in the process of being rescued when he died about 12.30pm at Macs Cove, near Mansfield.
She said police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the man, and that WorkSafe has been notified.
Ambulance Victoria CEO, Greg Sassella, said in a statement that an air ambulance helicopter was dispatched to rescue a man who sustained leg injuries near Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.
''Tragically, the man has fallen as he was being winched and died.
''Our thoughts and sympathies are with the man's family. We are also providing support to the flight crew and paramedics involved,'' he said.
Ambulance Victoria has suspended winching operations, and will assist all investigating authorities, Mr Sassella said. State Emergency Service spokesman Toby Borella said "Mansfield SES were involved with locating the person, but that was the extent of our involvement".
WorkSafe spokesman Peter Flaherty said ''we're aware of an incident at Lake Eildon, and we're making inquires''

ABC Update
Ambulance Victoria is investigating after a patient fell to his death during a helicopter rescue operation in the state's north-east this afternoon.
The man was bushwalking with a group at Macs Cove, near Mansfield, when he broke his ankle about 10:30am AEST.
The ambulance helicopter was sent in to rescue the man about midday because of the terrain.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella says he fell about 30 metres to his death while he was being winched into the helicopter with a paramedic.
"I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him into the helicopter," he said.
Mr Sassella says Ambulance Victoria has suspended all winch rescues while the equipment is tested.
Police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria are also investigating.

[Squeaks]

who is the operator ?

I also noticed the current contract is up for renewal

6pm news footage shows Australian Helicopters B412 on the ground: most likely HEMS 5.

[meanttobe]

Confirmation of accident from Australia Helicopters.

Winching incident Victoria (http://www.austheli.com/news/Winching-incident-Victoria-17.htm)

[Squeaks]

Just an idea of the AAV 412 winching operation and the equipment used:

nscFetVNgzg

Apparently yesterday's patient was >140kg, which would have been an issue to be considered in the winching apart from any other factor.

[Rotor Work]

From ABC News
Ambulance Victoria has resumed some of its helicopter winching operations, after a patient fell to his death in the state's north-east yesterday afternoon.
The 68-year-old Sydney man was being rescued from a remote location near Mansfield after breaking his ankle, when he fell about 30 metres while being winched into the ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police says his body was retrieved from the site shortly before 1:00pm AEST.
Ambulance Victoria suspended winching operations after the incident but says it has decided to resume restricted winching, saying it has full confidence in its people, equipment and procedures.
They are investigating the incident, along with police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria.
The man, who is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilograms, was bushwalking with a group when he broke his ankle about 10:30am yesterday.
The paramedic and flight crew involved in the rescue are being questioned, with counselling also being offered.

[Brian Abraham]

is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilogramsNews just quoted 140 kg (309 pounds). Does that present difficulties?

[jimf671]

UTC/Goodrich list 42305 or 42325 for the 412 and both of these are "Maximum Lift Load 600 lb. (272.16 kg)"

Breeze HS-20200 is the same.

There are 450 lb products out there but you probably wouldn't expect them on this aircraft.

Anyway, as was discussed at IKAR 2012, shock load is the achilles heel of helicopter winching. Tiny events that lead to shock loads can have catastrophic results if the winch is not a modern example with overload clutch protection.

[[email protected]]

Bariatric casualties are becoming more commonplace as the percentage of grossly overweight people in the population increases.

One way of managing the big lads and lasses is to double strop them so that they present more or less horizontal at the door making the entry similar to a stretcher one.

[Hedski]

Why would the casualty in the video have been sent on his own then dropped down again? The double thumbs up is fine as a clear symbol but is it really necessary all the way up? maybe a hand on the casualty instead?

[Rotor Work]

ABC News Update
Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are to interview witnesses to the Victorian rescue accident on Saturday in which a 68-year-old man died.
The man from Sydney fell 30 metres to his death as he was being winched aboard an Ambulance Victoria helicopter after breaking his ankle while hunting.
He was being airlifted from a remote area known as Macs Cove at Lake Eildon, near Mansfield north-east of Melbourne.

The ATSB's Greg Madden says a team of four investigators will interview witnesses.
"The four investigators are in Melbourne conducting interviews, examining the helicopter and the winching equipment and also looking at maintenance records and we're also intending to interview witnesses in the coming days," he said.
"Once we've reviewed and analysed the information, if there are safety lessons that become apparent, we'll certainly advise the regulator along with the industry, the operators in the industry including the helicopter operators that have similar equipment."
He expects a preliminary report to be prepared within a month.
Ambulance Victoria has given the all clear to using some of its helicopter winches after the accident.
All winching operations were suspended immediately after the accident, but the service's chief executive, Greg Sassella, says engineers have confirmed the safety of winches on three of its five helicopters.
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
Ambulance Victoria says both the winch and the helicopter were more than capable of lifting the patient and the paramedic.
That is a view echoed by Steve McGhie of the Ambulance Employees Association.
He says the man's weight would definitely be an issue in the investigation in terms of the helicopter's capabilities and the distance it had to fly to hospital.
"It's certainly something that has to be taken into consideration," he said.
"I daresay it will be one of the factors in the investigation."
He says the issue is whether or not the equipment fitted correctly and that is relevant whether the person is large or small.

[unstable load]

What actually failed/broke?
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
If the "winching machine" :ugh:and all its associated kit were good, then one thing that could have gone wrong was him lifting his arms as he got to the door and falling out the strop.
I know from personal experience that the strop gets uncomfortable and I am only 89 kilos, so a larger person would be quite likely in a pretty sore state after being winched and it would almost be a reflex to reach out to the person at the door for assistance, and that would be the last thing the patient should do.

[SuperF]

Love the people walking in right under the helicopter once it arrives on site. I was looking for the baby, normally it's a mum with a baby that wants to stick themselves right in the crash path....

[[email protected]]

Hedski - looks like the winchman/paramedic forgot to attach himself to the hook (winching 101!).

Don't know if the aircraft had single engine hover performance but the casualty and winchman didn't have an escape route (other than wire cut or into the rock face) if the aircraft had to flyaway.

The hand signals are just comedy!

[catseye]

Crab,
not many ems machines in oz will have fly away and generally the client doesn't specify it except for some downtown /rooftop pads. :rolleyes:

[spinwing]

Mmmmmm ...

...... single engine fly away ..... I very much doubt it had any ....

Those machines are so heavy with all the associated medical gear that I understand they cant even launch from base with full tanks ...

But anyway that that is not an issue in this case and only detracts from what happened.

So sad this has occurred .... :(

[[email protected]]

single engine fly away ..... I very much doubt it had anyinteresting since I believe in EASA-land a HEMS aircraft must have that capability for live winching which is why air ambulances with winches aren't a player in UK.

[JB-123]

interesting since I believe in EASA-land a HEMS aircraft must have that capability for live winching which is why air ambulances with winches aren't a player in UK.

Not true:

JAR-OPS 3.005(h)(d)(1)

The Helicopter. During HHO, the helicopter must be capable of sustaining a critical power unit failure with the remaining engine(s) at the appropriate power setting, without hazard to the suspended person(s)/cargo, third parties, or property (Except for HEMS HHO at a HEMS operating site where the requirement need not be applied.)

EASA SPA.HHO.125 Performance requirements for HHO

Except for HHO at a HEMS operating site, HHO shall be capable of sustaining a critical engine failure with the remaining engine(s) at the appropriate power setting without hazard to the suspended person(s), cargo, third parties or property.

Training has to be conducted with OEI Performance (just like SAR)

[sagy34]

Crab,
can you clarify you comment about the hand signals, not sure what you are getting at:confused:

[[email protected]]

JB - thanks hadn't NB'd the HEMS operating site part:ok:

sagy - a double thumbs up doesn't really signify anything in terms of controlling the winching and keeps both hands away from the casualty which seems rather bizarre.

[chopper_doctor]

Very sad news indeed and first of all would like to offer condolences to all the crew involved :(

As for the video......hmmmmm, seems like he was more interested in putting on a show than doing his job. Hoisting 101? Yep, hooking up is usually a good idea, as has been mentioned the double thumbs up is good when your team scores, not needed so much during hoisting evolution.
Im personally not that familiar with the "sitting" stoop, but know when we used the older version, the tech ALWAYS kept his legs and one arm around the person, to prevent him from reaching out at the A/C and ruining everyone's day.
In this type of scenario, I always liked the basket....easy to use, very hard to fall out of.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Squeaks]

This morning's Herald Sun:

Fall hunter may have raised arms

A hunter may have raised his arms moments before he fell 30m to his death from an ambulance helicopter in dense Victorian bushland.
Ambulance Employees Australia secretary Steve McGhie said early indications were that 68-year-old Robert Davies may have slipped from his harness.
"He raised his arms to grab or reach for something," he said. "It sounds like he may have slipped out of the sling"

[Shaun838]

Double thumbs up signals clear of all ground obstacles in this operation, 1 thumb up clear to ascend. Actually has nothing to do with putting on a show. For the record it was the crewmans first operational winch, with no other on ground assistance, and a patient who was 2 km from the nearest road, initially refusing to be winched. The banter regarding this tragedy I find pretty heartless in the absence of any official reporting. Pretty easy to chuck in apples from the sidelines when you're not involved.

[rotorboyy]

What actually failed/broke?
Quote:
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
If the "winching machine" :ugh:and all its associated kit were good, then one thing that could have gone wrong was him lifting his arms as he got to the door and falling out the strop.
I know from personal experience that the strop gets uncomfortable and I am only 89 kilos, so a larger person would be quite likely in a pretty sore state after being winched and it would almost be a reflex to reach out to the person at the door for assistance, and that would be the last thing the patient should do.
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What brand of winching kit do the HEMS choppers use?
Any indications of failure? Or possible human error?
3 choppers have been cleared to fly.. What about the remaining 2?

[mickjoebill]

..and it would almost be a reflex to reach out to the person at the door for assistance, and that would be the last thing the patient should do.

With such an exhilarating/terrifying experience, is it asking a bit much for all patients to do as they are instructed?

A "harness" that you hang a civilian, untrained, sick person from, that can come undone?


Mickjoebill

[Aussierob]

What would possess someone to use a strop (horse collar) with out a crotch strap. (assuming that is what was used here) Any system that relies on active patient participation is doomed to failure as we have seen. We use screamer suits that you can't come out of and have a horse collar for special circumstances, and it has a crotch strap as well. It's not like they're more expensive or harder to use.

[S76Heavy]

While I was on SAR not too long ago it was either a basket or a double strop with the winchman securing the victim. Stretchers for the people that were immobile, off course.

But neither method of lifting depended on the person's actions. You cannot expect someone who needs to be airlifted out of a predicament to be able to cope 100% of the time with following instructions.

I understand having to perform SAR on a budget, but then there are cases you simply cannot attend or perform. Tough calls to make but they need to be made.