View Full Version : TC Bo105 Fatal Accident & the Cold Water Survival Problem
In a recent thread, cold water survival in the Gulf of Mexico in the winter has been discussed. http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/176803-gom-yet-another-ditching-17.html#post9208485
More extreme is the challenge in the Canadian Arctic. A lot of lessons can be found reading a TSB report on the loss of a Transport Canada operated Bo105 doing ice reconnaissance from a Coast Guard ship.
Canadian Coast Guard Helicopter Accident: CFIT, Survivability and More - Aerossurance (http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/can-cg-bo105-arctic-accident/)
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2013/A13H0002/Images/a13h0002-photo-08.jpg
md 600 driver
25th Dec 2015, 09:23
In a recent thread, cold water survival in the Gulf of Mexico in the winter has been discussed. http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/176803-gom-yet-another-ditching-17.html#post9208485
More extreme is the challenge in the Canadian Arctic. A lot of lessons can be found reading a TSB report on the loss of a Transport Canada operated Bo105 doing ice reconnaissance from a Coast Guard ship.
Canadian Coast Guard Helicopter Accident: CFIT, Survivability and More - Aerossurance (http://aerossurance.com/helicopters/can-cg-bo105-arctic-accident/)
http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2013/A13H0002/Images/a13h0002-photo-08.jpg
Why are the floats not activated ?
HeliHenri
25th Dec 2015, 09:38
From the report : "The system was manually activated only, with no automatic float deployment" (suspected CFIT).
Nigel Osborn
25th Dec 2015, 19:58
If it was CFIT, the pilot wouldn't have blown the floats up as it's unlikely he knew he was about to ditch. I bet it was a bit chilly!:ok:
Sir Korsky
25th Dec 2015, 20:22
I pretty much determined from my dunker training that getting wet was game over. Very sad incident.
jymil
27th Dec 2015, 21:02
Sounds like it was not really necessary to fly low over water, altitude is your friend. A radalt would have helped as well for maintaining a minimum altitude, but the report doesn't say if the machine was fitted with it. The giant d*ck mounted on the front was for sure not helping.
Winnie
28th Dec 2015, 00:55
Just the thinking that a Mustang floater suit is in any way, shape or form the same as a full anti-immersion suit is ridiculous beyond belief.
If it does not have booties, cuffs around wrists and a neck seal, it is a floater suit. Even the poor SARtech that perished in the Fox Basin, had an immersion suit and HE survived for 8 hours before he succumbed...
I unfortunately fly over water lots in the arctic, without immersion suits available, but I refuse to wear a mustang suit...
But yes, low flying over glassy surfaces did no one a favor that day.
W.