Originally Posted by
Peter3127
Good result in the circumstances. It would appear the other Erickson machine could go close to lifting it out?
News reports that the Crane fleet is grounded in Australia until Erickson/Kestrel satisfy the authorities as to the cause of the accident. Already speculation on news reports that the schnorkel may have snagged, but the images to date appear to show the schnorkel on H341 in the raised position.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-...WOPXZJgEETtseQ
https://www.9news.com.au/2019/01/28/...-dam-bushfires
A Victorian water bombing helicopter has crashed into a dam while it was working to battle fires in the Gippsland region.
There are unconfirmed reports the craft flipped while scooping up water from a dam.
The Victorian State Control Centre last night confirmed an Aircrane aircraft, carrying three people, had been fighting the Aberfeldy fire over the Thomson Complex Catchment at the time of the incident at 7.15pm.
The three crew members – two pilots and an engineer – all safely escaped the aircraft and swam to the edge of the Thomson Dam, which is located next to Mount Gregory in the rural suburb of Jericho.
Ambulance Victoria authorities were dispatched to the area to assess the crew members but no one was injured.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Worksafe have been notified and an investigation is underway.
“Over the past several days, the aircraft had been involved in fire suppression activities at the Thomson Catchment Complex fires,” The State Control Centre said in a statement.
“The Aircrane was one of ten aircraft working on the fire.
“Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said that he was grateful that the crew are safe.”
There are currently 49 water fighting helicopters operating in Victoria.
It's the first bushfire where night-time water bombing has taken place, however it was still light when this incident occured.
© Nine Digital Pty Ltd 2019
And the inevitable Worksafe involvement is a sign of the times; as if they should have a further say in an aircraft accident
