PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Three killed in South Australia Helicopter crash
Old 16th Sep 2011, 07:18
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John Eacott
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Age: 75
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ATSB Preliminary report released today:

On 18 August 2011, an Aérospatiale Industries AS355F2 helicopter, registered VH-NTV, was operating in an area east of Lake Eyre, South Australia (SA). On board were the pilot and two passengers. The helicopter landed on an island in the Cooper Creek inlet, about 145 km north of Marree, SA, at about 1715 Central Standard Time.
At about 1900, the helicopter departed the island, and soon after takeoff it collided with terrain. The pilot and the two passengers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed by the impact forces and a fuel-fed fire.
The investigation is continuing.
Also the ABC News have this report:

A month-long investigation by transport safety staff has not found a cause for an outback helicopter crash that killed three ABC staff.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released its preliminary report but it could be up to 11 months before the final report is ready.

Paul Lockyer, John Bean and Gary Ticehurst died in the crash after sunset near Lake Eyre in South Australia on August 18.

The ATSB has checked the helicopter's major components and investigators have spoken with witnesses.

The bureau says an examination of the artificial horizon instrument has confirmed its internal gyro was working at the time.

The report says no cause for the crash has been identified at this stage.

It says the helicopter had been maintained in accordance with air frame and engine manufacturer's requirements and was allowed to fly at night.

Routine service

Both engines of the 23-year-old chopper had been removed nine days before the crash for a routine service but the craft had then flown for 15 hours with no reported problems.

A witness had reported seeing a glow coming from the helicopter before it hit the ground, but the report has ruled that out.

It concludes there is evidence a fire at the crash site happened after impact.

The chopper had been properly fuelled and the weather was fine that evening.

The helicopter hit the ground on its right side at about 90 degrees.

A GPS and other instruments from the aircraft are being examined further, as are drums the chopper had last been refuelled from.

The report says the pilot had been checked for proficiency and had a medical examination in line with aviation requirements and had no record of any problems.

ATSB Chief Commissioner Martin Dolan said it was possible the cause might never been accurately determined.

"We're not 100 per cent confident, partly because of the damage caused by the fire after the crash," he said.

"Certainly we'll be giving it our best effort. We hope we'll be able to come to a final conclusion in the report within the year."
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