Chopper crash in Durban!

[BAKELA]

Sad news! Just heard Durban (FADN) airport is closed as a result of a helicopter accident. Apparentlly on the runway. Any more info on this one? If it's true it must be quite serious.

[clipboard]

You're absolutely right Bakela.

It was a military Oryx. Four POB. The SA Police Airwing casavac'd them to hospital. Nobody killed, but the injuries quite serious.

The helicopter is lying in a heap on the runway threshold, and the Airport is temporarily closed. Knowing the Forces, the Board of inquiry will probably only get there next week, so someone will have to take some pictures for them so that the wreck can be removed, and so that Air Traffic at Durban can return to normal.

[BAKELA]

Thanks Clipboard. Not good news at all. I believe traffic (or some traffic at least) is operating again so it seems like the airport has been re-opened.

[Gunship]

SAAF Newsgroup

Sad news indeed !

From the SAAF Newsgroup it was stated " Wheels - Up" landing and ".... beat itself to death .... "

LATEST

The SA Air Force said on Thursday one of its fleet of Denel Oryx medium transport helicopters had crash-landed at Durban International Airport.

Lieutenant Ronald Maseko said there was no deaths, only minor injuries.

The 15 Squadron helicopter's crew of four were taken to the St Augustine Hospital in Durban for treatment.

The helicopter went down earlier in the day within the perimeter of the airport during a training flight.

A board of inquiry had already been convened to investigate the incident, Maseko added.

The airport houses an air force station and is home to 15 Squadron, which operates both Oryx and Eurocopter BK117 light helicopters.

The air force has a fleet of 44 Oryx.

It was not immediately known how badly damaged the aircraft was or whether it could be returned to service.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

[driver airframe]

From what I saw on the telle tonite it's lying on its RH side on the compass swing bay or in that area anyway.

[tyrant]

Bad news indeed.

The Oryx was doing vectored ILS's at FADN, he had already been flying for quite a while.

He was +- 10nm miles from the field when he was given one of his base turn vectors, this when he called mayday.

He made a b line for the field and appeared to abort the first landing attempt, the aircraft then went completely out of control and crashed.

It appears at this stage the cause is some kind of flight control malfunction that began when he was given his right turn vector. The aircraft was observed to have begun a left turn instead of a right. When this was inquired by the ATC, it was answered with the mayday.

The injuries at this stage seem a lot worse than initially thought, referring to the "minor injuries" comment released by the saaf. Having an inter cranial bleed and having a spleen removed doesn't sound minor to me. The FE seems to be the worst off.

The callsign was Rudolph.

Prayers and best wishes be with the families.

T

[Gunship]

Sad indeed Tyrant ! Tx for the update ..

Also cannot figure out how the SAAF can call it "minor injuries"

My prayers and best wishes go to the guys and their families.

[C4]

Who was the crew???

Have friends at 15

[Gunship]

The Crew

Lt Col. Oppies Opperman (Cmdr - out of hospital);
Mr Trevor Williams (co-pilot - Freelance volunteer - stable)
Lt Brent Groger (co-pilot - ICU - stable)
Sgt Andrew Walker (flight engineer - ICU - stable)


My prayers go to them and ther families for a speedy recovery !

[B Sousa]

Thats a whole bunch of Aircraft to have to control if things go sour .....Heres hoping all the crew can get together in the future and have a few good stories over a Beer.

Tyrant writes:"He was +- 10nm miles from the field when he was given one of his base turn vectors, this when he called mayday." A message in here that I have heard in the states is about the difference between "Land as soon as Practicable" and "Land Immediately"
As We do not yet know what the "Emergency" was, no speculation can be made. I do know however that lots of Pilots have grave thoughts as to "Land Immediately" when they start thinking of the paperwork, career etc when knowing the aircraft will be broken no matter what. This is not to reflect anything on this particular situation, its just something to think about. Maydays dont go out unless its serious stuff. I have lost more than one friend who tried to "get it back safely" 10nm miles is a lot of thinking.
Be careful out there and speedy recovery to the crew.

[V1 Rotate]

Bsousa,
I disagree. I think they did a masterly job of getting the stricken bird to the relative safety of the runway with proper fire and rescue facilities. Rather than ditching in a civilian area.
Remember Al Heyes and Danny Fitch saved hundreds of lives by getting their stricken bird into Sioux City airport where the emergency services were on hand.

All the best to the crew members concirned. You all deserve many beers!

V1 Rotate

[B Sousa]

V1 Writes: "I think they did a masterly job of getting the stricken bird to the relative safety of the runway with proper fire and rescue facilities. Rather than ditching in a civilian area."

Ok.....go back and read it again.......Nobody said they didnt do a great job....Im just bringing a point to the table between Two terms used most frequently in Helicopter Emergencies.... aaand one more time, We dont even know what their particular Emergency was........or the terrain in the last ten miles.......at least I dont....

[tyrant]

Very very populated B with very few places to put it down, and if you did have to put it down in a footie field or something like that they would have needed more control over the aircraft than they did. Their normal landing area at the airfield is on Twy A, and they missed that by some 600-700m or so. (but to be quite honest, i'm not sure what point on the airfield they were actually aiming for) So methinks a small unpopulated area would've been wishful thinking. Also the position they were in under radar control would've put them at between 3000 and 3500ft. Would that also mabye have been a governing factor in their decision to return to the airfield?

The approach to the airfield was made flying sideways as they could not fly in a straight line nose first (please excuse the ignorent lingo from a non chopper pilot, not sure what the correct terms are)

T

[B Sousa]

Tyrant writes:"The approach to the airfield was made flying sideways as they could not fly in a straight line nose first (please excuse the ignorent lingo from a non chopper pilot, not sure what the correct terms are)"

Hmmmm. We learn as We go. Sounds like maybe stuck pedal with tail rotor jammed one way or the other.....explanations as to why one would want lots and lots of Runway....

[oryxs]

Actually sound more like a cable failure especially the fact that its lying on its right side. Flew and work with both Oppies and Trevor so I am really glad to hear they are allright and lets pray for a speady recovery for the other two guys. The sad part is that this, thats if it was indeed a tail rotor cable failure, is a non event if you get the change to practice it on a simulator once a year like most offshore guys all over the world that fly the Super Puma/Oryxs. Too think the cost of this one Oryxs could have covered this expence. At least the SAAF is starting to utilize a simulator and hopefully will continue with this practice.

[Gunship]

Oryx Sim ?

Lo Oryxs !

Tell us more please. Where is the SIM ?
19 or 30 ? IS it a "locally made" one ?

There is / was a great company in KZN that made Sim's for Ratels' and the like way back in 90. They where tops in the World then. Maybe them ?

Cheers,

Gunnss