Missing helicopter found safe , NT Australia

[Time Out]

Two missing in helicopter crash

December 29, 2003

A HELICOPTER with two young men onboard failed to turn up at its destination in a remote part of the Northern Territory today and a search has been organised to find it.

Australian Search and Rescue spokesman David Gray said the 22-year-old pilot and his 26-year-old companion took off from Katherine, 300km south of Darwin, at 1pm (AEDT), .

They were due at the Mirrangadga aboriginal settlement, around 300km northeast of Katherine, at 4.30pm, he said, but they never arrived.

Mr Gray said fuel in the helicopter would not last any longer than an hour beyond the planned route.

He said the Robinson 22 helicopter was fitted with a radio beacon, but no signal had been picked up.

A police plane would comb the path believed to be followed by the helicopter overnight, on the lookout for any distress signals or lights.

But a full-scale search involving more aircraft would begin at first light tomorrow, Mr Gray said.

The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8281991%255E1702,00.html)

[CoodaShooda]

Local radio reports they have been found 20 miles short of destination; both apparently OK.

[belly tank]

Just heard again through media reports that it appears that the machine had fuel problems.

of what sort i dont know, guess we will find out soon enough.

they are both ok and that is great

[Time Out]

The Australian (http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,8284727%255E1702,00.html) confirms what CoodaShooda and belly tank reported above. Great news indeed.

December 30, 2003

TWO men missing in a small helicopter since yesterday in a remote area of the Northern Territory have been found safe and well.

The 22-year-old pilot and his 26-year-old companion took off from Katherine, 300km south of Darwin, at 1pm (AEDT) yesterday.

They had been due to land at the Mirrangadga Aboriginal settlement, around 300km north-east of Katherine, at 4.30pm, but never arrived.

Australian Search and Rescue spokesman David Gray said the pair were found safe around this morning - about 46km from their intended destination.

It was unclear why the pair had decided to land the helicopter, he said.

A police plane combed the assumed path of the helicopter overnight, on the lookout for any distress signals or lights, but found no trace of the missing pair.

The chopper was spotted after four fixed wing aircraft and two helicopters resumed the search at first light this morning.

The men, one of which was a mechanic, had been flying to the Mirrangadga settlement to repair a grounded helicopter.

They have been flown to Mirrangadga for a medical check-up.

[goomfer]

Anyone know the Rego and the operator

[Time Out]

Chopper crew found

31Dec03

TWO men missing in a small helicopter in the Northern Territory outback have been found alive and well.

Pilot Garth Jones, 22, and mechanic Con Eglington, 26, had taken off from Katherine, 300km south of Darwin, at 1pm on Monday.
The pair work for North Australian Helicopters and were heading for the Mirrangadga Aboriginal settlement, 300km northeast of Katherine.

But after diverting around several storms, the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie, they had to put down when they ran short of fuel 40km from their destination.

They then walked 14km until their path was blocked by a river.

source (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,8288536%255E662,00.html)

and

Rescuer slams cost of search for chopper after SOS delay
By PAUL JACKSON
December 31, 2003

A Territory helicopter pilot was criticised last night for causing a major rescue search that cost taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars.

Garth Jones, 22, landed his helicopter in remote Arnhem Land after running out of fuel late on Monday afternoon.

Mr Jones did not activate his emergency beacon until the next morning.

"The search was really unnecessary," Australian Search and Rescue spokesman David Gray said.

"Had he set it off that night we would only have needed to have sent one aircraft to the site, instead of the six that spent three hours searching for him.

"It was a very expensive exercise that could have been avoided."

Mr Jones and mechanic Colin Eglington, 26, of North Australian Helicopters at Katherine, spent the night huddled around a fire after they put their helicopter down in rugged country near Ramingining, 400km east of Darwin.

They were found safe and well about 8am yesterday.

The men were forced to make an emergency landing in their Robinson 22 aircraft after running low on fuel.

They had left Katherine about 11am on Monday for an Aboriginal settlement but ran into bad weather and had to divert right and left of the storms, causing extra fuel to be used.

"The pilot knew he couldn't make the settlement, so he put the chopper down safely 25km south of Ramingining," company chief pilot John Logan said.

"He elected not to turn his emergency beacon on because it was dark. He set it off early yesterday."

Mr Logan said the pair were taking an alternator belt to another helicopter pilot whose aircraft had mechanical failure.

He said Mr Jones had been with the company a year and Mr Eglington two years.

source (http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,8289800%255E13569,00.html)

[Rotor1]

This is quite amazing in this era of communications.
Firstly why did the pilot press on. did he not have a PNR??, Why did the Chief pilot not enforce that requirment for his pilots, why did they not have a sat phone or a Hf radio. Our company is tracked by HF radio every 3 minsgiving Lat and Long wich is displayed back at our office on a computer overlayed on 250000 maps .I am truly amazed by this.
We had some flights booked but after the punters read the headlines "Chopper Missing" they cancelled
Lets all try and and follow the rules and put enough fuel in our helicopters and lift our game a bit.

PS TELSTRA has very good deals on sat phones go and look into it , it may save this costly and embrassing experience from happening again.


Rotor1
:{

[belly tank]

This pilot did the right thing, he and his passenger are both alive and well.

i cannot comment on the met conditions at the time however weather can change very quickly. sure he didnt activate his elt when he should have and it cost a significant amount more to do the search as a result.

but lets not point the finger saying he made bad choices etc etc.
he did the sensible thing and land when he realised it was a no win situation in pressing on.

we dont know his experience but being his age i guess he chasing hours up there like most, and he lives to fly another day.

good result i think

[Steve76]

NAH again.....

Most happy to hear that they are OK as this mob has had a rough run in the past.

As for communications. Definately more could be done but cellphones don't work out there and the satphone is just too bloody expensive for a small outfit. What the hell are you going to order for dinner out there anyway??

I tried to work a couple of satphones with surveyors out in that country and the results were marginal. I just don't think the sat coverage was there.

Better to try to pick up an inbound into Darwin on 121.5 but I doubt these lads would think of that or would want the advertising.
One of the guys I worked with out there tried spinning the blades to attract attention of a passing helo looking for him in Jabiru rather than use the radio (batt was good...) When asked why not, he said he just didn't think about it......?!

Far better a lighter, knife, water and bundy for an event like this.... A fishing rod and lure might be handy too.

[Steve76]

PS: Rotor1....I don't think that flying around the rock and Kings Canyon counts as "OutBack" ... if ya get my drift.

[Rotor1]

ps steve76
I have not once flown in circles around the rock or the canyon once so far. touch wood
we are a remote exploration company and we do more 'out back' than than the average
My point is they should have turned back or at least activated thier elt sooner.
have a good new year and fly safe
Cheers
Rotor1
:ok:

[slickomicko]

Once again steve76 has stuck his foot fair in his mouth, probably the best place for it I suppose!! Just another holier than thou, up yourself statement from a been everywhere, done everything, "perfect" pilot

[Rotor1]

................ So Mr selfish (Mr perfect no1)
I take it you would have pressed on until you were fuel critical in his position to?, and no we dont have two pilots or wx radar etc .

why would we need that level off equipment.

we pride our selves into saying sorry boss we are turning back.
A Hf out fit only costs about $8000- $10000 and a sat phone about $ 1500 what price saftey?

If you are going to be sarcastic why bother responding unless you have something usefull to say,

This is whats wrong with this industry every one shoots at each other, we should be working as a team


Happy flying all 365 days this year,Rotor1 :ok:

[straitman]

Happy flying all 365 days this year,Rotor1

:rolleyes:

I take it that you're not coming to the party on 29th Feb?:E

[Steve76]

Rotor1. Unfair assumption. apologies! :oh:
Happy New year and safe op's.

Slicko: I probably should be the better man ....... but why?......... [deleted]
Yes, I have been there and still have more to do. Still learning and never will stop ie: not perfect. You certainly sound most important. Why don't you allow some of your "experience" to follow through in some more comments. Or are you done at 1 posting.
[deleted] [deleted] [deleted]

[straitman]

Sorry for my "attacking" style, I guess I was defending the pilot in question.

Well said Mr Selfish!:ok:

There are a lot out there who have obviously gained more from their LIMITED experience than everyone else has managed from their considerably greater time and experience.

Those who have limited "bush" time yet are able to have it all together all of the time and who have obviously never made a questionable decision. Those who judge so accurately with the benefit of hindsite and those with unlimited resources and aircraft that will lift everything. :E

Unfortunately the rest of us don't live in this perfect world and have to tolerate our human limitations and weaknesses! We just do the best we are able and use our training to its max and stay out of trouble as often as we can.:mad: :O

[Captain Lai Hai]

Steve76 and Slicko

Happy new year and fly safe

[helmet fire]

Everyone a bit tense after their big New Years Eve eh?:}

Wow, I cannot believe that we have to even defend the bloke's decision to land. This used to be the expected behaviour of a pilot, rather than necessitating a "well done". I always thought it was more the "required standard" really.

So because you seem to have been hammered: Well done Garth Jones. :ok:

What you did in the air was beaut. What you did after landing can be a lesson.

Wonder how much survival training the company had given those blokes. Is there a survival guide in the aircraft, or a "what to do" list/book? May have helped.

[Autorotate]

So the guy made a mistake, its not as if we are all perfect, trust me I learnt that a long time ago.

Isnt the key thing here that he is alive, the helicopter lives to fly another day and they were rescued. So what if some pratt gets his kilt out of joint because they had to use five a/c for a search instead of one. Isnt that what the SAR people are paid for.

Plain and simple, again he made a mistake. **** Happens.

Autorotate.

[Steve76]

Apologies for being a grump all.

I used to drive for that crowd and to harange one of the pilots would add to his daily load of trouble (infer what you will)

However, they give lowtimers a job and a start. What they don't give (in the past mind you....) was good on the job training or any level of operational check ride. If you have a licence you must know what you is the assumption. And come to think of it, why should they not think that way. After all we all have CPL's.....

Regardless, my old quacker had the HF fitted but it never worked. An HF aerial in an R22 is a joke because there simply is very little room and all of that is taken up with the swag, two jerries, toolkit and the mandatory 5lt's water.

One of the things you soon learn out there is to find out your machines fuel burn and carry a dipstick. Hense why he had the engineer on board....hahahaha :}

OK, me happy now, me go shovel snow off driveway....bye.

[WLM]

Steve76
Now now mate, one would have thought your New Year Dive would have waken you up.... I still have your Katherine Gorges departure flight visual:ok:
And to the lot of you, this pilot and his passenger are safe. Yes it may have been an expensive learning lesson for this young lad, but we all made mistakes along the way:hmm: Let's not forget that his machine was VFR and that is all he knows. He probably thought nobody would look for them at night, who knows....
And if we cost the public pocket some funds, so be it. Let's not forget the good we do when there is a national emergency and we all pitch in.
May be the flying school's syllabus should be higher, with a few hours required in survival/emergency training. Instead of negative input towards a Company or it's pilot, some lateral thinking would be good :E

[gasgen]

The pilot did the right thing by landing.

15 years ago Helimuster operated 15+ R22s and 15+ B47s in the territory, all had HF radios installed and the company kept daylight till dusk sarwatch.

Anyone operating in designated remote areas for extended periods should have HF or Sat phone comms.

[Red Wine]

This thread has gone off the "Correct Decision" question....yes under the circumstances he made the correct decision.

The question of whether the helicopter was equipped sufficiently for such an area....is now the relevant question.

If operators wish to transit such areas, knowing full well that the AUSAR folk must respond to such events....then an invoice sent to such operators will soon convince them to equip their machines to the standard demanded....because someone must pay for this unnecessary SAR response.

Yet alone the OHS legislation, requiring operators to provide a safe working environment.

Autorotate….What a stupid, ill informed and senseless post……