212 crash in East Timor (Now includes comments by crewman)

[Sarbe]

Has anyone got any news on the report of un contracted 212 crash in east timor. early report I have heard is that 5 injured, 3 civilian crew, 2 ADF. with second helicopter called into retrieve the injured. Accident occured ? wedsnday afternoon.

[What-ho Squiffy!]

Sketchy details, but nobody killed.

212 Crash - Herald Sun (http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,9731851%255E401,00.html)

[winchop]

Yes, it was a Bell 212 operated by CHC Australia on contract to the UN. Contract has been running for several years now providing AME (Aero-Medical Evacuation) support to the UN. Initial reports from source of mine on the contract said it was landing at a pad high up in the mountains to pick up a patient when it lost power on late finals and crashed into the trees short of the pad. The crewman had broken leg, one of pilots had rib injuries. All were medevac'ed by second company B212 to UN hospital in Dili. The medics on board were RAAF medical team who have provided the AME support to the UN for several years also. Aircraft looks to be a right off. That's all the information that's known until the investigation swings into action.

Sorry, to clarify, 5 POB, two pilots, (as per UN regs) one crewman, two RAAF members. Accident happened approx 1700 Wed 02 June. All alive thank god, wish them all a speedy recovery.

Sorry, to clarify, 5 POB, two pilots, (as per UN regs) one crewman, two RAAF members. Accident happened approx 1700 Wed 02 June. All alive thank god, wish them all a speedy recovery.

[zhishengji751]

From the Department of Defence..

Five Australians avoided serious injuries when a UN-contracted Bell 212 helicopter crashed near Same, Manufahi District in Timor Leste on Wednesday afternoon.

The helicopter was carrying a doctor and nurse in response to an emergency request to evacuate a pregnant Timor Leste woman for life-saving medical procedures available only in Dili.

Initial reports indicate one of the three-person crew has a broken leg and one of the Australian Defence Force passengers is reported to have suffered a broken jaw and a back injury.

Timor Leste police (PNTL) and UN police technical advisers (UNPOL) secured the site and administered first aid to the injured before they were air-lifted by a second helicopter to the UN Hospital in Dili.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Timor Leste has been informed and investigations are under way.

The next of kin of the injured civilian crew and the two ADF passengers have been notified.

[What-ho Squiffy!]

My latest...

Both pilots ok.

Crewman has broken pelvis - in Darwin now.

Raafie has a broken jaw.

[deeper]

Landed short in mist I heard,....???????????????????

One pilot from Caloundra.

D.

[Heliport]

News.com.au
Northern Territory News


A FORMER Territorian has told how he spent agonising hours hanging out of a helicopter that crashed into trees in East Timor last week.

Greg Jack, 42, was working as an air crewman for CHC Helicopters on a medical evacuation contract with the United Nations when the accident happened about 4.30pm last Wednesday.
Mr Jack, who worked as an armourer at RAAF Base Tindal at Katherine for seven years, broke his pelvis in the crash.

The Bell 212 helicopter was flying to the village of Same, 50km south of Dili, to evacuate a woman, who was going into a breach labour when the helicopter crashed into treetops.
The five crew on board the helicopter all survived, with a nurse on board suffering a fractured jaw and the Adelaide pilot Ross Darling suffering minor injuries.

Mr Jack was flown to Royal Darwin Hospital for surgery Wednesday night.
He spoke to the Sunday Territorian about his ordeal yesterday.
"We were going in to pick up a patient for the UN in a village near Dili and as we were coming into land something went wrong and we ended up crashing into trees near the village there," he said.
"I was in the back and had the door open as we were coming into land. I didn't have a seat belt on but I was attached by a safety strap.
As we went into the trees I yelled out 'brace' and made sure the passengers were secure.
I tried to get back into the seat but it happened too quick and I got thrown out the back of the side door.
We were going through light trees until this big tree came up, we hit it and it spun us around 180 degrees and the helicopter landed on its side.
I came to and I was hanging upside down by the strap on the roof of the helicopter ... I was watching the blood pumping out of my overalls from the hole in my back.
I couldn't see any of the rest of the crew and all I could think about was getting myself off and find out but I passed out."

Mr Jack said he did not know how long he was dangling 1m off the ground but he woke to find himself on the ground being treated by the "slightly shaken" doctor, who was on the medical evacuation team.

Mr Jack, who had been working in East Timor for seven months, said it would take him at least six weeks in hospital to recover.
"I have a broken pelvis, a puncture wound to the buttock and one lower vertebrae is broken," he said.
"And I've got a Sydney Harbour Bridge built over my stomach at the moment."

[Nigel Osborn]

Besides big Ross, does anyone know who was the other pilot and how they are getting on?:confused:

[deeper]

I have heard that the other pilot was a Mr Costa from Caloundra

[RoamingCyclic]

Hi Nigel,

Both Pilots are OK from what I hear.

Best Regards, RC

[Nigel Osborn]

Any reasons been given why this accident happened????