Helicopter Rollover at BN River

[Lurk R]

From this mornings news...


A helicopter with passengers aboard has crashed after takeoff in Brisbane.

A police spokesman said the chopper crashed into a wall shortly after lifting off at 8.45am (AEST) from the Queen Street Wharf helipad in the Brisbane CBD.

He said all passengers had been retrieved from the chopper but the extent of injuries was not known.

The helipad is behind the State Executive Building which houses government ministerial offices.

Police said the chopper fell into the Brisbane River after crashing into the wall.

The occupants were dragged from the water by a CityCat ferry crew.

An ambulance spokesman said two passengers suffered minor injuries.

AAP

[Binoculars]

My Brisbane spy tells me it was an A109 and thinks it may have been VH_MQB from the colour scheme. If anybody can confirm that, there is somebody up here who would be interested in the news.

[oldrotorhead]

Nah...not MQB; that old banger has been exported for parts long ago - had some irrepairable cracks in the fuselage. Look on the Rotorheads Forum for some interesting photos of this prang. it was ZZN, Barry Shean's old machine and presently being operated by Helicopters Brisbane.

[Time Bomb Ted]

VH-ZZN is apparently the culprit. An expensive dip in the Brisbane River. Ouch.

[Wirraway]

news.com.au

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,3600,365599,00.jpg
Crash ... two people escaped serious injury. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Chopper crash in Brisbane CBD
By Chris Herde
July 30, 2004

TWO pilots escaped serious injury today when a helicopter owned by childcare centre tycoon Eddie Groves crashed into the river in the centre of Brisbane.

The Augusta 109 seven-seater corporate helicopter had dropped off Mr Groves at the Queen Street Wharf helipad pontoon around 8.40am (AEST).

Police said the chopper then took off but the 32-year-old pilot heard a noise and returned to the pontoon.

The chopper descended too rapidly, crashing onto the pontoon.

It then tumbled off and came to rest half-submerged in the Brisbane River on the edge of the helipad.

A spokesman for Mr Groves said the multi-millionaire had flown in from the Gold Coast and was just leaving the area when the chopper crashed.

"He heard the noise, turned around and went back again and saw the chopper was in the water," he said.

"Eddie rang triple-0 immediately and then went down to assist." The male pilot and 29-year-old co-pilot were helped out of the chopper by crew from a CityCat ferry, with Mr Grove assisting.

Both men were taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for treatment.

The pilot had head lacerations and was in a stable condition while the co-pilot was discharged.

"It's a fluke, it could have been a lot more serious but fortunately it wasn't," Mr Groves' spokesman said.

"We are going to leave it to the police and CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority) to make the report on what caused it."

The chopper belongs to Helicopters Brisbane, which is owned by Mr Groves and is based at Archerfield Airport.

The company has been established for over 20 years in south-east Queensland and offers a range of services from charter to cattle mustering and aerial photography.

Mr Groves is also the chief executive and major shareholder of ABC Childcare Centres and owns the Brisbane Bullets National Basketball League team.

Police Inspector Hunter Nicol refused to speculate on the potential danger of the crash, being only 10m away from the busy Riverside Expressway.

But he said the two men were lucky the injuries were not worse.

A Queensland Fire and Rescue Service spokesman said about 40 litres of aviation fuel had leaked from the chopper's tanks into the river.

The chopper had about 325 litres on board.

Police closed off a riverside walking and cycle track near the scene of the accident as well as the Margaret Street exit on the expressway.

AAP

===========================================

[A/F Armed]

From ABC News website

Crew escape helicopter crash
Two men are in hospital after their helicopter slipped off a helipad and into the Brisbane River in the inner city this morning.

Police say the crash happened near a helipad behind the Queensland Government executive building, which houses ministerial offices.

The Queensland Ambulance Service says the 32-year-old pilot suffered head injuries and his 29-year-old co-pilot has minor injuries.

The helicopter is resting on its roof and partly in the water.

Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman Jo Lawler says the men were taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital.

"It appears that the front part of the cabin has been significantly crushed and they were very lucky to escape," she said.

A witness to the crash says he could not see what caused the accident.

Kim Lang was at Brisbane's South Bank and described what happened.

"I saw the helicopter coming in to land, I had my back turned, it landed and two people got out and he's prepared to take off again," he said.

"When he got one, two foot off the ground, just hovering, it almost like reversed its polarities and flipped in the air and he's ended up half in the water."

[Banjo]

you have to laugh at the picture...Helicopter soaked after ditching and the fireman is busy spraying it with more water. Lovely

[LateNightOps]

for something AUD3.8mil a pop brand new, its a pretty expensive toy to get wet!!!:E

[iwillflyajet]

its not funny when its both your mates that were in the accident!!!

it sounds like you two losers latenightops and banjo need a brain and a heart.

I hate hearing about accidents fullstop.

[jerrry]

The skippers name was'nt Martin was it?

[Capt Fathom]

Helicopter soaked after ditching and the fireman is busy spraying it with more water. Lovely
The Brisbane River is tidal. The thoughtful fireman is washing off the saltwater. :ugh:

[pohm1]

Actually the firey's are sraying fuel dispersant due to the amount of jet fuel in the water.