S76C EMS Helicopter crash in sea off Sweden

[Simon10]

All five, pilots and paramedics made it. The ship went down in the sea.

http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/0409/19/raddning.jpg

One week ago we had a R44 crash with three fatalaties. No official word in what caused the accident, however unofficial information leaking out seems to point to mast bumping as the reason for the accident.

[Heliport]

The incident happened between Gotland and the Swedish mainland.



http://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/0409/19/karta.jpg



News report here (http://www.aftonbladet.se/vss/nyheter/story/0,2789,535374,00.html)


Can Simon or anyone translate?

[HeloTeacher]

Any more info from anyone?

Where is SE? Who's 76 was it? When did it happen?

[MD900 Explorer]

Rough translation from the news paper:-

"At 21.30 last night, came an emergency call about a man with severe heart problems to the control room in Norrköping. The man is believed to be located at Häradskär in Gryts skärgård in Östergötland.

A rescue helicopter of the type Sikorsky S76 stationed at Visby, was detailed with the rescue. Onboard were 4 helicopter personell and 1 nurse. Everyone's age is in the 30-40 bracket.

It was possible from the control room see where on a moving map the helicopter was at any one time. There was some communications with the man with heart problems. When they tried to communicate with the Helicoipter and heard no reply, they assumed something was wrong.

There was thoughts of a major crash. A full rescue alert was launched at 23.00. Many military helicopters and ships rushed to the scene of the crash. The scene was very close to Häradskär. The dramatic rescue was concluded at 00.45 when the crew were found on a small outcrop of rocks close by. The rescue helicopter had to land a short distance away from the rocks , and the crew had to wade across to the other helo to be picked up.

All the crew were physically unharmed. except one who was noticed to be limping. they were taken to Visby hospital for a check-up.

The patient with the heart problems was transferred later that night by boat to the mainland. He was transferred from the boat to an ambulance which took him to an another awaiting helicopter. the patients status is still unconfirmed. The control room commented that the patient had always been in contact with the control room, since the call was made initially.

The wreckage of the helicopter was found on the sunday morning and is believed to be 4 metres under water. The helicopter and the crew are believed to be from Norrlandsflyg in Gällivare."

There are two grey boxes to the right of the article. the upper one outlines the amount of helo accidents in the last two years and the lower one just gives some facts about the S76 involved. But i will transalte the two boxes anyway.

List of accidents.

2004

11 sept - 3 dead in a civilian accident by Vättlefjäll north of Angered in Göteborg.

04 aug - Hughes 500 with steering problems in Ammarfjället. All survived (Pilot and three)

04 aug - three children and two adults survive when their helicopter ditches in Dalarö in Stockholms skärgård.

2003

11 Nov - Super puma crash on a rescue excercise. 6 die and 1 survivor, location - Rörö outside Göteborg

25 march - medical officer dies and three survive as helo falls through ice on an excercise in Bottensjön in Karlsborg.

Facts about the S76 C

Very quick, two motor helicopter with equipment for SAR of people from the air. It has a winsch and a radar that can identify objects in the water. a powerful nightsun to illuminate the accident area. It has an AP facility that can be set up so the helicopter can hover over the scene of the accident. The aforementioned helicopter was on contract from the coastguard for SAR operations in the Gottland area. This american helicopter can fly most operations given to it. The medical world has used the Sikorsky when the ordinary air ambulance has not enough equipment omboard it.

Max weight - 5.3 tons
Max speed 288 Kmh
Crew - Normally 4 people
Flying time - can do three hours flying on a full tank.

I am sorry if some of the english is lost in the translation, but that is as good as my swedish gets. Bearing in mind that this is just the translation from the newspaper, please don't critisise me for wrong factual content here, as i did not write the newspaper article.

Regards

MD :ok:

[Heliport]

Thanks MD :ok:

Heliport

[Simon10]

Latest news. published 15.26 CET seems to point out that the pilots were confused during their recog. circuit before landing due to an lighthouse which each time the light revolved made them loose sight of the landing area.

Suddenly they hit the water, but the impact was not exceptionally hard says their cheif pilot who have been in contact with the pilot.

More info for those of you who understands Swedish at www.dn.se

[B Sousa]

Sad loss of an Aircraft, luckily all made it. Those Radar Altimeters really would have made the day, guess they didnt have one.

[NickLappos]

The "normal" SAR S-76 has two independant rad-alt systems, at least three indicators (for pilot one dedicated round dial indicator, and one each on the electronic displays) and each indicator has a settable warning light, as well as a separate RAWS (Radar Altitude Warning System).

[SASless]

Nick,

Another 76 flys into the water...nothing special about it being a 76...we had the fatal crash in the GOM not so long ago...night flight ...in cruise....no calls...all lost.

Crew coordination becomes very critical after the sun goes down and the horizion disappears.

[NickLappos]

SASless,

I agree, the point is that even with good radalts and such, it is a very tough job.

recall my thread about engines and OEI performance? An EGPWS would be a very very nice cockpit device on any helo flown at night.

[Steve76]

I think it is more attributable to situational awareness. Night flying over the ocean is difficult but not all that possible. Two radalt's on board and nobody watching the ROD or either RA.

Not that long ago we were deep in discussion regarding the NVFR accidents of the coast of Queenland. This goes to prove that 2 pilot, twin engine makes absolutely no difference. Give me more training and more practice and maybe a good autopilot.

Like Nick preaches, 2 engines are often irrelevant.
MORE TRAINING, MORE FAMILIARITY = Less accidents.

Good to see that the survival suits worked well and obviously the HUET training.

[trimpot]

Was this helo autohover equiped or did it just have the standard autopilot?

[B Sousa]

I was a bit facetious on the Radar Altimeters in the hopes someone would hit the Nail.
I think Steve 76 hit the problem on the head. Night time and knowing where you are in relation to your surroundings.
Im not saying it applies in this case but many times flying MedEvac I watched folks rush through things to "Save Someone" only to lose it themselves.

[Helipolarbear]

It's great to see 5 lift off and 5 survive, especially at sea etc.
The AAIU ( Swedish) should make interesting reading. Again, it's great to read that all survived.:cool:

[Simon10]

Today Monday the S76 was lifted from the sea. It laid down 40 feets deep in the water.

http://svt.se/content/1/c6/25/82/45/helikopter290.jpg

Everything seems to point to the fact that the revolving light from the lighthouse destroyed the night vision of the pilots which shortly thereafter hit the water. They were on national TV tonight telling their story of what happend. The AAIB (Swedish) will investigate the incident.

[SASless]

Steve76....the logic of your statement has a wee tiny flaw....Two engines vice one is irrelevant until one of the two engines gives up the ghost....at that point....it does most certainly become an issue.

I would gladly fly a four engine helicopter that could hover on one engine anyday....as compared to the current situation of flying aircraft that will not hover with zero engines. Logically, not a very useful argument....but gets my point across that full single engine hover capability at all phases of flight sure beats the current one we deal with.

That being said....this has nothing to do with the event under discussion in all liklihood. It will interesting to hear how this plays out.

Anyone who flew in "A Land Far Way" and had some well intentioned ground pounder toss a Trip Flare onto the landing spot in the middle of the night (before NVG's), can appreciate the loss of night vision....heck...almost all vision when very near to the ground and surrounded by hard bits all around. It can get very hairy for a bit.

[AirJockey]

Rumor has it that the pilots got "blinded" on short approach by flashes from a nearby lighthouse.....
Understand the pilots where quite experienced.
Nice to know they all made it, even the patient.