BBC reports helicopter crash in the Highlands

[piesupper]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/3671454.stm

[Time Out]

Helicopter Crashes in Scottish Highlands

By Jennifer Hill, Scottish Press Association


A helicopter has crashed in the Scottish Highlands, police said tonight.

Emergency services were called to the scene of the crash near to Kentallan, south west of Ballchuilish, at around 9pm.

Northern Constabulary said two casualties had been traced near to the wreckage, but said their conditions were not known at this time.

Initial report suggested that a small helicopter had crashed into the hillside at Ardsheal, a spokeswoman said.

She added there was nothing to suggest at this stage the helicopter was a military aircraft.

Rescue 177 from HMS Gannet is at the scene assisting in the rescue of casualties.

The local mountain rescue team is also believed to be in attendance.

From Scotsman.com (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3520770) Not much news on this one yet. Doesn't sound good though.

[PPRuNe Radar]

Latest report is 1 killed and 1 injured.

[md 600 driver]

any one know the type was it a squirrel steve

[H Addict]

The BBC website has just been updated:

-----
Helicopter crash inquiry begins

An investigation has begun into the cause of a helicopter crash in the Highlands in which one man died and another has been seriously injured.

Police believe the R44 four-seat helicopter was returning from Perth when it crashed into Ardsheal Hill south of Ballachulish on Sunday night.

The passenger, Neil Sutherland, 68, from Kentallen, was killed. The 51-year-old pilot is in hospital.

The weather at the time of the crash was extremely poor.

The alarm was raised when a helicopter pilot in the area heard another helicopter shortly before 2100 BST.

The man heard a thump and saw a fireball on the steep hillside at Kentallen Bay. A farmer found pieces of burning wreckage.

'Atrocious' weather

The Glencoe Mountain Rescue team was called out and the pilot was flown by search-and-rescue helicopter from HMS Gannett at Prestwick to Belford Hospital in Fort William.

He was suffering from spine and pelvis injuries.

Rescuers described weather conditions in the area at the time as "atrocious".

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is launching an inquiry into the cause of the crash.

Two investigators are expected to arrive at the scene in mid-afternoon on Monday.

-----

RIP Neil Sutherland :(
Best wishes to the pilot - lets hope he makes a full recovery.

[sammypilot]

Helicopter - at night - bad weather. Don't jump to conclusions but...............................

[EGPFlyer]

Shortly before 2100 BST up there isn't 'night'.

You know what they say about jumping to conclusions??

:( :(

[InTgreen]

Having been in the area shortly after the crash, believe me the weather was bl~~dy bad, and if not dark, it certainly would have been getting very near dusk. It may stay lighter up here later in the summer, but it does get darker, earlier in the winter!!

Condolences to the family of Neil Sutherland and lets hope the pilot makes a full recovery.

[jellycopter]

MD600Driver,

Steve,

Thanks for the concern. The squirrel was well and truly tucked up in bed for the night (picketed down) against the horrendous winds up here.

Even worse today.

J

[piesupper]

Well we're just coming up to the equinox so dusk is very much the same everywhere. It was very dark here (Glasgow) before 8
As for the weather, last night I wouldn't have flown on the PC let alone in real life. I was on the phone to a mate up in Skye (not _too_ far from the accident site) just about the time of the accident and we both commented that it was a right nasty night. Im sure the AAIB guys will get an aftercast and Id be surprised if it didnt show gusts >30kts with heavy rain. The nearest weather station is probably Connel or the helipad at Fort William. Dunno if there is an official weather station at the Glencoe ski-lift. Can someone confirm this?

[sammypilot]

Sunset at Edinburgh on the 19th September was 1817Z. Add 30 mins for "Official Night" that is 1847 - 1947 BST. EGPFlyer - it was night at the reported time of the accident, 2100 hours BST and night by a long way.

[PPRuNe Radar]

Inverness is a better datum. Sunset at 1933BST, twilight at 2012BST. Official night 2003BST. You could probably add on a few minutes since the crash area is West of Inverness but it would not make a lot of difference materially.

The AIRMET for the area was pretty bad with high winds, heavy rain, low cloud, hill fog, and poor visibility forecast.

A needless tragedy.

[Time Out]

Retired Major Killed in Helicopter Crash

By Joe Quinn, Scottish Press Association

A hotel owner died in a helicopter crash shortly after dropping off his 14-year-old daughter at school, it emerged today.

Retired army major Neil Sutherland, 68, died when the helicopter in which he was a passenger crashed into a Scottish Highland hillside in “atrocious” weather conditions.

The 51-year-old pilot, a friend of Mr Sutherland, was today being treated at Belford Hospital, Fort William, for spine and pelvis injuries.

Police said the injured man, who was not named, was an experienced pilot who flew around 100 hours a year.

Mr Sutherland served with two Scottish army regiments and had also worked for 17 years for the Hong Kong Jockey Club, his family said.

The two men are believed to have been returning to Kentallen, south-west of Ballachulish, after dropping off Mr Sutherland’s younger daughter at her school in Perth, 90 miles away.

With his wife Philippa, Mr Sutherland ran Ardsheal House, a country house hotel set in an 800-acre estate which contains one of the oldest natural woodlands in Scotland.

The house was built in the 18th century, replacing an earlier mansion that was burnt down in the uprising of 1745.

Police today issued a public statement from Mrs Sutherland saying: “I would like to thank the media for their concerns. However, I ask that they leave my family and I alone to grieve at this time.”

She said her husband had served with the Cameron Highlanders and the Queen’s Own Highlanders, before serving for 17 years with the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

He then returned to the Highlands to take over the Ardsheal estate which was now the family home, she said.

“He leaves myself and three children, a son of 32 and two daughters aged 30 and 14.”

Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport were today investigating the cause of the tragedy.

Emergency services were alerted at around 9pm last night, and launched a search and rescue operation which involved police, fire and ambulance workers as well as local mountain rescuers, and two military rescue helicopters.

Initial reports told of a helicopter flying over the eastern side of Loch Linnhe shortly before a huge bang was heard and a ball of flame was seen on the hillside. source (http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3523009)

[EGPFlyer]

Sorry, I misread the sunset time when I looked it up. See what happens when you jump to conclusions? :ugh: :\

[SASless]

Why is it, at times like this, I dwell upon the different meanings of the word "No"?:(

[spankymonkey]

Dare I add a respectful BZ to the guys from Gannet? Possibly the most unsung SAR/EMS unit in the world?

[Jigsaw]

Why thankyou Spankymonkey, the weather was atrotious that night......a few yards nearer to getting my thousand yard stare.:sad:

[Lioncopter]

Hello all, this is my first post its not really got a point though, so sorry just felt it was about time I started making a input into here.

This sort of thing worries me a bit, I am a low time instructor down in Florida but am originally from Glasgow, So one day I would like to find myself back in Scotland flying.

I think the one problem with being in south Florida is that I am becoming a bit "soft" on my weather, and worry allots that when I had back home ill get myself into trouble.

I have only once had to divert for weather (on my first solo x-country as things would have it), which did scare me but ultimately made me a better pilot. But that was in Florida where it’s mostly flat with only a few towers to worry about and in the case of the costal region an airport every few miles.

Any tips on flying in Scotland (especially to do with weather) would be appreciated.

Thanks

[ShyTorque]

Lioncopter,

Just like anywhere else, there is no big secret.

Get some hours in theatre and fly to your own limits, don't ever be tempted to push your luck or get pushed into pushing your luck. Look at the topography a little more and always have a bad weather plan to fall back on.

The rest will come to you in time.

[HughMartin]

Always have an escape plan. Don't leave it too late to use it. "Use it or loose it" as they say. If your only chance is for the weather to improve in the next few miles, you are gambling with your and your passengers' lives.

If you find yourself saying to yourself "I shouldn't be here" you are right.

But we have all been there; get yourself some quality intrument flying training (and practice whenever you can with a safety pilot) so that when you do get caught out, you will have a better chance of a safe recovery.

Remember the escape plan will often be actioned before you get airborne - there is always tomorrow.

Safe flying

PS This is solely a reply to to Lioncopter. It does not in any way infer a judgement on the subject of this thread

[Pat Malone]

As a low-hours pilot I twice "landed out" in fields when caught by weather.
I asked a 17,000-hour helicopter pilot who has worked everywhere from the North Sea to the Falklands how many times he had done the same, and he said "never."
He had always diverted to an alternate airfield.
With discipline like that you'll be fairly hard to kill, even in Scotland.

[ShyTorque]

Very true Pat, but only if there is an IFR option and sufficient fuel reserve to reach a weather diversion. It wouldn't always be possible to operate helicopters under those circumstances.