RAN Sea King crash Indonesia

[slice]

7 news reports a RAN Sea King operating from HMAS Kinimbla has crashed during earthquake relief operations with unconfirmed (REPEAT - UNCONFIRMED) reports of 6 killed.

Tragic news. :(

[Ultralights]

just read the same thing,


An Australian Navy helicopter carrying 11 personnel has crashed in Indonesia, the Department of Defence said tonight.

In a statement, Defence said the Navy Sea King helicopter crashed near Gunung Sitoli on Nias Island, off the west coast of Sumatra, about 7.30pm (AEST) today.

The helicopter, from HMAS Kanimbla, was conducting a sortie in a support of the second phase of Operation Sumatra Assist, the Australian Defence Force's contribution to the earthquake relief effort.

Up to 11 people, including the helicopter's crew of three, were on board, the department said.

HMAS Kanimbla was steaming towards the vicinity of the crash site.

A Defence spokesman said it was not known whether anyone on board the chopper was killed.

The department was endeavouring to find out details of the crash.

"What we're hoping to do is get updates as soon as we can get the appropriate information," the spokesman said.

Radio 2UE quoted Indonesian authorities as reporting a helicopter crash that has claimed six lives.
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It quoted unconfirmed reports that the helicopter was carrying medical evacuees and had a crew of three when it crashed.



Lets all prey everyone made it out alive!

[SkySista]

geez as if a tsunami and heaps of earthquakes weren't enough...

these guys just go to help out, and this happens.... :(

prayers and best wishes for all to make it out safe, so they can continue doing their very commendable work...

Sky

[Wirraway]

AAP

Nine Australians killed in chopper crash
Date: 02/04/05

Tragedy has struck Australia's relief effort on Nias, with a Navy helicopter crashing, killing nine personnel on board.

The chopper crashed Saturday afternoon while on approach to Amandraya village on the remote west coast of Nias.

The Sea King helicopter had been ferrying an emergency medical team from the Kanimbla to the village as part of relief efforts to outlying areas of Nias following a devastating earthquake on Monday.

The helicopter crashed on approach to land, Kanimbla captain Commander George McGuire told journalists who had been on board the Kanimbla for a media tour.

He said two on board the helicopter survived and were airlifted to the Kanimbla for emergency surgery by the ship's second helicopter, which landed with a medical team after seeing smoke from the crash site.

"They are in a serious condition with leg fractures and other injuries," Cmdr McGuire said.

"We believe the rest of the personnel died."

On board the chopper were five naval personnel as well as three from the Air Force and one member of the Army.

Seven of the dead were male and two were female.

Copyright © 2005 AAP

============================================
Update

The Kanimbla immediately scrambled its second helicopter to inspect the crash zone for a second time after Indonesian military authorities in the area suggested the other nine passengers on board may have survived. But an hour later the 300 ship crew members were informed that all nine had been killed, their bodies found in the wreckage by a team of paramedics and rescue personnel.

Cmdr McGuire immediately dispatched the Kanimbla to the rescue site and tonight it was steaming around the southern tip of Nias to take up station near a river leading to the village where the chopper crashed.

"That location is a very remote location," he said, adding that the trip would take about six hours to steam to the site where the chopper, callsign "Shark 02", went down.

Shattered staff on the Kanimbla cried and bowed their heads in shock in the ship's mess room when Cmdr McGuire broke the news that no other survivors had been found.

In the ship's cavernous hold, which had been converted into an emergency hospital ward, about 20 military doctors were caring for the two wounded crew members, conducting on-the-spot X-rays in preparation for surgery.

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

[Buster Hyman]

The loss of life in a natural disaster is always a tragedy, but when people put themselves in harms way to help strangers and pay the ultimate price, then I can't help but feel a deeper sense of loss.
My heart goes out to the families and my gratitude that the dedication to duty of our armed forces personnel is upheld to the highest degree.

:(

[SkySista]

Condolences to the families and crewmates of those who died. :(

Sky

[TheStormyPetrel]

Heartfelt condolences to all concerned. This tragedy affects us all.

[Ogsplash]

This is the aircraft and squadron I cut my naval aviation teeth on. This will be deeply felt by the Fleet Air Arm, the RAN Air Station, the Navy, and Nowra...all small and close communities. These guys, all the servicemen were doing what comes best...putting themselves in harms' way to save others.

I'm on Seahawks now but I still feel this one very deeply.

[Sheep Guts]

Sympathies and Condolences to all crew and families. Our hearts and minds are with your families


Sheep

[TheStormyPetrel]

Last Update: Sunday, April 3, 2005. 4:44am (AEST)

The Department of Defence has confirmed that nine Australian Defence Force personnel are missing, presumed dead, after a helicopter crash on the Indonesian island of Nias.

An Australian navy Sea King helicopter from HMAS Kanimbla crashed on approach to a village in the south of the earthquake-stricken island yesterday at about 7:30pm (AEST).

"Two Australian Defence Force personnel have been recovered from the crash site of the Navy Sea King, however another nine ADF personnel on board the crashed helicopter are missing presumed dead," a statement said.

The incident was the deadliest involving the Australian military since 18 servicemen died when two Black Hawk helicopters collided during a training exercise in Queensland state in June 1996.

The Australian Associated Press (AAP) earlier quoted Commander George McGuire, the captain of the Kanimbla, saying that nine of the 11 people on board the helicopter died when it crashed on an approach to the island's remote west coast.

Commander McGuire said two on board the helicopter survived and were airlifted back to the Kanimbla for emergency surgery by the ship's second helicopter, which landed with a medical team after seeing smoke from the crash site.

"They are in a serious condition with leg fractures and other injuries," Commander McGuire was quoted as saying by an AAP reporter on board the Kanimbla.

"We believe the rest of the personnel died," he said, adding they included seven men and two women.

The Kanimbla was heading towards the area to try to reach the downed aircraft, the Australian defence spokesman said.

An Indonesian army helicopter was dispatched to the crash site, said Binahati Baeha, the senior government official in the Nias port of Gunung Sitoli.

Indonesian air force spokesman, First Marshal Sagom Tambun, said residents in the Amandraya region in the far south of the island reported seeing the crash.

"The witnesses said that the Sea King helicopter was attempting to conduct an emergency landing in Amandraya subdistrict but it did not go smoothly," he said.

Commander McGuire earlier told reporters that two helicopters had been sent to Teluk Dalam after a powerful aftershock struck the quake-battered region on Saturday.

There "were a large number of casualties" in the town but it was unclear if they were from the aftershock or Monday's larger quake, he said.

The helicopters would "make an initial assessment and subsequent to that we will be evacuating patients to our operating team or onto the Singaporean field hospital at the landing zone," he said.

Indonesian officials said there was no information on injuries or damage in the aftershock, which measured 5.8 on the Richter scale.

The UN estimated Monday's quake killed 1,300 people, most of them on Nias.
From ABC News online (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1336960.htm)

['AEROWASP' HELICOPTERS]

We all too often hear little about the wonderful job our Service personnel do in support of other nations in distress on a reasonably regular basis......personnel onboard Kanimbla were effectively on their way home from helping out in one disaster when they were diverted to assist in yet another disaster relief project; this time with tragic consequences.
My sincerest condolences to everyone involved in these difficult and trying times, particularly the families, shipmates and squadron personnel. Our thoughts are with you all.

[Bad medicine]

Condolonces and best wishes to all the colleagues, family and friends of these people. They were doing a great job over there.

BM

[The Voice]

This is absolutely tragic.

My thoughts are with the families who have felt proud at their loved one's recent achievements, relief at the thought of them returning home, and now the grief of losing one, so close but so far away.

So terribly terribly sad. A huge loss for all, and my thoughts too are with the surviving and remaining crew onboard.

Rest in peace, knowing you've helped make the world a better place.

[TheStormyPetrel]

Defence Force Chief Peter Cosgrove today confirmed that nine Australian military personnel, comprising six from the navy and three from the air force, had died in the Kanimbla helicopter crash.

Lieutenant General Cosgrove also confirmed at a press conference the dead were seven men and two women.

Four were air crew and the rest were medical relief specialists, he said.

He said early media reports of an army person being among the casualty list were incorrect.

Kanimbla's captain, Commander George McGuire, said two male personnel survived the crash and were undergoing surgery on board the Kanimbla after sustaining serious injuries. full report with photo (http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Nine-Australian-killed-Cosgrove-confirms-crash/2005/03/02/1112302290502.html?oneclick=true)

[Hawk]

Thoughts and condolences to the families and friends during this very sad time.

[Chief Wiggam]

Rest in peace mate. Condolonces to all affected.

[TheStormyPetrel]

Chopper suffered engine failure: witnesses
By Indonesia correspondent Tim Palmer and staff

An investigation is underway into the cause of the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine Australian Defence Force personnel on the Indonesian island of Nias.

Witnesses say the helicopter's engine died while it was 30 or 40 metres above the ground before it crashed cockpit first into a football field.

The inquiry is expected to examine whether over-work and stress contributed to the crash.

HMAS Kanimbla, on which the helicopter was based, will continue to help with relief efforts for the victims of the Indonesian earthquake.

Two men survived the accident and are being treated for fractures on HMAS Kanimbla, which is off the island of Nias.

Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, says efforts are being made to bring home the bodies of the dead.

"This, we believe, will not be possible before Tuesday at the earliest," he said.

The Indonesian President, who will start a visit to Australia today, has offered to provide any assistance necessary to help that process.

Crash witnesses

Villagers told the ABC they began signalling for help to the Australian helicopter as it flew overhead.

It then circled their village twice and then made a low approach towards the football field.

They say that around 30 or 40 metres before it was over the football field they heard the engine die and the helicopter crashed cockpit first into the field.

Residents of the village rushed to the wreckage to attempt to rescue those on board but they say it caught on fire within five or 10 minutes of the crash.

The blackened wreckage, now no more than 1.5 metres high, is strewn across the football field with the cockpit nose cone thrown some 20 metres free.

The crash is the deadliest military accident since 18 servicemen died in the crash of two Black Hawk helicopters in 1996.

Gen Cosgrove says no arrangements have yet been made to provide another Sea King helicopter and crew for the ship. full report (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200504/s1337118.htm)

[The_Cutest_of_Borg]

Navy
* Lieutenant Mathew Davey from the ACT.
* Lieutenant Matthew Goodall from NSW.
* Lieutenant Paul Kimlin from the ACT.
* Lieutenant Jonathan King from Queensland.
* Petty Officer Stephen Slattery from NSW.
* Leading Seaman Scott Bennett from NSW.

Air Force
* Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy from West Australia.
* Flight Lieutenant Lyn Rowbottom from Queensland.
* Sergeant Wendy Jones from Queensland.


My deepest condolences to all who knew them....

[Slezy9]

The names of those killed can be found here

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/04/03/1112489339333.html

RIP

[Eastwest Loco]

Selamat jalan to the nine that passed, and we can but thank them for doing our work for us.

This is a tragedy of the first order.

I hope the Government does what they can for the families, not that it will ever be enough.

EWL

[itchybum]

Condolences to the friends and families of the dead and may those 9 rest in peace.

Fortunately the pros in the ADF ensure this sort of tragedy is rare in Australia.

Nine military lives given a long way from home, assisting a country with military resources in excess of our own... I hope they understand the sacrifice which has been made. I do not want to hear, ever again, that bleating from northern neighbours about Aussie "attitude", "racism", "deputy sheriff syndrome", etc.

I've had many a ride to/from wherever in the SeaKings and beers afterward with the crews. You'll be sadly missed guys.

[Eastwest Loco]

Yes itchy.

I think Indo as a whole is just starting to realise that we infidels actually wish the best for them.

The stone-age culture (and that is in no way a statement of anything but fact) of the good and mostly Christain populus of Nias have for years embraced the Aussie surfer, many of whom I have flown in on F27s and CASAs belonging to Smac Air and of dubious serviceabilty. Medan - Gunungsitoli (MES GNS) was and is always an interesting flight sector by all accounts.

Everybody loves the locals there. Those same locals helped the injured survivors after the crash, and did what they could God bless them.

The new Quiksilver Crossing boat Indies Trader IV, owned and skippered by Martin Daly who is a valued client of mine is in the area, as in one of the original Indies ships that has been on station helping the locals after they lost an initial 300 on Boxing Day.

What a bloody mess.

Nine of our finest gone.

I can only hope that a little of their essence remains on Nias to surf the perfect barrels of Lagundri Bay.

EWL

[Keg]

Both Paul Kimlin and Matt Goodall were ex Air Training Corps cadets from Canberra (15FLT, now 315SQN) and Sydney (2FLT, now 302SQN) respectively. I vaguely recall Paul but I remember Matt clearly from a couple of different occaisions. Nice Kid.

So sad. :(

[reducing_Nr]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I have lost some very close friends in this accident. My heart goes out to the family, friends and fellow Fleet Air Arm members.

It has been a tragic loss of life. Their efforts and the efforts of all those involved in the operation will never be forgotten.

Kingy, Paul, Matty, Scotty and all involved, may you eternally rest in Peace.

The effects of this tragedy will remain with me forever, I will always hold fond memories of our times at Albatross.

[Sunfish]

What a tragedy!

ABC is now reporting that the Sea King fleet is also grounded.

[4Greens]

Lt Paul Kimlin recently gave an excellent lecture to the Sydney Branch of the Royal Aeronautical Society.

He was an outstanding advertisement for the RAN.

[shortandsmelly]

4greens - I was at that one as well. One of the better talks for the year IMHO.
Dreadful news to hear of the accident, for all concerned...

[34R]

So long Scotty, on behalf of all that knew and loved you, rest in peace mate, and to your brothers and sisters in arms, god speed to you all.

[Buster Hyman]

Whilst I've already said my piece, I just thought that regardless of our past, present or future relations with Indonesia, their honouring of our fallen has done them a great deal of credit. It has certainly altered some of my preconceived ideas.

[The Voice]

Here Here Buster ..

They don't give those medals out lightly, so it was even more poignant I thought.

Very hard for the families yesterday.

I cried too.

[wessex19]

I just can't comprehend the magnitude of this, Seeing those coffins being taken of that Herc in Sydney was a sight I never want to see again. I can't even begin to imagine what those poor families are going through.
Kingy, I had a cold one for you last night.
I also want every one to know what a great job George Macguire is doing as CO of HMAS Kanimbla. He is a good bloke who I have known since his first day at the RAN College some 18 years ago. This is his first Command of a big ship and I know he will help guide his crew through this tragedy. I am very proud of the courage you have shown big fella.
RIP to all involved in that fatal flight of Shark 02

[SkySista]

What I really admire is the crew for going back into action to pick up that investigator. That really is doing one's duty - when you may not want to, or feel like it, but you do it anyway. Goodonya, guys.

Such a sad loss of your friends is truly tragic. Brought tears to my eyes, seeing the footage of the arrival home yesterday. They will be remembered for their good work. :(

Sky

[OhForSure]

They bare the flag in our name... and carry the Aussie spirit all around the world. They must be comended for their triumphs and sacrifices. We ALL appreciate the work being done, and this tragic moment will not be soon forgotten.

R.I.P.

[Milt]

The Herc Crew

Spare a few thoughts for the crew of the Hercules who brought their compatriots home. I know how they feel.

My Hercules was tasked into Saigon one night in 1969 to onload unspecified cargo. My crew soon learned that we would be carrying 17 caskets back to Australia.

No one, not having had the prolonged experience, can comprehend the mental anguish I and my crew suffered on that long haul back home and ever since. I guess the anguish converts to a form of PTSD.

Thoughts of all those involved will make this Anzac day considerably more poignant to us veterans.

[reducing_Nr]

I too have carried a casket with an Australian Soldier home to Australia by C130, in my case it was from East Timor.

I can say it was the quietest flight I have ever experienced on the Flight Deck of the C130. A very solemn flight indeed.

There are a number of flights that will stay in my memory for a long time and that I believe is one of them.

[Time Out]

Flight control fault suspected in Sea King crash
An interim report into last month's Sea King helicopter crash has found problems with the flight controls may have been responsible for the disaster.

A team of 13 investigators has spent the last month combing through the wreckage from the crash on the island of Nias in Indonesia.

Nine Australians die and two were injured while they were delivering earthquake aid.

The Navy's Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral Rowan Moffitt, has released initial details of the investigation revealing some evidence of mechanical problems in the flight controls of Sea King Shark-02.

"The team inspected the mechanical flight control run from the cockpit through to the tail rotor gearbox," he told a news conference.

"Two components of the flight control run which are normally connected were found to be detached from one another.

"Several parts of the hardware that normally connect those two items together haven't been located."

Rear Admiral Moffitt said the missing components could have been destroyed or might still be found.

He stressed that the investigation is at a very early stage and the cause of the crash remains unresolved.

A board of inquiry will also be convened to look into wider issues related to the crash.

The Navy's fleet of six ageing Sea Kings will remain grounded.


source (http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1359929.htm)

[Cougar]

RIP Rimmer. G and I had a beer for you last weekend. Thinking of you.

[Samuel]

Slightly off topic, but in harmony with the comments on feelings and respect which occur in all armed services...some years ago I was one of a number of Kiwis at Tindal and was sought out by my CO, the resident RAAF MO, and a Police Sgt from Katherine because It seemed I was the only B Negative blood donor within a few hundred miles!

There had been a road accident involving an Aus Army truck, one dead, one seriously injured, and they wanted to know if I could donate a bit of my B NEg.

Never any question about it, so off I go to Katherine in this cop car to the local hospital, and a briefing from a doctor about to operate on the survivor. It's very hot in Katherine, and this tiny little hospital and surgery was air-conditioned, so the surgeon/doctor asks how much can he have and I suggested he could take whatever he thought safe.

Whatever it was, it wasn't enough, and the unfortunate soldier died.

NExt day, back at Tindal and feeling the heat a bit, the Skippys tell me I'm off to Darwin for some R & R so I duly get ready for the flight and find I'm the only passenger with the coffin of the guy that died. I never knew his name, but I thought a lot about him on that flight I can tell you.

Never had to buy a beer in Darwin though, word gets around!

[Buster Hyman]

I'd buy you one too Samuel!:ok:

[Mirkin About]

reducing NR wroteI too have carried a casket with an Australian Soldier home to Australia by C130, in my case it was from East Timor.

If thats the flight I think it was then you are right , a sombre flight , a cargo compartment with one casket and the guys mates sat around it , FE walkarounds were very uncomfortable. Like you I still remember the flight , in fact it upsets me just to write this.

[Samuel]

I can relate to that, and other occasions, but to really put the mateship into context...last year, an unknown NZ soldier was disinterred from a grave in France where he had lain for almost ninety years and taken on board an RNZAF 757 at Lille Airport for return to New Zealand to be reinterred in the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.

At no time on the flight back to NZ was the casket alone, the accompanying honour guard and others having decided he was one of their's and that he should have company.

Put that into the context of the Sea King, and you'll find the yoof of today's services are no different than they've ever been.