Western Australia Helo Crash (Powerline Work)

[Pac Rotors]

Two killed in WA chopper crash
Aviation Authorities will investigate whether a helicopter clipped power
lines before plummeting to the ground, killing two people and seriously
injuring two others in Western Australia's wheatbelt yesterday.

The helicopter was carrying a Western Power crew, which was checking power
lines for storm damage, when it crashed about 1:30pm AWST, near the town of
Bencubbin.

One worker was killed and the other is suffering from severe burns and a
broken leg.

The pilot of the charter helicopter was also killed.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority officers will head to the crash scene today,
to establish the cause of the accident.
(from the ABC website - actually it's ATSB investigators!)

[noaltitude]

Any word on the company or the pilot ?? I've got a friend working down that way for the wet !

[Pac Rotors]

Preston Helicopters B206 doing a line survey for Western Power. Pilot and
one Western Power employee fatally injured and another WP employee with
serious injuries.

[noaltitude]

Preston Helicopters ? Perth Based ?

[Time Out]

The pilot of the Bell 206 helicopter had been tasked to conduct a powerline inspection for the local electricity power supply company.
The ATSB report is at: http://www.atsb.gov.au/aviation/occurs/occurs_detail.cfm?ID=375