Chopper Crash NSW

[overpitched]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1476555.htm

[wishtobflying]

narrowly missing the house by just 500 metres.

I'm not sure that half a kilometre away from a house is a "narrow miss". Take a zero off that and I'd call it a narrow miss.

Edited to add: condolences to the family of the pilot, and we're all praying for the passenger's health. http://www.pprune.org/forums/images/icons/mpangel.gif

[helmet fire]

RIP.
My sincere condolences to the family and friends of the pilot, and I wish a speedy recovery to the passenger.

Another NVFR accident. In typical media speak, they have created the sensationalist angles. "Narrowly missing the house by 500m" must be why they all think they are unusally well endowed! I attend a motor vehicle accident at least once a fortnight - and they are a lot closer to houses! One the other day was within 10m of the house (oh, my god, 10m!!) Wonder why that didnt hit the headlines: Car almost, nearly, just about, came very close too, was within seconds, could have almost, crashed into a house. Puhlease.

As for disorientation (Thank you police aviation investigative expert) it's a bit early to say that, hey? Let me guess, whilst disorientated he called on the telephone and asked for the lights???? Come on. If they mean he was lost, then he would have been really close to ask for the lights, ie he was not lost. Especially if he got within 500m of the place, that's better nav than me.

We could wait for the ATSB, and journos could report just the facts. But no one would buy news papers would they?

[rotorque]

The passenger may have shed some light into the accident.....

[Time Out]

ABSTRACT
The helicopter with the pilot and one passenger onboard, was returning to Yalda Downs Station from Border Downs Station after last light. As it overflew Calindary Station homestead, which is approximately 46 km west of the intended destination, the helicopter was observed to gain height and conduct a right turn. The helicopter then descended and impacted the ground about 500 m from the homestead. The helicopter was destroyed by impact forces and the post-impact fire. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger sustained critical injuries.

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS
The pilot undertook a flight for which he was not qualified, and for which the helicopter was not equipped.
The helicopter was flown at about 30 ft above the ground in dark night conditions.
The pilot became disorientated at a height from which recovery was not possible before the helicopter impacted the ground.

Full Report: http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2005/AAIR/aair200504925.aspx

[belly tank]

Hmmmm.....condolences to the family.:sad: ...is it just me or is it dejavu again....unfortunately it just another one in the long list of get there itis. will we ever learn, helicopters as we all know are so versatile, scenario... "ok its time to go home at the end of a long day and ive stayed on the job just that 10-15 mins extra at the end of the day before we need to pack up and ferry home, last light is nearing in our remote area of ops, nice clear night should make it home...."
unfortunately other pressures urge us to return home ie nice warm bed, missus, beer etc etc...other option land and camp the night out in or under machine and return the next morning.......as i said helicopters are versatile. its very sad

condolences to all:(

[belly tank]

Just found this
The machine plunged to earth and came to rest upside down in a blackberry thicket surrounded by trees beside the Kiewa River, about 1.5km from the Mount Beauty airstrip.
"It looks like he may have been doing a manoeuvre called an auto-rotation, which is an unpowered decline," Sen-Sgt Incoll said.
"Some debris was seen falling from the helicopter but we're not able to identify the cause of the crash until it's investigated."

[topendtorque]

Occurrence Number:00504925

http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2005/AAIR/aair200504925.aspx

I make no apology I’ve come to tel ‘bout a story de je vu,
There’s no need to whimper as just for now it’s not about you.
It matters not ere private, sling, med, muster, survey or test,
Here is a chance to show you’ve got the guts to help the rest.

While many are born with rhyme, metre and pen all put in finesse,
For me it’s a struggle even to ken simple limerick, it’s all a great mess;
With marks and tense all over the place and grammar so poor,
I was bloody lucky to pass the finals, on the way out the door;

The story is about a theme of the fraternity,
A man not known to me and not of the city;
T‘was a bushie at heart with avgas in his veins,
A tradegy to tell - I challenge you all, in the main;

Yes, these stories they will silence us all,
How a pilot of 9,000 hours can hit the wall;
The ATSB report it is now prepared,
Clinical, professional and delivered;

It matters not how carefully couched,
Impartial, or softly meant to touch;
The family must once again embrace,
Terror stricken hearts at an awful pace;

The deity in their souls will lift them to plead,
What on earth can be done for others to heed?
The crashing reality of this wasted ‘occurrence,’
Tis to them and to us is of terrible 'apparance';

So it’s up to us your mates and your colleagues,
As we pose yet again the words of the sages;
What is better than training for saftey that is not done enough?
We must spread the word no matter how hard or how rough:

Talk to the foolhardy, their friends, family, workmates and all,
Impress them with your courage your conviction and awe;
Not of their maker that they’ll likely meet with care to the wind,
But of the terror, grief and grue all too every other will be the grind;

So, that’s it, now show us your drive,
For some good to do, you must strive;
Remember this man had a total of hour’s nine grand or so,
With a family still and quiet, waiting for you to give it a go;

And if perchance just one life you might have salved,
The feeling of flight at your next collective command;
Can be savoured as beside the inner content,
And loftier, than ever, the next throttle detent:

Anon.

[helmet fire]

I think they should just go and ask Sen-Sgt Incoll, the well known aviation investigative expert!! Now it's probably an auto??? Why waste money on the ATSB?

topTQ's poem says:
We must spread the word no matter how hard or how rough
According to the ATSB report:
No night VFR endorsement.
Aircraft not equipped/certified for night VFR.
No evidence of a medical since 2002.

OK. Are there any preventative methods/training that would prevent this one?

[topendtorque]

none, the word is to instruct dimwits to don't enter there