Helicopter down at Wisemans Ferry NSW

[tedsta]

Radio report in Woolongong of heli down at Wisemans Ferry NSW 4 POB ??

[Overwait]

A man in his 50s has been taken to Westmead Hospital with serious head injuries after a helicopter crash in a paddock north of Sydney.
The crash occurred at St Albans, near Wisemans Ferry, this morning.
Two other people injured in the crash have been taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The cause of the accident is being investigated

[helo1]

looked like a jetty on the news break

[helo1]

. NRMA CareFlight
Media release
BASED ON INFORMATION AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF RELEASE DETAILS 0418 245 748
TUESDAY 4 APRIL 2006 . Time midday am
UPDATING …
ONE CRITICAL THREE INJURED IN HELICOPTER CRASH
(Wisemans Ferry - St Albans)
One man suffered critical head injuries and three other people escaped with minor
injuries when a helicopter, believed to be conducting a power line survey, crashed near
Wisemans Ferry in Sydney’s outer north-west this morning.
The helicopter clipped power lines and crashed in a paddock close to a house on Settlers
Road, between the isolated villages of Wisemans Ferry and St Albans.
Two people from the house called emergency services and went to the aid of three men
and one woman on board the Bell 206 JetRanger helicopter.
The NRMA CareFlight doctor praised the pilot who managed to land the helicopter on its
skids before it rolled over onto its right side but did not catch fire.
Ambulance officers alerted NRMA CareFlight’s two helicopters to the crash at 10.12 am.
The first NRMA CareFlight helicopter landed at the crash at 10.30 am as the two
occupants from the nearby house were helping the injured.
The NRMA CareFlight doctor reported that one man, aged about 50, suffered critical
head injuries and multiple abrasions.
He was stabilised at the scene, placed on a ventilator to control his breathing then flown
by NRMA CareFlight to Westmead Hospital where he was in a critical condition on
arrival at 11.12 am..
Two other men and one woman suffered minor injuries in the crash.
A woman passenger, aged 23, suffered minor head injuries and was flown by the other
NRMA CareFlight helicopter to Westmead Hospital where she was in a stable condition
on arrival shortly before midday.
The crash pilot and the other male passenger currently are being taken by road ambulance
to Westmead Hospital for observation to minor injuries.
ENDS: For further medial information at any time please contact NRMA
CareFlight director Ian Badham on 0418 245 748.

[Ned-Air2Air]

ANOTHER WIRE-STRIKE

From very reliable source - Bell 206 contracted to Integral Energy and hit wires. Front seat pax in critical condition and prob wont survive.

Two in back have minor injuries.

For christ sake guys and girls WATCH OUT FOR THE WIRES.

[Ned-Air2Air]

Heard through the grapevine its Precision Helicopters, dont know much more about the operator.

[CYHeli]

Not good to hear, I hope that they do make full recoveries. Our thoughts are with the family of the critically injured.

But,

Leaving aside training, but why were 4 POB for power line surverys/inspections? And, with 4 sets of eyes, knowing the environment that they are in, how did they not see the wire?
Was wind or other conditions a factor? :suspect:

[belly tank]

Leaving aside training, but why were 4 POB for power line surverys/inspections?

The two male passengers were employees of Integral Energy, while the female passenger was a contracted photographer.

Exactly!...why the need for 4 persons on board....we routinely carry out powerline surveys and have done so for the past 3 years with max 2 observers....one up front observing and the other guy recording notes etc.

i know for a fact that this company has had an accident only a couple of yeras ago with the same powerline company...... we undertake courses with our powerline company and pilots are inducted...this includes performance and planning prior to the flight!

This will make the powerline companies NOW get tough on selecting and doing proper background checks on helicopter operators...bring it on i say and lets weed out the S&*t.

My condolences to the families and i hope everyone pulls through

[B206B-III]

Bellytank,

The Bell 206 was Precision's sole JetRanger, VH-JIV. Company now based at Coffs. In operation 12 years.

[rotorspeed]

Sorry to hear this.

Have to say it seems to me Australia has an unusually high incidence of helicopter accidents. For a country with less than 20m population these forums regularly feature reports.

Anyone know any true statistics in terms of accidents per hours flown/aircraft or any other presentation, and how this compares to other countries? May be it's just that more are reported here.

[tedsta]

The pilot made a very silly mistake putting 3 pax onboard a B206 and carrying out any type of survey.....let alone powerline patrols around the Hawksbury River........... I believe one of the pax was there to "Take Photos".

The MAXIMUM crew for any powerline patrol should be.
1. Pilot
2. Navigator, With complete set of maps / diagrams, and local knowledge.
3. Inspector, to inspect and record defects, Take photos if required.


Wonder if he had a Safe Work Method Statement or alike, or would just be doing it under the standard 10 lines in his ops manual that says he can do it.

Signing off on Intergral Energy paperwork before a sortie covers Intergrals arse.....not the operators.

Intergral Energy obviously award their contracts on to the cheapest tender.


I pray that all survivors make a full recovery and thank god we didn't have another 3 or 4 fatalaties due to powerlines.

Hope this does wake up those dimwits in the power companies who have very little or NO idea of what is involved in aerial operations around powerlines......

Maybe their insurance company will start asking them some relevant questions.

[Ned-Air2Air]

Tedsta - Interesting post and spot on but no matter how you look at it the pilot still has to take the blame as PIC.

[helo1]

Can somebody enlighten me to where the helicopter will be taken.
I have been listening to the salvage of it 20.24 hrs it was beeing loaded onto a low loader, fuel running out everywhere, fire protection in place for the operators

[belly tank]

pic

http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2006/04/04/CHOP4_wideweb__470x257,0.jpg

[tedsta]

seems pointless to me to place a rumour on a rumour network if somebody can come along and edit it.....

I see yours was edited too Ned






Rumours are permitted.
Posting names and potentially libellous comments is not.
If you don't like the way this forum is moderated, find another one.

Heliport

[vortexstate]

I know that this is a rumour network but let us get some of the facts correct and clear prior to bursting into print…… please........:mad:
The wire that was involved was a steel guy wire that was layed over the service low voltage line by around ten feet. Telstra had it there to run their communications line across, but recently put the communications line underground BUT failed to remove the thin guy wire. Both poles on either end was hidden within tree lines, so as the machine worked around the ridge along the low voltage line to the residence no one had seen the wire. After spending considerable time at the scene yesterday, I have come to the conclusion that I’m glad it wasn’t me at the controls because I can’t say that I would have seen the thin steel wire either and I have spent many a hour on the job!
Helo 1 got most of the story correct, except the critically injured observer was in his 30’s. He came around this morning and is expected to be in hospital for a couple of weeks so the report that he won’t make it wrong to say the least!
The flight was an advertising promo flight that Integral Energy take out each year at the start of the season for public awareness, and the female was employed by Integral to do the filming! The general inspection format is only conducted with three up.
The helicopter, VH-JIV does belong to Precision Helicopters and it was one of three Jetties’ along with three various other types including a twin. The company DID NOT have an accident several years ago with the power company, so Belly tank you had better get a better crow to keep their eyes out for you!
Final point …… neither party takes their position too lightly and some operators have been sucking on sour grapes since over the awarding of this contract several years ago and have made a concerted effort to make a point of it.
One only hopes the guy wire is removed prior to next year, because I’m willing to bet that it will be taken again by another pilot.
:eek: :eek:

[helo1]

Vortexstate my source was from CareFlight.
I wasnt there so i wouldnt know.
Just reporting what was sent to me.
Lets hope there are no more accidents as 1 is to many

[vortexstate]

heli 1
I know the man well so lets hope that when he is having a laugh about this incident when he is in his fifties..... because the bas##rd didn't get him!
One agrees on the amount of accidents in the industry, but in situations like this one there has to be more thought but into placing of lines and unused cables and power lines should be removed by the controlling authority. I know of many unused hidden wires on my runs that should no longer be strung, but due to time and money....
As already mentioned here on this site, it comes down to an organised preplanning and being as prepared as the crew can be. All the crews we work with are prepared and well briefed prior to each and every flight for any possible snags during that sortie, and any rouge wires are generally marked on the charts to eliminate the chances of a strike.
Speedy recovery SE.:ok: :ok:

[[email protected]]

Hey Vortexstate - Thanks for the real story
The wire concerned is called a containery wire, a high tensile but thin wire used to support conducting cables and usually anchored very securely and tensioned tightly (I know as I am an electrician in my other life)
I believe it was strung at 45 deg. to the ground and I am sure the best of us would not have seen it
The rules (electrical) clearly state that all redundant cables must be removed, this includes supporting wires, conduit etc.
Looks like Telstra have a case to answer
I wish all a quick and full recovery

[Ovatemp]

Looking at the photo that belly tank posted it appears that the machine wasn't fitted with a wire strike kit. Does anyone know the 206 to confirm this?

[tedsta]

To the moderator,

The only real names i used was that of the power company..... you didn't edit them. I did not name the operator or anyone who worked for them.

The two incidents i mentioned are on public record and therefore not libellous either.

I will admit i was having a bit of a rant though!!! (apologies)

Vortexstate; You seem to be fairly close to the operator.

Do they have a published procedure for carrying out powerline patrols.

Does this procedure mention descending below crossarm height..... if it was a guy wire he hit, he must have been below crossarm height.

Why would you be doing this on a PR run, the only time you actually do it whilst patrolling is after finding a fault, doing a recce, slowing right down and then approaching at a safe speed for further inspection or to take a photo.

I also have done more than my fair share of powerline patrols.

I hope the operator involved take a seriuos look at some procedures as the power companies will no doubt take the cheaper option always.

Aerial powerline patrol is a speciallised task yet SOME power companies routinley put their personnel on board with little or no training.

My suggestion to theese companies is take a look at the way ETSA in S.A carry out their patrols using their own guys, or leave it to the experts.

[skidbita]

Is is true that the PIC left the scene of the accident with the punters still in the wreck??? and was later found at home by the authorities???:eek:

[vortexstate]

Tedsta, I am close to a lot of operators and their procedures when it comes to power line operations whether it is in the field of survey or stringing. This operator has a many years of experience in this field from the CP down to the line pilots and even the Ops Manager has more practical experience then most in the game.
In this competitive world of private enterprise the power company will always look at the price when it comes to a contract, but each bidder meet a certain standard and has to dot each I and crossed each T prior to being eligible to make that bid. You don’t seriously believe that they look at the finance side only!
As I reported in my first post on this subject, the thin steel wire overlaid the service line by around ten (10) feet which places the machine ABOVE the service line.
Skidbita, the pilot walked up toward the house to get a better mobile reception to make a important call after assisting the injured crew member. At no time did he go home (a bl##dy long walk) as was reported in various media outlets.

[that chinese fella]

Hey Vortexstate, can you shed any light on contractural requirements (or not) to have WSPS fitted?
IMHO it would seem unusual for a power company not to mandate them.

[Mr Phi me]

What benifit is fitting WSPS if your rotar blade is the first thing to strike the wire? :uhoh:

[SHortshaft]

On the photograph it looks like a clean cut on the pitch rod!

Wonder it that was pre-ground impact?