Helicopter down near Durban

[Life'sShort-FlyFast]

Just heard that an R22 has gone down in the Virginia GF. The machine was from the "north of the field". Seems like there was a fire and the instructor has got burns. Severtity unknown. Hold thumbs he is apparently being airlifted to hospital.

[DynamicRollOver]

Given there was an instructor onboard, was this a training flight and if so, condition of the student?

What is going on in our industry???

[Chopper 1]

Chopper bursts into flames on impact

Wed, 11 Apr 2007

Two people were injured when a helicopter crashed at La Mercy, north of Durban and burst into flames late on Tuesday afternoon.
The Starlight Aviation helicopter had two occupants, one an instructor and the other his trainee.
Inspector Troy Allison of the police's search and rescue unit said when the helicopter crashed it was engulfed in flames.
Another helicopter pilot spotted the wreckage and landed nearby to investigate.
Allison said the pilot then removed the instructor and the trainee from the burning wreckage.
The two were airlifted to St Augustine's hospital by an Air Mercy Service helicopter and the Netcare 911 rescue helicopter.
Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the instructor was in a critical condition with serious burns and he described the trainee pilot as being in a serious condition.
The flames from the crash ignited a veld fire. Crews from the Durban metro fire department were extinguishing the blaze.
The names of the two people have not been released and police were awaiting for the Civil Aviation Authority to inspect the crash site.
The crash took place on what will eventually become the runaway of Durban's proposed King Shaka International Airport.
Sapa





Scary how these things happen in threes. Squirrel in JHB, R22 in JHB and now this.Hold thumbs for the 2 pilots. C1:(

[ANVAK]

Not confirmed, but apparently Solo van Rooyen is the instructor - Oom Solo is one of the most experienced and respected rotorwing pilots/instructors around. Hope he and the student recover quickly.

Apparently rolled over on touch-down after a practise autorotation. Can happen to the best of the best - helo flying requires managing calculated risks and sometimes the quirky reaction of a student can quickly deplete the available options.

[Coconutty]

www.int.iol.co.za (http://www.int.iol.co.za) :

Two people were injured when a helicopter crashed at La Mercy, north of Durban, and burst into flames late on Tuesday afternoon.

The Starlight Aviation helicopter had two occupants, one an instructor and the other his trainee.

Inspector Troy Allison of the police's search and rescue unit said when the helicopter crashed it was engulfed in flames.

Another helicopter pilot spotted the wreckage and landed nearby to investigate.

Allison said the pilot then removed the instructor and the trainee from the burning wreckage.

The two were airlifted to St Augustine's hospital by an Air Mercy Service helicopter and the Netcare 911 rescue helicopter.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said the instructor was in a critical condition with serious burns and he described the trainee pilot as being in a serious condition.

Thoughts are with the injured and "Well Done" to the other pilot who "landed to investigate" :D

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[flightymouse]

Condolenses to the families of the injured pilots involved in the La Mercy incident.
Are there any other details, do they know what happened to cause the crash?
I know it might be a bit early to speculate, but does anyone know if it was pilot or machine error?

[DBChopper]

I know it might be a bit early to speculate, but does anyone know if it was pilot or machine error?

I think you might have answered your own question there... :rolleyes:

Best wishes to those injured, and huge respect to their rescuer.

[Heliport]

Independent Online, Cape Town
Hero saves two from helicopter blaze

An unidentified pilot is being hailed a hero after pulling two men from the burning wreck of a helicopter which crashed at the La Mercy airport site on Tuesday.

A flight training instructor and his pupil were taken to St Augustine's Hospital after sustaining critical injuries.

The flames which engulfed the Robinson R22 helicopter resulted in a veld fire which damaged nearly a kilometre of vegetation and took firefighters more than three hours to extinguish. The Search and Rescue Unit's Troy Allison said the incident occurred at about 3.30pm.

"There was a pilot and crew member on board the helicopter which crashed in a fairly open flat section of veld.

After crashing, the helicopter caught alight and this, coupled with the heavy winds, resulted in a major veld fire," he said.

"A second aircraft which was in the vicinity spotted the fire and landed nearby. He managed to get to the victims, who were trapped and removed them from the wreckage."

Allison said both victims had critical burn wounds to the whole body and were treated and stabilised at the scene before being airlifted to hospital.

The names of the men have not yet been released, but both men belong to local rescue emergency services.

One is a Netcare 911 surf rescue helicopter pilot and the trainee is with the National Sea Rescue Institute.

Paramedics say the hero pilot disappeared after they arrived.

Police are awaiting the arrival of the Civil Aviation Authority to inspect the crash site and investigate the cause of the crash.

The area has been cordoned off and a policeman was posted at the site on Tuesday evening.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Chris Botha said both men are in a critical condition.

[alouette]

With all this "blazing" and what not I hope both occupants walk away from the accident:ok: .

But wouldn't the headline "Helicopter post-crash fire" been more appropriate:mad:

[Leftpedal]

What is the latest on the condition of the two pilots? And who was the unidentified pilot who pulled them from the aircraft? He/she may have saved their lives - well done.

[Romeo E.T.]

I'm very sad to report that Solo passed away a few minutes ago. Aviation has lost a true gentleman.

from Avcom http://www.avcom.co.za/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20002&start=45

this is sad....

[cptjim]

It is very sad news to hear!

My condolences to Solo's family and friends at this very difficult time. Also, a speedy recovery to Merron.

[flightymouse]

R.I.P. SOLO (You are an awesome pilot :D )

I know I have asked before, but do you think the company (Starlite) chopper was at fault?

It would be interesting to know?