Queensland Heli Crash - 2nd July

[flopter]

Breaking news :( (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,25722017-952,00.html)

THE elderly student pilot of a helicopter has died after crashing into bushland at Coolangatta Airport on the Gold Coast this morning.

A NSW police spokeswoman said the helicopter crashed about 10.25am on Thursday just inside the airport precinct boundary in NSW bushland.
A Gold Coast Airport spokeswoman said the Robinson 22 helicopter had only the pilot on board.

[SE-TAA]

Any idea of the helicopter type ?
Cheers

[Tickle]

It was an R22 and the pilot was a 72 year old with two passengers.

There is little more at News.com.au Top stories | News from Australia and around the world online | News.com.au (http://www.news.com.au)

[goin'flyin]

Ninemsn reporting it as an R22 with 71 year old pilot as sole occupant

[What-ho Squiffy!]

Good reason not to thoughtlessly regurgitate what the lazy media pump out. And I'd be very surprised if a member of the RACQ Rescue Helicopter crew thinks an R22 carries three people.

Is it so hard to corroborate even the most basic details??

A 10 second internet search (for those Ppruners in the Rotorheads forum that do not know what the most popular helicopter in the world looks like) will reveal all manner of interesting information.

[slowlane]

Good reason not to thoughtlessly regurgitate what the lazy media pump out. And I'd be very surprised if a member of the RACQ Rescue Helicopter crew thinks an R22 carries three people.

Is it so hard to corroborate even the most basic details??

A 10 second internet search (for those Ppruners in the Rotorheads forum that do not know what the most popular helicopter in the world looks like) will reveal all manner of interesting information.A sad day when anyone loses their life.

Not quite the appropriate place but you brought it up. Your definition of 'the most popular helicopter in the world' is obviously a lot different than mine.

[John Eacott]

Current update (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25722017-3102,00.html):

Pilot, 71, dies in helicopter crash at Coolangatta airport

David Earley and Greg Stolz
July 02, 2009 10:53am
THE elderly student pilot of a helicopter has died after crashing into bushland at Coolangatta Airport on the Gold Coast this morning.

A NSW police spokeswoman said the helicopter crashed about 10.25am on Thursday just inside the airport precinct boundary in NSW bushland.
A Gold Coast Airport spokeswoman said the Robinson 22 helicopter had only the pilot on board.

She said the airport was closed for a short time immediately after the crash occurred but has since reopened and will stay open for all aircraft operations.

An emergency services spokeswoman said firefighters removed the man from the wreckage but he was confirmed dead around 10.55am.

The RACQ CareFlight medical team treated the man immediately after he was freed from the wreckage.

CareFlight doctor Renee Beer said when she began treating the man he wasn't breathing and was in full cardiac arrest.

``We commenced CPR on the patient and then intubated him at the scene,'' she said.

``He had multiple fractured bones and ribs and both lungs were collapsed.

``After working for half an hour to revive him, he was declared deceased at the scene.''

A Tweed Heads police spokeswoman said three police car crews attended the crash.

The NSW police media spokeswoman said a crime scene had been established and investigations were being carried out by officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command.

``Police have notified the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, which will assist in the investigation,'' she said.

She said a report would be prepared for the coroner.

[Arm out the window]

If he had a current medical and was signed up as safe solo by his school, then there's no reason why he shouldn't have flown.

There may be an increased risk of incapacitation (if that's what happened - who knows?) as you get older, but if he was flying within the regs there's no cause to criticise. That's why we do medicals.

[Ned-Air2Air]

The guy was actually an airline pilot who had been flying out of Vanuatu and always wanted to fly helicopters. Not sure if he was still flying or had recently retired.

He and his instructor had basically hired the R22 from Helibiz so even though it was their machine they werent doing the training.

Sad end to the day.

[rotarycat]

Sorry, I thought this was a forum.
Obviously not as my post was deleted by the look of it for stating my opinion.
Anyway, clearly this is a tragic event with consequences for many but I merely made the point about someone of this age being in command of a helicopter.
Would anybody here be happy with themselves or their loved ones flying with a 71 yo pilot?
Not sure if I would.

[spinwing]

Mmmmm....

.... Would anybody here be happy with themselves or their loved ones flying with a 71 yo pilot?


Well that depends on the pilot and his experience doesn't it .... could be quite a few "Older" pilots out there might not want to be with a 39yr old pilot!


:E

[Senior Pilot]

Sorry, I thought this was a forum.
Obviously not as my post was deleted by the look of it for stating my opinion.

There are opinions, and there are statements that are neither warranted nor suitable for a thread about another pilot's death. A number of unsuitable posts were deleted, including this "opinion" of yours :hmm:

Well, you've obviously been smoking shisha or something to come up with a comment like that.
Sure, he didn't hurt anyone else, but what if he had?

By all means, make rational and thoughtful posts with opinions, but we don't need, nor can I accept, rude and aggressive attacks on someone that most of us don't know.

Especially when we have no idea what caused the accident :=

[kev_laline]

Would anybody here be happy with themselves or their loved ones flying with a 71 yo pilot?



Yeah, I would.

[DIVINE WIND]

The pilot was not a retired airline pilot, but was very successful in another field. He had been a fixed wing pilot for several years though.
I am unsure if his name has been released, but I did know the guy.
A good guy who took advantage of every minute he had.
Farewell mate.

[Nigel Osborn]

I really feel for this pilot being the same age but I gave flying away 2 years ago. I can't imagine trying to learn at 71/72, it was hard enough at 20! I guess he was just intrigued by helicopters after his fixed wing flying & just had to have a go. RIP.

[topendtorque]

71 year olds have a much better record than mustering pilots, and many other sectors as well. time to keep quiet for most.
hope it wasn't a serious serviceabilty prob, will wait and see. such can easily bring on a serious heart overspeed. that is well known.

[Ian Corrigible]

Divine Wind - Details of your departed friend now released: Gold Coast helicopter crash victim was racing car champion (http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,27574,25729610-3102,00.html)

Gold Coast helicopter crash victim was racing car champion

James O'Loan
July 04, 2009 12:00am

THE trainee helicopter pilot who crashed and died at the Gold Coast on Thursday was an ex-racing car champion and documentary maker from Austria.

Franz Schmoellerl, 72, was a free-spirited yachtie whose demise will resonate in Europe and in ports across the South Pacific.

The regular Mooloolaba visitor was a former Mini Cooper racing champion in Austria during the 1960s and his wildlife documentaries still screen there.

Sadly, his first solo flight in a chopper also was his last when he crashed near Gold Coast Airport on Thursday morning.

Boaties from Mooloolaba, where his beloved Big Island yacht was often moored, will remember a fearless man with some of the best yarns ever heard across their bows.

Close friend Elly Lenz said Australia, Austria and his last adopted country of Vanuatu had lost "one of the great adventurers".

"He was an ear, nose and throat specialist in Austria who retired in his 40s, bought a yacht and has lived on it ever since," Ms Lenz said.

"He was a free spirit who brought happiness to everyone he met.

"Franz sailed solo around the world 2 1/2 times, and the boaties everywhere loved him but his passion was flying."

Schmoellerl gained a commercial fixed-wing licence in Brisbane in the 1980s and flew around the South Pacific for decades.

He arrived on the Gold Coast three weeks ago to gain his helicopter licence from Helibiz.

He crashed near Gold Coast Airport after telling friends the night before how excited he was about his latest adventure.

Helibiz has reportedly suggested no mechanical error occurred in the Robinson 22 chopper but it will be months before authorities report on the cause of the crash.

Witnesses saw the helicopter swerving in the air near the Tugun Bypass before it crashed. Schmoellerl died of a heart attack after severe trauma injuries.

The likeable yachtie and pilot was a resident of Vanuatu who visited Australia as a tourist.

His Austrian-based brother is expected to arrange a memorial in September on Vanuatu's shores, where his empty 45m yacht remains.


I/C

[imabell]

i had a bit to do with franz and he was a very nice man.

you were right ned he did fly as a co pilot for air vanuatu and had about 3000 hours in fixed wing.

i hope ned that you were not correct that the instructor hired the machine from helibiz and was training outside of the school licence as he was a pilot for another non training organization.

[spinwing]

Mmm ...

As quoted by Nigel ......


I really feel for this pilot being the same age but I gave flying away 2 years ago. I can't imagine trying to learn at 71/72, it was hard enough at 20! I guess he was just intrigued by helicopters after his fixed wing flying & just had to have a go. RIP.

The saddest part about this is the demise of someone who from all accounts had a "brilliant mind" and a thirst for knowledge ... and who was taking advantage of life opportunities as much as he could .... his age in my opinion has nothing to do with it ..... I hope at 71 yrs old I am still interested and able!

RIP Franz.