Welsh Police

[The Famous Eccles]

Anyone got any more details about the Welsh Police Helicopter crash?

saw a brief bit on teletext saying it crashed with 3 POB,no serious injuries thankfully.

[Droopy]

En route back from a casevac and forced to make a precautionary landing for an as yet unspecified mechanical reason. All 3 crew later released from hospital with minor whiplash, cuts etc. I believe they're trying to get a wokka today to lift it from the scene.

[Max R8]

Welsh and Police... two words that fill me with morbid horror...

[Taffmerlin]

Max R8 alias Ann Robinson I presume! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">

[STANDTO]

the welsh have form for this I think - wasnt it them that dumped a squirrel on a house roof not so long ago.

Having long seen and extolled the virtues of police aviation, it is about time Chief Constables were allowed to stop worrying about the cost of air support. An interesting comparison is LAPD v Greater Manchester Police; GMP has a larger area but about ten squillion less aircraft. Merseysides machine must be about twenty years old now. The AA are trying to put an air ambulance in every county. Perhaps the RAC could do the same for the police?

[BEagle]

And the Incident Inquiry merely concluded:

"Main Cause - Pigs can't fly."

....sorry, chaps. Black comedic banter. Hope that everyone was OK!!

[Flashman]

'Twas the Dyfed/Powys Police Agusta 109 Power aircraft which unfortunately had the forced landing. Rumour is that the cause was fuel starvation to both engines.
Max RB - I hear it's not the only thing that fills you with morbid horror!

[Fortyodd]

STANDTO, It is a sad, but true fact, that politicians and local police authorities know all about the cost of air support, yet it is only the officers on the ground that know of, and appreciate, it's value.

[MightyGem]

Gents, could we be a bit careful with speculation as to the cause. This thread has been pulled from Rotorheads because of this and also because someone named the pilot.
Thanks
<img src="smile.gif" border="0">

[The Famous Eccles]

Totally agree with what Mighty Gem said,my original question was only out of professional interest and concern for the crew as I couldn`t find any more info on teletext, however, if its rumours people want........
I have heard that the duty police sheep in the back had been frightened by the sound of a zip and leapt into the front totally obscuring the skygods view.........

[STANDTO]

I dont think that my suggestion of archaic a/c will be anything to do with this, as Dyfed seem to change theirs more often than a whores drawers. They were world launch customer for the squirrel N2. when the ashtray got full, they were due to take an EC 135 but took the 109 instead. I would be interested in the reasons for that, purely out of a professional interest, to my email, if any one knows!

The cause of the last welsh squirrel accident was reported on the AAIB website. There is only a precis there now. It seems only major issues are now kept on the site.It is a pity as I think there were an awful lot of lessons to be learned on a GA basis there.

[The Nr Fairy]

Standto :

Full report for Roofus' accident is still available in full, glorious technicolour, from <a href="http://www.aaib.detr.gov.uk/bulletin/jan01/gsaew.htm" target="_blank">here</a>.

If you want a personal perspective, Roofus will be able to give you a blow by blow account, should he wish.

[STANDTO]

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, once seems like a misfortune, twice is Bl**dy unlucky.

Thanks for the link. <img src="wink.gif" border="0">

[MightyGem]

Standto, two different ASUs, two different accidents.

[STANDTO]

I know that! Two different a/c by two different mfrs with two different pilots with two different sets of observers on two different dates etc etc
They are both 'Welsh' though. The Oscar Wilde Quote related to the poor unfortunate driver who had a not dissimilar incident in a Sea King!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As someone who has at first hand worked with ASU I am one of its strongest supporters, even though my current environs don't justify a machine on a single service basis. My earlier point on this thread is the serviceability problems sometimes caused by using old machines. The squirrel in the house incident was second hand by the time it got to the police. This is in no was a criticism of either first or second line servicing. As anyone who runs anything mechanical knows, the older it gets, the more things there are to go wrong. Neither of these incidents appear to be machine age related, but I am all for the best kit being available for the job in all areas. 'Mediocrity', to quote my chief,' is not an option'

'specially if you are flying over my house!

Mighty GEm. Are you still operating G BOOV where you hang out. That is getting on a bit now. Think of the benefits that brought to Merseyside though.

[ 01 January 2002: Message edited by: STANDTO ]</p>

[IanSeager]

BBC report is talking about human error

<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk/wales/newsid_1739000/1739086.stm" target="_blank">Here</a>

[MightyGem]

Yes, we've still got BOOV. A bit long in the tooth now, fast approaching 10000 hrs! Eagerly awaiting delivery of our new EC 135. 1st of June they say, sounds a bit too precise to me.
:)

[animo et fide]

Never mind all that who was it that picked the stricken craft up --- a mighty wokka of the glorious 18th