G-AWFX - Scilly accident

[Phil Kemp]

Does anyone have any recollection or knowledge about what happened to this machine in the pictures here?

[Newforest2]

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=169056

This one in the North Sea?

[Fareastdriver]

IIRC the S61s operated by British Airways Helicopters had that painted on the side, not BEA.

I suspect that occasion was on the Scillies run way before 1978.

[peterperfect]

Phil, what info suggests the photo is associated with Scilly or in fact an Accident ? Something about the terrain that indicates its not on Scilly or even West Cornwall. Its not got the rubble rock hedges but has the wind-angled trees but the fields look too large. Just saying.

[3D CAM]

Peter....I would suggest the damage to the sixth window back, the sponson strut and at least one support tube hanging off, and the sponson sat off to the side are a bit of a hint. Also looks like the tail rotor is at an odd angle/damaged pitch change spider. I have jacked up a 61 in a strange place but I don't think what looks like a building site would be a 1st choice location for routine maintenance.
Phil,, no idea about the circumstances though sorry.
3D CAM

[DOUBLE BOGEY]

There was an accident I believe in the early 80s before RADALTS were mandatory. The crew essentially descended gently and unnoticed until the helicopter hit the water. Quite a few fatalities. It was hazy with no horizon.

I am not sure if the aircraft in the image is the subject helicopter though.

AAA website should have the accident report.

DB

[treadigraph]

That was G-BEON (https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422eca3e5274a1317000133/8-1984_G-BEON.pdf) in 1983.

This incident must have been late 60s/early 70s.

[peterperfect]

3D, good point. Scilly me. Doesn't look like its been on its side though. Its an odd one.

[jimjim1]

Google [G-AWFX]

https://www.helis.com/database/cn/8414/
c/n 61-216
Year 1963
Helicopter Sikorsky S-61N Serial 61-216 Register AP-AOB G-AWFX N216WW N653X N7011M used by Pakistan International Airlines - PIA British International Helicopters British European Airways (BEA) British Airways Helicopters US Department of State Sikorsky Helicopters Carson Helicopters. Built 1963. Aircraft history

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AP-AOB - All Pakistan Aircraft Registration Marks (http://www.aparm.net/ap-aaa_ap-azz/ap-aoa_ap-aoz/ap-aob.htm)
Registration Date: November 1963
Operator/Owner: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
Aircraft Type: Sikorsky S-61N
Construction Number: 61-216
Year Built: 1963
Test Flight Registration: N653X
Next Registration: G-AWFX

Additional Remarks: Construction number 61-216. Registered in Pakistan as AP-AOB for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). Registration AP-AOB removed from Pakistan Aircraft Register on March 10, 1968.

Sold in April 1968 to British European Airways (BEA) Helicopters and registered in United Kingdom (UK) as G-AWFX, April 3, 1968. Registration G-AWFX cancelled on May 12, 1988.

Registered in United States of America (USA) as N7011M. Operated by Carson Helicopters. Converted to 'Fire King' standard for fire fighting missions. Seen active in Melbourne, Australia, in 2009. Registered in USA as N216WW, August 26, 2010.

###

The History of British European Airways - see google books
G-AWFX 61216 5/9/68 Transferred to BA Helicopters. Date is dd/mm/yy

SO - Seems to have been BEA only between April 3, 1968 and 5/sept/68.
Maybe though it took a while to get it painted or may never have been painted.

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Sikorsky S-61N - Croman Corporation | Aviation Photo #4707089 | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/Croman-Corporation/Sikorsky-S-61N/4707089)

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A google reverse image search turns up a few other images of the site.

1970s, Misc - The Very Scilly Memory Page (http://scillymemories.co.uk/gallery/70s/1970s-misc/)

LHS side view shows G-AW..
http://scillymemories.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/1970s-misc/1970s-Helicopter-Accident-en-route-to-Scilly-Penzance-Sikorsky-Scilly-Historical-Picture-Photograph.jpg

LHS front quarter view as already published here but may be better resolution
http://scillymemories.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/1970s-misc/1970s-Helicopter-Accident-en-route-to-Scilly-Penzance-Sikorsky-Scilly-Historical-Picture-Photograph-2.jpg

LHS tail - shows G-AW..
http://scillymemories.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/1970s-misc/1970s-Helicopter-Accident-en-route-to-Scilly-Penzance-Sikorsky-Scilly-Historical-Picture-Photograph-3.jpg

RHS side view
http://scillymemories.co.uk/wp-content/gallery/1970s-misc/1970s-Helicopter-Accident-en-route-to-Scilly-Penzance-Sikorsky-Scilly-Historical-Picture-Photograph-4.jpg

[treadigraph]

Just wondering if it could have been a forced landing just to the north of Penzance Heliport (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.1294455,-5.5137849,3a,56.5y,4.33h,97.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6RNMbv58K47j46h3jnXmNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i665 6?hl=en) - fields and topography are very similar.

Edit: JimJim's pics and link (https://www.facebook.com/groups/scillymemories/permalink/396737503855909/) seem to confirm that?

Here are a handful of interesting shots taken around the early 1970s, from my sister in laws slide collection. Would be interesting to find out a little more information on them. As far as we know, no one was hurt, but the helicopter on it's way back from Scilly to Penzance had missed the runway and landed somewhere around the site BnQ now is. Any ideas on what actually happened, or are we pretty close?

No B&Q though...

[jimjim1]

From
https://www.facebook.com/groups/scillymemories/

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/26993197_208648986365703_3630819971261820779_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=1ff2dd110da592361e7359e9c147ab99&oe=5B54DF6C

Translation of prices

£3.10.0 = £3.50p
£5.8.0 = £5.40p

[jimjim1]

Some discussion here:-

https://www.facebook.com/groups/scillymemories/permalink/396737503855909/


Dan Thomas Deffo pz [Penzance?], you can see the heliport in the first photo and Gulval church to the far right

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Merryn Smith The original pictures you posted are from Penzance in the 70's, but it's not a passenger flight..BEA were using the heliport as a training base alongside the scheduled service and the aircraft you see DID miss the airstrip, and landed in what was then marshland and has now been reclaimed. To the extent that the crew had to launch the dinghy in order to make it back to the hangar for a coffee! No injuries except maybe to pride and bank accounts!!!!!

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From postcard sold on ebay it seems
https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/11885300_802374509879136_6673414932276894589_n.jpg?_nc_cat=0&oh=dc4f925a45e69870b54c5052be021e97&oe=5B96B49F

[Fareastdriver]

Must be ruddy difficult keeping the port mainwheel on the windsock.

[POBJOY]

The Heliport was built on the 'reclaimed' town rubbish tip and indeed still looked like a building site. Interestingly there is still a windsock flying at the location although it is attached to a Sainsbury supermarket. Proposed 'New' Heliport is east of the original site and 250 yards to the north, and bordered by a substantial retail park. When calling them on the old 118.1 freq it was not unusual to hear chat from French airfields quite some distance away. Happy days and a disgraceful waste of a transport facility that had served the area well for over 40 years, plus was in a perfect location with an excellent weather factor.

[Max Skylon]

I joined BAH Ltd. at Gatwick in summer 1972 and this event was definately before my time. I did try looking on the AAIB website but I could not find a report of this event (although this may be due to me having trouble with the search facility).

[Nigel Osborn]

In 1966 I flew the Culdrose cricket team to Scilly in a Wessex 5 from 707 Squadron. Dropped them on the cricket field but didn't park there in case there were some big hitters! Beer was offered for the tea break but sadly had to be refused!

[megan]

This event, 24 Oct 1978?

Recalled to Bredford Dolphin shortly after take off by co-pilot. Commander took control and landed with landing gear retracted. Damage to fuselage frames.

EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES INCLUDED:
ONGOING MAY DAY BY ANOTHER A/C,
STRONG WINDS (45-50 KTS GUSTING 60KTS),
DARKNESS, RAIN AND TURBULENCE FROM PLATFORM SUPERSTRUCTURE

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=169056

[Droop Snoot]

The three TRBs with skins missing are typical for tail rotor buzz .

[bombdoorsopen]

This happened during a training flight, the tail rotor blades shed the skin, so they lost tail rotor control.. put it down in the marsh land next to the heliport. When the door was opened, as luck would have it, it was over a deep drainage ditch, on stepping off the last step he disappeared.. no one hurt... all along time ago...

[jimjim1]

Just wondering if it could have been a forced landing just to the north of Penzance Heliport (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.1294455,-5.5137849,3a,56.5y,4.33h,97.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6RNMbv58K47j46h3jnXmNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i665 6?hl=en) - fields and topography are very similar.


I have compared the layout of the fields in your google street view link and the third of four that I posted (LHS tail - shows G-AW..) and the fields look identical.

I think you have found the site - how you did it I have no idea:-), google street view is a big place.

I also wonder if the machine may have been moved (a small distance, say by crane) from the crash site to a location more suitable for maintenance work. It looks like it is sitting on a freshly prepared 'pad'.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.1294455,-5.5137849,3a,56.5y,4.33h,97.62t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s6RNMbv58K47j46h3jnXmNQ!2e0!7i13312!8i665 6?hl=en

[bombdoorsopen]

If your were standing looking at the airfield it was to the east not behind... we had to make a road across the marsh for the crane

[treadigraph]

Yes, in the left background of one of the pics you can see the heliport hangar/terminal - I'd guess it landed roughly where the Long Rock by-pass roundabout is now.

[rog747]

this is on the Scilly memories FB group - was she a write off?

[bombdoorsopen]

No she was repaired and continued flying..

[Phil Kemp]

She is still flying today as a short S61N, N625CK with Croman Corporation. :)