Singapore Super Puma down in Oz

[MPT]

G'day All,

Just heard this while I was in the car:

(courtesy ABC news)

Four injured in Great Divide helicopter crash
A man is being airlifted to Toowoomba Base Hospital in a critical condition after a Singaporean helicopter caught fire and crashed west of Brisbane.

Another man with suspected spinal injuries is still being treated at the site.

Two other people are also believed to have been hurt, although the extent of their injuries is unknown at this stage.

It is understood the engine of the Super-Puma helicopter caught fire and was shut down, crash-landing in a low-flying training area.

Ian Jesser, from the Oakey Army Aviation Base, says Australian Army medical officers are at the scene.

"Details are a bit scarce, but sometime after 4:00pm we got word that a Singaporean aircraft had had an accident in one of our low flying areas called Lima 6, which is out on the edge of the Great Divide in pretty inaccessible sort of terrain," he said.

"We have got a crash rescue aircraft on the scene at the moment."



Let's hope the guys are OK,

MPT

[Heliport]

news.com.au report Helicopter crash victim stable
July 15, 2003

A SINGAPOREAN air force trainee was in a stable condition tonight after being injured in a helicopter crash landing on the Darling Downs north-west of Brisbane.

Dr Andrew Cumming, medical superintendent of Toowoomba Base Hospital, said the man had been airlifted to the hospital tonight after suffering leg and spinal injuries in the accident.

Three other men suffering minor injuries were also brought to the hospital for treatment.

"Their condition is being evaluated," Dr Cumming said.

The accident happened late this afternoon in rugged country about 50km north of Oakey, where the Republic of Singapore maintains a helicopter training school.


The four had been on board a Super Puma helicopter which was reported to have crash landed after its engine caught fire while on a training mission.

The accident was handled by Singaporean military personnel and a spokesman for the Republic of Singapore embassy in Canberra was being sought for comment.

Oakey base, in the Darling Downs about 20 miles west of Toowoomba is the largest army aviation base in Australia and home to the Australian Army Aviation Corps.
It includes the Army Aviation Training Centre with two schools - the Army Helicopter School, the School of Army Aviation, Headquarters 16 Bde [Avn] with two regiments, 1 Aviation Regiment and 5 Aviation Regiment.
The Singaporean army base nearby is home to 250 families linked to Singapore military forces.

http://www.sunzine.net/maps/qldlil.gif

[Heliport]

ABC News update: Four recovering after helicopter crash

Air safety officials will travel to the scene of a army helicopter crash near Toowoomba in Southern Queensland this morning.

Four Singaporean men are recovering in Toowoomba Hospital after the aircraft crashed in dense bushland just north of Oakey Air Base.

The helicopter, owned by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, was on a routine training exercise when the accident happened.

One man is seriously ill, another has suspected spinal damage and two others received minor injuries.

Ian Jesser from Oakey Air Base says there may have been an engine fire just before the accident.

"We just know they were on a routine training flight, they missed a normal call and that triggered an immediate search and they were quickly located and we put our emergency services immediately into action, crash rescue aircraft with a doctor and an emergency service personnel onboard," he said.

And from The Australian: Chopper crash investigation begins

16jul03

INVESTIGATORS will begin examining the site of a military helicopter crash which injured four Singaporean air force trainees north-west of Brisbane.

The accident happened late yesterday in rugged country about 50km north of Oakey, where the Republic of Singapore Airforce maintains a helicopter training school.
The four had been on board a Super Puma helicopter which was reported to have crashed-landed after its engine caught fire while on a training mission.

An Australian Defence Force spokeswoman said an investigation by both the Australian and Singapore army would begin today.

"The information I have from some Singapore personnel is that the matter is being investigated and I am sure an Australian side will be involved in that," the spokeswoman said.

An Oakey Airbase spokesman said something went wrong after the helicopter did not respond to a radio call.

"They missed a normal call and that triggered an immediate search," he said.

"They were quickly located and we put our emergency services immediately into action , a crash rescue aircraft with a doctor and emergency service personnel on board."

Two of the men injured in the crash were expected to be released from hospital today.

But two others would require more treatment, said Toowoomba Base Hospital medical superintendent Dr Andrew Cumming (Cumming).

"One man is in our intensive care unit," Dr Cumming said today.

"He is stable and has spent a considerable time in theatre overnight.

"He still requires some further testing to be done but is still stable at this stage.

"There was one other who was admitted to our orthopedic ward and he is also in a stable condition."

Comment was being sought from the Singapore Embassy in Canberra.