Chopper down in Suburban Sydney
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Chopper down in Suburban Sydney
Just heard through the car radio, a helicopter has crashed in Turramurra, Sydney, with reports of fatalities. Condolences to all. 
Be careful out there people..
Be careful out there people..
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It's hit the papers now - Two dead in helicopter crash on Sydney's north shore
Pretty sure I saw this just before it happened. I was driving nearby and saw a B206 flying north, scud running, it suddenly turned south and descended into the bush. I remember thinking that it was unusual, but went on with my day. Unless this was another helo investigating, it must have been the one.
Not a good result. RIP guys.
Not a good result. RIP guys.
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A few updates on tonights news suggesting it was a mechanical failure. a large number of witnesses report seeing something come off the aircraft before it appeared to lose control and crash..
Hey Ultralights,
There was also mention of a wire strike - I thought it was pretty ambiguous as to whether it happened before or after the "bit" fell off.
Bad news
There was also mention of a wire strike - I thought it was pretty ambiguous as to whether it happened before or after the "bit" fell off.
Bad news
If you look at Webtrack for Sydney 0900 - 0916 local time 22/7 you can see him fly east along the Parramatta river then turn north into the lane up the valley. He then weaves and sometimes backtracks as he proceeds up the valley. Scud running I suspect. The movements immediately prior to the crash are exceptional.
There is more commentary in this Rotorheads thread.
There is more commentary in this Rotorheads thread.
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Bentleg, I noticed that on webtrak, unless it is being innaccurate, it showed the chopper climbing from 830ft~ to about 1600ft in the last few moments of the flight...
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Poor form
Didn't know either of those involved, but my sympathy to their families.
I was listening to this on area freq as I went overhead shortly afterwards. The rescue chopper was attempting to get overhead to winch a medic down to check if there were any survivors. He had to ask the 4 media choppers over the scence repeatedly - more than 3 times - to move clear of the site so they could safely get in; Wx conditions were very poor.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
I was listening to this on area freq as I went overhead shortly afterwards. The rescue chopper was attempting to get overhead to winch a medic down to check if there were any survivors. He had to ask the 4 media choppers over the scence repeatedly - more than 3 times - to move clear of the site so they could safely get in; Wx conditions were very poor.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
I was listening to this on area freq as I went overhead shortly afterwards. The rescue chopper was attempting to get overhead to winch a medic down to check if there were any survivors. He had to ask the 4 media choppers over the scence repeatedly - more than 3 times - to move clear of the site so they could safely get in; Wx conditions were very poor.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
BUT WHAT I READ ABOUT MEDIA CHOPPERS ABOVE NOT MOVING OUT OF THE WAY FOR THE RESCUE CHOPPER ON 1ST INBOUND CALL IS UNBELIEVABLE !!!! I hope they are personally identified in a mission report put forward by the Rescue Chopper Pilot, and the media cop a fine for not allowing possible rescue attempts and life saving to be conducted !!!
KP
Guys, this has been a common problem with news helicopters. They have a job to do and have, at times, formed part of the SAR response; but more often than not they get in the way.
I have experienced this on firebombing ops, where we have had great difficultly separating news helos from bombers and FAC aircraft. Our last ditch procedure is simply to pack up and go home, leaving the news helos at the scene alone, and report to CASA, the police and the coroner. This puts the onus on the news pilot and leaves them open to prosecution on multiple levels.
I have experienced this on firebombing ops, where we have had great difficultly separating news helos from bombers and FAC aircraft. Our last ditch procedure is simply to pack up and go home, leaving the news helos at the scene alone, and report to CASA, the police and the coroner. This puts the onus on the news pilot and leaves them open to prosecution on multiple levels.
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Avid Aviator,
I doubt hat you would be criticised for naming and shaming the callsigns and company names of these unprofessional organisations.
We don't need this kind of trash in our industry.
I doubt hat you would be criticised for naming and shaming the callsigns and company names of these unprofessional organisations.
We don't need this kind of trash in our industry.
