Survey aircraft crash, WA
 

The West today reported at survey aircraft crashed on the Nullarbor yesterday (18/12 - i suppose).

Pilot apparently escaped with 'minor head injuries' and flown back to Perth with RFDS. Good to know he/she is ok'ish.

Anyone know any more info? the paper has doesnt have much.

I love this comment from the local paper...

"The pilot contacted a Qantas plane which was flying above, which then used its stronger on-board radio system to alert authorities to the crash."

Also, the media are all saying the RAC rescue helicopter was sent out. It was an R44 from Esperance.

And the Dornier didn't even rate a mention, despite being the first ones there, maybe their 'on-board radio system' wasn't good enough.:rolleyes:

if only he/she crashed at FL360 their radio may have been strong enough:rolleyes:

It was obviously strong enough to still work :ok:

Cessna 206 I think the rego was VH-UTW but don't quote me on that.

Not sure of the cause of the crash but it went down in scrub approx 50nm east of Caiguna.

A distress beacon was detected followed some time later by a Qantas aircraft reporting hearing a Mayday call that was not heard in the centre.

The aircraft was not able to speak directly to atc due to vhf coverage in the area, overflying a/c were used as a relay.

That would put them into some of the crash friendly terrain around the bottom of Rawlinna Stations nightshade block, possibly the western end of Arubiddy. hopefully they wouldn't have suffered to much damage to the aircraft or occupants.

About 50km SE of Cocklebiddy Roadhouse, not far in from the coast.

Area covered in those 1-2m scrubby looking trees so the 206 wont be flying again.:sad:

Pilot had a laceration above the eye that needed a bit of sewing, but very fortunate given the state of the wreck.

AAh, South of the highway is not so crash friendly. Good that the crew got out with minor damage though. :ok: Was that Ibbo's 206?

The Dornier made it that far without breaking down ?? :}

UTW would have to be UTS Geophysics wouldn't it?

UTW
 

Lucky.
VERY LUCKY.
It wasn,t 50 ks out to sea.
In a 2 metre liferaft.?
Water temp 4c.
Shark infested waters.
Rescue - hurry up and wait.
Survivability NIL.
By all accounts pilot did a great job.
M

They were airworking off Albany at the time.

Give it a rest... the Dornier has not broken down on a task yet in 3 years. It was the crew that spotted the survivor and established comms. Not the RAC chopper.

Maybe you'll need the assistance from these guys one day! Well done Aero Rescue.

Christmas bonus und a command on ze vay for you batski!!:}

cutter2
 

Any idea who pilot is. Concern from across the Tasman as mates fly in Aussie on this type of op.

UTS wasnt the only ones that bid that contract. I think it was UTW that had a temperamental engine in Derby earlier this year.
I guess it just shows that even the newest gear isnt failproof, and sometimes bad stuff happens. Pilot is still alive and kicking so thats the main thing.

Pilot is fine. Fit enough for a Winny Blue before the Kalgoorlie SJA arrived to take him to KRH for a check-up.

Initials D.T. Nice bloke.


multime, agree with you about the sharks, but I think you would have to go alot further south to experience 4 degree water temps.

Halfmoon
 

As mentioned by aileron 69, UTS were definitely not the only survey company to bid on the project. All the survey companied would have tendered on all areas released by GA last year and the surveys awarded primarily on price. If UTS quoted using single pistons as opposed to other companies tendering using other equipment then it was likely they won on price.

All the companies are desperate for work at the moment but hopefully they maintain their safety standards although it makes it difficult when other companies start dropping theirs. :=

As far as I am aware, UTW was actually flying an onshore section between Caiguna and Cocklebiddy although they were also flying offshore sections with single pistons as well, although, UTS are not the only company to do this. GPX had an incident in Horn Island early in the year with a C210, and in all likelihood this survey would have been offshore as well.

It would be interesting to see their Risk Assessments for these projects. It is a requirement of GA tenders that these be submitted with the tender documents and that the companies are members of IAGSA, although IAGSA is bit of a toothless tiger at the best of times.

Safety first
 

The Risk Assessment for Survey companies is reverse engineered.
You start at a risk outcome thats acceptable to the client and then work backwards through the matrix to "tidy up the paperwork".
Everyone wins.
MC

Gabilian, would that C210 you mention happen to be KWW?

Said aircraft grinded its belly landing at HID- think I heard QF one day on Centre discussing it when they were inbound to Horn.
Word is that its common practice to pull gear CBs in the survey 210s; pump motor interfering with equipment or something. And it was subsequently forgotten.............
I recall a mate telling me it was doing East-West runs somewhere around Weipa up and down the Cape.

Murray, understand where you guys are comming from, us mil guys have the same problem with getting an 'acceptable outcome' to satisfy comcare. Remember that you can either 'treat' the hazards or push it up further for some one else to 'accept' the risk. In this case the poor old pilot gets hung out to dry because the client turned a blind eye to the reality of the situation. I say call in the lawyers to go over the risk assessment and pull in both the draftee of the risk matrix and the client. The dirty bastards need to be made resposible too if the KNOW some poor bloke is being made to fly offshore in a single piston to do thier dirty work. Yes I know there are commercial realities but the guys at the top are not stupid. If they know full well the assessment is reverse engineered (course they do) make the f*#ckers pay for our safety...

GRRRRRRRR :suspect: