Helicopter Down in the Kimberly
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ABC Online update
Helicopter crashes in WA's far-north
A helicopter with four people on board has crashed near Kununurra in the far-north of Western Australia.
An aircraft flying over the area has reported wreckage but no signs of movement at the crash site.
Police are on their way to the scene, about 23 miles north-west of the town.
An Air Search and Rescue spokesman confirmed the helicopter is owned by Kununurra-based charter company Heliwork.
A helicopter with four people on board has crashed near Kununurra in the far-north of Western Australia.
An aircraft flying over the area has reported wreckage but no signs of movement at the crash site.
Police are on their way to the scene, about 23 miles north-west of the town.
An Air Search and Rescue spokesman confirmed the helicopter is owned by Kununurra-based charter company Heliwork.
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Further news reports
Four die as helicopter crashes
09nov03
FOUR people are dead after a helicopter crashed in remote cattle country near Kununurra yesterday morning. The Slingair Heliwork chopper went down shortly before 11am about 40km north of the town, on a cattle station owned by media magnate Kerry Packer.
The Sunday Times understands all four men on the charter flight were from Kununurra in the state's far north.
The dead pilot was local identity Kim Rankin whose father, Dusty Rankin, was a pioneering Kimberley helicopter operator before his death in a chopper accident more than a decade ago.
The three passengers on board the Robinson 44 helicopter are understood to have been employees of the Ord River District Co-operative.
Wyndham-East Kimberley shire president Barbara Johnson said the men were well known in Kununurra and their deaths had shocked the town.
"I am devastated and the community will be devastated as news of this tragedy gets out," she said.
"Most people up here would have known these men and will feel their loss. It has just been a very sad day for Kununurra."
The men were returning from a fishing trip - believed to have been a work reward - when the chopper went down in rugged terrain at Carlton Hill station and exploded on impact.
Kununurra police went to the site yesterday and confirmed that all the men in the aircraft, all in their 20s, had died in the crash. Police are due to return to the site today with air safety investigators.
It was not known what caused the crash.
The chartered aircraft had left Kununurra at 5.15am for a fishing trip at Cape Domett in Cambridge Gulf, 100km to the northeast.
It was about 80km into the return flight when the crash occurred.
Heliworks was established by Kerry Slingsby in 1984, with seven Bell helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft.
Mustering cattle was the mainstay of its early operations until tourism took off in 1990 with flights over the Bungle Bungles.
The company has two modern facilities at Kununurra airport and has won successive WA Tourism Awards since 1996.
Source
Poor conditions hamper WA helicopter crash probe
Difficult terrain and bad weather may hamper the investigation into a helicopter crash near Kununurra in Western Australia's far north.
All four people on board were killed when the helicopter crashed, about 23 nautical miles north-west of Kununurra about 10:30am AWST.
It is understood the charter flight was returning from a fishing trip.
People on board a second helicopter travelling with the group witnessed the crash and have been interviewed by Kununurra police.
Police spokesman Andy O'Neil says investigators have had trouble reaching the crash site.
"The area itself is very rugged, they haven't been able to get to it by vehicle, there's storms approaching so they've had to sit tight on it at the moment and we're waiting for Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators and the police forensic officer to attend Kununurra tomorrow and they'll continue the investigation," he said.
All four people killed in the crash are believed to be local residents.
Mr O'Neil says the crash has been a shock for the town.
"[It's] believed all the people were ... local residents - the names haven't been released as yet because we're still contacting family members," he said.
source with basic map
09nov03
FOUR people are dead after a helicopter crashed in remote cattle country near Kununurra yesterday morning. The Slingair Heliwork chopper went down shortly before 11am about 40km north of the town, on a cattle station owned by media magnate Kerry Packer.
The Sunday Times understands all four men on the charter flight were from Kununurra in the state's far north.
The dead pilot was local identity Kim Rankin whose father, Dusty Rankin, was a pioneering Kimberley helicopter operator before his death in a chopper accident more than a decade ago.
The three passengers on board the Robinson 44 helicopter are understood to have been employees of the Ord River District Co-operative.
Wyndham-East Kimberley shire president Barbara Johnson said the men were well known in Kununurra and their deaths had shocked the town.
"I am devastated and the community will be devastated as news of this tragedy gets out," she said.
"Most people up here would have known these men and will feel their loss. It has just been a very sad day for Kununurra."
The men were returning from a fishing trip - believed to have been a work reward - when the chopper went down in rugged terrain at Carlton Hill station and exploded on impact.
Kununurra police went to the site yesterday and confirmed that all the men in the aircraft, all in their 20s, had died in the crash. Police are due to return to the site today with air safety investigators.
It was not known what caused the crash.
The chartered aircraft had left Kununurra at 5.15am for a fishing trip at Cape Domett in Cambridge Gulf, 100km to the northeast.
It was about 80km into the return flight when the crash occurred.
Heliworks was established by Kerry Slingsby in 1984, with seven Bell helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft.
Mustering cattle was the mainstay of its early operations until tourism took off in 1990 with flights over the Bungle Bungles.
The company has two modern facilities at Kununurra airport and has won successive WA Tourism Awards since 1996.
Source
Poor conditions hamper WA helicopter crash probe
Difficult terrain and bad weather may hamper the investigation into a helicopter crash near Kununurra in Western Australia's far north.
All four people on board were killed when the helicopter crashed, about 23 nautical miles north-west of Kununurra about 10:30am AWST.
It is understood the charter flight was returning from a fishing trip.
People on board a second helicopter travelling with the group witnessed the crash and have been interviewed by Kununurra police.
Police spokesman Andy O'Neil says investigators have had trouble reaching the crash site.
"The area itself is very rugged, they haven't been able to get to it by vehicle, there's storms approaching so they've had to sit tight on it at the moment and we're waiting for Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators and the police forensic officer to attend Kununurra tomorrow and they'll continue the investigation," he said.
All four people killed in the crash are believed to be local residents.
Mr O'Neil says the crash has been a shock for the town.
"[It's] believed all the people were ... local residents - the names haven't been released as yet because we're still contacting family members," he said.
source with basic map
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It is a big loss to a small town and a very sad day for Kununurra. Kim Rankin was kerry Slingsby's step son and I am sure he will be deeply missed. I have heard (second hand) that the helicopter went into a spin before hitting the ground mid flight.
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Very very sad.
For non-Oz members :
- - 
Kununurra is a small town in Western Australia's Kimberley Region, one of the world's last great wilderness areas.
Bush, mountains, deep gorges and fewer people per square mile than almost anywhere in the world.
For non-Oz members :
- - Kununurra is a small town in Western Australia's Kimberley Region, one of the world's last great wilderness areas.
Bush, mountains, deep gorges and fewer people per square mile than almost anywhere in the world.
Last edited by Heliport; 9th Nov 2003 at 06:36.
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Thanks for the map Heliport. And for a bit of extra background information. Kununurra is a long way from anywhere with a population of about 6000. It has quite a large pilot population with a lot of young pilots working their way up. This year has been quite a bad one for accidents in the area :
Cessna 210 wheels up landing
Cessna 310 ran out of fuel on finals (wrong tank selected)
R44 engine failure(cause unknown at this stage)
and yesterdays R44 crash.
Fortunately no one had been hurt up until yesterday. It is a good thing that this year is nearly over
Cessna 210 wheels up landing
Cessna 310 ran out of fuel on finals (wrong tank selected)
R44 engine failure(cause unknown at this stage)
and yesterdays R44 crash.
Fortunately no one had been hurt up until yesterday. It is a good thing that this year is nearly over
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from The West Australian:
CELEBRATED aviation operator Kerry Slingsby lost pilot and stepson Kim Rankin in a helicopter crash that killed four people north of Kununurra in the Kimberley.
Mr Rankin, 26, knew his Robinson 44 aircraft was in trouble moments before it plunged to the ground and burst into flames in remote bush on Saturday morning.
The disaster was the culmination of a fishing trip that took two parties of local people in two helicopters to Cape Domett in the Cambridge Gulf.
It is understood that moments before the impact Mr Rankin radioed words to the effect: "I am going to hit hard."
Occupants of the second helicopter saw him come down on Carlton Hill cattle station owned by media mogul Kerry Packer's Consolidated Pastoral Company.
Pilot Kim Rankin was the son of Dusty Rankin, who is understood to have died in 1985 when training another pilot in a Bell 47, the type of aircraft made famous in the MASH television series.
His widow, Pat, later married Mr Slingsby, who runs WA's biggest private aviation business, Slingair Heliwork WA, with a fleet of 50 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He has won numerous tourism awards.
Two air safety investigators flew to the crash scene yesterday and will work closely with police assisting the coroner to determine reasons for the disaster.
They hope to drive out today to examine wreckage situated about 35km north-west of Kununurra. Bad weather may delay inspection.
Police have not formally released names of the dead because the charred remains could not yet be identified. The bodies were recovered from the station yesterday.
Sgt Rod Boehn, of Kununurra police, said the town was shocked by the deaths of four locals. Three of them aged 21 to 62 were understood to work for the Ord River District Cooperative.
"It's going to take some time for the people of this town to get over it," he said. "They were very well known, very popular people."
It is understood one of the pilots was concerned about not being able to return to Kununurra because of thunderstorms.
An experienced pilot said helicopters could get caught in a downwash in a thunderstorm and forced to the ground.
Alan Stray, deputy director of air safety investigation for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, expected the engine and other components would be removed for examination.
It was not known if the engine was running at the time of the crash.
_
CELEBRATED aviation operator Kerry Slingsby lost pilot and stepson Kim Rankin in a helicopter crash that killed four people north of Kununurra in the Kimberley.
Mr Rankin, 26, knew his Robinson 44 aircraft was in trouble moments before it plunged to the ground and burst into flames in remote bush on Saturday morning.
The disaster was the culmination of a fishing trip that took two parties of local people in two helicopters to Cape Domett in the Cambridge Gulf.
It is understood that moments before the impact Mr Rankin radioed words to the effect: "I am going to hit hard."
Occupants of the second helicopter saw him come down on Carlton Hill cattle station owned by media mogul Kerry Packer's Consolidated Pastoral Company.
Pilot Kim Rankin was the son of Dusty Rankin, who is understood to have died in 1985 when training another pilot in a Bell 47, the type of aircraft made famous in the MASH television series.
His widow, Pat, later married Mr Slingsby, who runs WA's biggest private aviation business, Slingair Heliwork WA, with a fleet of 50 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. He has won numerous tourism awards.
Two air safety investigators flew to the crash scene yesterday and will work closely with police assisting the coroner to determine reasons for the disaster.
They hope to drive out today to examine wreckage situated about 35km north-west of Kununurra. Bad weather may delay inspection.
Police have not formally released names of the dead because the charred remains could not yet be identified. The bodies were recovered from the station yesterday.
Sgt Rod Boehn, of Kununurra police, said the town was shocked by the deaths of four locals. Three of them aged 21 to 62 were understood to work for the Ord River District Cooperative.
"It's going to take some time for the people of this town to get over it," he said. "They were very well known, very popular people."
It is understood one of the pilots was concerned about not being able to return to Kununurra because of thunderstorms.
An experienced pilot said helicopters could get caught in a downwash in a thunderstorm and forced to the ground.
Alan Stray, deputy director of air safety investigation for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, expected the engine and other components would be removed for examination.
It was not known if the engine was running at the time of the crash.
_
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Latest reports
Monday, November 10
Forensic police and air safety investigators got through to examine the charred wreckage today.
A second helicopter had been travelling about a minute behind but its occupants did not witness the accident. The pilot alerted authorities when he realised the first helicopter had crashed.
The bodies were recovered from the crash site yesterday (Sunday) after police managed to get four-wheel drive vehicles close to the area, which is in rugged country characterised by rocky outcrops and gorges.
Monday, November 10
Forensic police and air safety investigators got through to examine the charred wreckage today.
A second helicopter had been travelling about a minute behind but its occupants did not witness the accident. The pilot alerted authorities when he realised the first helicopter had crashed.
The bodies were recovered from the crash site yesterday (Sunday) after police managed to get four-wheel drive vehicles close to the area, which is in rugged country characterised by rocky outcrops and gorges.
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It is understood one of the pilots was concerned about not being able to return to Kununurra because of thunderstorms. An experienced pilot said helicopters could get caught in a downwash in a thunderstorm and forced to the ground.
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"From what I have heard, Kerry Slingsby is a really good guy and He has alot of time for new pilots."
yeah...KS has a lot of time for new pilots cause he pays them **** and treats them like ****. Nothing like making your fortune off the desperation and hard work of others.....
It is unlikely that the WX was embedded with cells. As Go North said there were none around and they usually show in the avo anyway. It is never frontal and they are easy to dodge around.
yeah...KS has a lot of time for new pilots cause he pays them **** and treats them like ****. Nothing like making your fortune off the desperation and hard work of others.....
It is unlikely that the WX was embedded with cells. As Go North said there were none around and they usually show in the avo anyway. It is never frontal and they are easy to dodge around.
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Chairman,
My my, what large testes you have!
Most new pilot's don't know sh1t, can't fly for sh1t and yet expect to be paid like sh1t. It takes quite a time to elevate to the level of sh1t.
Now, as a chairman you must know that the single reason for going into business is to give someone a job. I want to know which company doesn't, or would not if they could "make a fortune off the desperation and hard work of others".
Do you even know what money is for?
KS is in the business of giving people jobs, how else would it happen? He would appear to have larger cojones than even you! After all it is his tin or he is responsible for someone else's who may even keep one of those cojones in a jar somewhere for a little bit of security!
Right now your respect for him seems to be fairly low and his for you is, under the present circumstances, probably significantly less than zero. I would hope, for your sake, he doesn't track you down and either a) enlarge your testes even more with a boot or b) remove one and place it in a jar just so you know what it feels like, yet without the prospect of it ever being returned.
My my, what large testes you have!
Most new pilot's don't know sh1t, can't fly for sh1t and yet expect to be paid like sh1t. It takes quite a time to elevate to the level of sh1t.
Now, as a chairman you must know that the single reason for going into business is to give someone a job. I want to know which company doesn't, or would not if they could "make a fortune off the desperation and hard work of others".
Do you even know what money is for?
KS is in the business of giving people jobs, how else would it happen? He would appear to have larger cojones than even you! After all it is his tin or he is responsible for someone else's who may even keep one of those cojones in a jar somewhere for a little bit of security!
Right now your respect for him seems to be fairly low and his for you is, under the present circumstances, probably significantly less than zero. I would hope, for your sake, he doesn't track you down and either a) enlarge your testes even more with a boot or b) remove one and place it in a jar just so you know what it feels like, yet without the prospect of it ever being returned.
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spinning r44
I don't wish to make specific reference to this accident only say that on my last r44 100hry the tail rotor pitch control bearing was rather dodgy, hours and maintenance are all 100% on this machine and Frank has an AD on this bearing replaced with a new type. But the degree of roughness in it was alarming and had developed in 287 hrs being the time since last 300 hrly,check. If this bearing seized I would imagine a certain amount of spinning would ensue. Condolence to the families
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sincerest condolances to kerry and family, banjo and company, and analiese, who I know will be in a mess about all of this also to families of the pax.
you guys wanna have a bit of respect and reframe from the snide comments about people involved in this tragic event.
you guys wanna have a bit of respect and reframe from the snide comments about people involved in this tragic event.
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I had previously made a post saying that I heard that KS was a good guy, and had alot of time for new pilots, giving them that all important start. It seems some people had a few issues with that so I deleted it. I didn't mean to start arguements over my thoughts. I apologise If I have Pi**ed anyone off.
As I had already said, my condolences to friends and family of the crew involved.
Hughesy
As I had already said, my condolences to friends and family of the crew involved.
Hughesy
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No apology necessary Hugh,
Firstly, My condolances to all those related to these deaths. No offence intended by my comments as they are unrelated to the incident.
Simply my opinion about the facts outback.
KS has made his fortune off the backs of young men. The main reason for business is not to give someone a job but definately to make money. The only reason for giving away those jobs is because new pilots are desperate to get anything. Been there done that. If all his pilots stopped work tomorrow for a pay increase do you think they would still have a job? KS is laughing all the way to the bank cause his hourly rate isn't any different to anyone else but his labour costs are half or less.
Good luck to him. If we are all stupid enough to let these guys walk all over us then so be it. Just dont laud them for taking advantage of us.
Working outback is all about **** machines and dodgy maintenance. I wonder how many hours this machine has flown with the clock disconnected.....
Giovanni: when your posts start to make sense; come on back to the forum and chat. I was in the outback when you where still inside....so pull your head in. My respect for these legends of the outback is rationalised by plenty of time spent working for them outback and a realisation that they are mostly full of ****. They don'tfly well, flog machines, overload, raise insurance rates by pranging regularily (which makes it hard for new blokes to crack in) wouldn't have a ****ing clue about G loading, aerodynamics and a zillion other damaging flight characteristics they expose their machines too.
When you have a few hours you will understand exactly what I am talking about.
Firstly, My condolances to all those related to these deaths. No offence intended by my comments as they are unrelated to the incident.
Simply my opinion about the facts outback.
KS has made his fortune off the backs of young men. The main reason for business is not to give someone a job but definately to make money. The only reason for giving away those jobs is because new pilots are desperate to get anything. Been there done that. If all his pilots stopped work tomorrow for a pay increase do you think they would still have a job? KS is laughing all the way to the bank cause his hourly rate isn't any different to anyone else but his labour costs are half or less.
Good luck to him. If we are all stupid enough to let these guys walk all over us then so be it. Just dont laud them for taking advantage of us.
Working outback is all about **** machines and dodgy maintenance. I wonder how many hours this machine has flown with the clock disconnected.....
Giovanni: when your posts start to make sense; come on back to the forum and chat. I was in the outback when you where still inside....so pull your head in. My respect for these legends of the outback is rationalised by plenty of time spent working for them outback and a realisation that they are mostly full of ****. They don'tfly well, flog machines, overload, raise insurance rates by pranging regularily (which makes it hard for new blokes to crack in) wouldn't have a ****ing clue about G loading, aerodynamics and a zillion other damaging flight characteristics they expose their machines too.
When you have a few hours you will understand exactly what I am talking about.
