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Bristow Photos

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Bristow Photos

Old 26th Feb 2009, 01:43
  #681 (permalink)  
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A bit of anecdotal stuff. The very first two civilian B205 went into service at Rumbai/Duri in May 1968. They started life as N4022G and 4023G, -22 then became VR-BCN and eventually PK-HBB and -23 became VR-BCO and PK-HBA, due to Vietnam being in full swing they were delivered with the 204 engine! Sadly one of them crashed in 1969 and took Dave Barnes, Harry Luffman and one other with it. I think they were both fitted with mirrors but probably not the vibration free variety?

My memory is a bit sketchy as I was on the B206A working with Delta Exploration, the seismic company and had the doubtful honour of the first of Bristow's Indonesian 206A engine failures! (PK-HBC).
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 04:53
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C.C.C.

The NCAA has been known to make things confusing. When I was with Schreiner I flew 365C2 5N-ALJ - now there is a Twin Otter with the same registration flown by Caverton from the next-door ramp here in PHC.

Oops - senior moment - it's actually 5N-BLJ

Last edited by soggyboxers; 26th Feb 2009 at 11:26.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 05:42
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Griffo - re Tony Slut

Tony S last seen by me in Star King bar PH a couple of years back (BHNL S76's) before the **** hit the fan security wise and we all got locked up in our respective hovels!

Soggy - can you update? Snake Island?

I must dig out some of my Bristow 80's phots and publish any interesting examples (after suitable censorship)

Trog
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 05:58
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More from Nigeria

These were taken around 2000-2003, I was going to say 'shot' but that's probably inappropriate these days



For those who haven't been, the weather was either doing this..........



or this - de Harmattan. Trying to get onto a Ubit (I think that should be 'an Ubit' but is doesn't sound right) without over torquing was always a feat, especially in 'de Harmattan' with it's sneaky tailwinds, mind you doing the same with the stair rods was always fun as well.



Some of the characters in Eket: John Deakin



Lesley E and Sammy.



Mike Montecillo in concentrated mode.



Grant on the Edop striking a pose to please the Buddha



Ivan in flames.



The Asylum



Another 'Queen of the Skies' doing what it did best, XX inbound from Idoho.



And the sign of the future (albeit not an EP)

Anyone live near Reigate to see if y'man is still in the land of the living?

TOD
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 06:07
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HP15 Photo

Oh and one extra bit of information relating to the 'Graduashun' photo, this is the moment that ccc gets his 'Top of the Class' cup, he was too modest to mention this!
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 08:26
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For the record, PK-HCJ flown by Capt Zuesdi crashed in the jungle near Duri as the forward catch of the port oil cooler scoop panel failed and the panel detached and hit the T/R. The 90 box sheared off leaving the mounting flange on the pylon. The pylon was severed by a M/R blade on landing when the MGB broke loose. The A/C caught fire as one engine was still running and the spilt fuel ignited.

I'm sad to report that Tommy Bayden died last week after a hernia operation.

Last edited by Oldlae; 26th Feb 2009 at 08:31. Reason: Typo
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 11:21
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Originally Posted by Thridle Op Des
he was too modest to mention this
Perhaps it was but as I said it was not my photo. Did not think it was necessary to mention on here about getting the 'Cup'.

Your photos of 5N-AOF are very interesting in relation to the variations of the 'Coastguard' paint scheme that was adopted overseas. Some did not have the front blue line go all the way onto the cabin roof, thickness of the blue line varies, but the red highlight around the particle separator intake is a nice touch - not seen that one before.

Of course I recall you did a lot of graphics for the Company when this scheme was introduced, but it seems that the UK, Australia, Indonesia & Nigeria were all using a different copy.

Oldlae -Thanks for setting the record straight regarding the loss of PK-HCJ. Sorry to hear about Tommy Bayden.

soggyboxers - Must be something to do with the 'J' & the 'L' then. 5N-AJL was one of the Wessex 60s which returned to the UK when the fleet was withdrawn by Bristow. Now sits at the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare as G-AVNE. The 2nd 5N-AJL was a Bell 212 that was written off at Onne Port on 30/06/1998 (Monty Hartley + 4 paxs - RIP).
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 11:32
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C.C.C.

Another 'senior moment' . The Dauphin was actually ALJ Lima Juju

Poor Monty - you fail to mention your own presence there also.

Trogs, I believe Tony has again departed Bristow but not sure where he's gone.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 11:33
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Sad to hear of Tommy Bayden's passing....he was quite a character in his own right. Many a good night listening to his stories about ferrying Whirlwinds about the Sahara from one end to the other and crossways.

I wonder who wound up with the sword stick?
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 14:49
  #690 (permalink)  
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5N-AJL was a Bell 212 that was written off at Onne Port on 30/06/1998 (Monty Hartley + 4 paxs - RIP).
Was that the one where a main rotor pin failed in flight?
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 14:57
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Engineering error....frozen bolt found but not removed....nut replaced and aircraft released for flying. The item was due time change in nine hours of flying but failed on the next flight. The aircraft crashed into a canal or river and sunk immediately. Survivors did an underwater escape to get out of the aircraft.

Chris Cairns survived the crash along with some passengers.

Was on a drive link if I recall properly.

Not a good day by any description beyond some did survive.

Perhaps Stacey or someone knowledgeable about the actual sequence of events can give us a summary of what happened.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 15:53
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5N-AJL

I will not get involved in character assassinations online, but can confirm it was a bolt on one side of the scissor assembly (above the swash plate) that failed, leading to one main rotor blade being uncontrolled in flight. The sequence of events as posted by SASless in his first 2 lines is incorrect.

Chris Cairns (passenger in LHS cockpit) exited underwater through open door. A Belgian or French passenger, with a Nigerian passenger alongside exited cabin on left side. 4th survivor, another Nigerian, apparently jumped out of a removed cabin window on the right side as the fuselage hit the river at Onne port.

For those who question doing HUET drills, I had done one 6 weeks prior to this accident, with an American and a Canadian helicopter pilot, in Norwich. It can help save you life.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 16:31
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Yes I can, but I'd rather do it on a personal pm to those that really want to know, the reason being is that this particular incident is close to my heart in the fact that this was a serious engineering up and the engineer concerned decided to keep his mouth shut until he was found out, this caracter is back in aviation! but to add salt to sore wounds he is still working!!

Last edited by Senior Pilot; 26th Feb 2009 at 20:29. Reason: Remove reference to where the engineer is working: too easily identifiable
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 16:40
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Glad we are in agreement Stacey over any more postings about the circumstances leading to the loss of 5N-AJL.

Watch out for yourself shortly in some Nigeria photos that I'm scanning just now.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 17:19
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C.C.C,

I really feel bad my comment harmed this un-named individual's character.

I would suggest however, as reinforced by Stacey's post.....the "character" did that by his felonious actions and lack of moral character at the time of the events during which several people were killed due to his misconduct.

You will have to excuse me for being less than willing to be charitable about this but when someone kills innocent folks who have placed their trust in his "character" and professional abilities, I consider it the most contempible of conduct in aviation.

As Stacey posted:

this was a serious engineering up and the engineer concerned decided to keep his mouth shut until he was found out

CCC.....please explain why you consider the discussion of the causes of this fatal crash from long ago...and fully investigated...as being inappropriate?

I would suggest it should be a case study for "How Not To Do Maintenance" and be used to remind young budding Engineers of the critical nature of their profession where lives can be lost if they make a mistake.

The vast majority of Engineers I have known all lived up to the highest level of responsibility and professionalism but as in any profession there are some that should not be in the business.

The tragedy is even innocent mistakes can result in horrible results.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 18:56
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Eket, Nigeria 1992-1994ish Aircraft, Places & People


When the operation was being moved from the Eket Airstrip to the Q.I.T. the gantry was moved from the old to the new hangar ahead of the actual move. Here we see the equipment that Bell Helicopters provided to allow you to carry out maintenance without the necessary ground facilities. Barry Pettitt supervising an engine removal.

Those of you that have or are working in Nigeria will be aware of the many religions & cultures associated with this large nation. The refueller here on the Idaho felt that I was stealing his 'soul' (apologies if that is the wrong expression) by taking this photo of 5N-AJX with Colin Paterson in command. On my next rotation I became friends with the refueller again when I presented him with a copy of this photo and returned his 'soul'.

With a country that rarely had any serviceable national SAR helicopters, the Bristow group looked after its own SAR, with Eket normally having 2 winches. As well as keeping a pool of qualified pilots, we were very fortunate in having the dedication of some engineers in providing winch operators & winch men. Part of the training for new winch operators started with Dry Winching, and here we see Ron Varney (in his shorts) being coached by Barry Pettitt on how to get the hook exactly onto that clump of grass, and again it looks like Colin Paterson at the helm.

A German company, MAN Ferrostaal AG, were building a huge Aluminium Plant, with Deep Water Port, Township and Hospital, at Ikot Abasi to the west of Eket. We were asked to do a site survey of the 2 helipads they were building and here is 5N-BHM undertaking that task. With the help of Jeff Lee, and the kind assistance of the Chief Engineer & Chief Pilot, we set up the famous 'Cold Meat' run as we had befriended the German butcher on this project, and managed to persuade several pilots & engineers to undertake this run, as there was free beer in the bar on arrival (even Bristow put on a barrel!).

5N-AJS outside the old airstrip hangar.

5N-AYX outside the old hangar. This was an FAA IFR 212, which as well as having the collective/yaw mixing unit, also had a collective/cyclic mixing unit as well. After a couple of rather exciting arrivals during Hydraulics 1 off landings we stopped using this one for Hyd 1 failures on VMC checks. It was later converted to UK IFR standard once a design scheme had been approved, and of course we could afford to do it.

I got a good laugh from the Mobil dispatchers when the guest helicopter in these last 2 shots turned up on the hotspot and I announced that we were waiting to take 11 to the Idaho. It is actually a Graupner Bell 212 R/C helicopter which was later to be painted in the Bristow 'Coastguard' scheme courtesy of a Check 2 and the artistic skills of Thridle Op Des.

It was always a pleasure to conduct air tests with our engineers as some of them were very good at flying, and I got to practise my instructional technique. Here is Barry Pettitt enjoying himself.

Bristow Bar, Esa Akpan, Eket with 'The Young Ones'. Andy 'The Black Destroyer' Walters, Andy 'Deputy Deputy Chief Pilot' Hudson, Graham 'Another Deputy Deputy Chief Pilot' Walker, Richard 'Sheep' Evans, Randy Bartlett & Ralph Chappell. Just above Ralph's head you can see a photo of the late 'Tigger' (RIP) who was the famous base dog. At his end we laid him to rest offshore so that he would not end up as a '504' dish downtown (local delicacy was to eat dogs that had been run over - 504 was a type of Peugeot car available then).

Horse racing night at the Mobil Compound. I see Andy Hudson in Lane 2 on the right. Anybody recognise any of the others?

We held a morning beach barbecue in the Mobil Beach facility, and I was part of the advance party that went down to set up the barbecue the night before, sleeping in the open under the stars. Here are my partners that night Stacey Shilling & Mick Rennie (?).

Cannot remember what the barbecue was for, but here is Ron Varney (who had woken us up in the wee hours as he tried to find us in the dark on his Triumph Tiger 750), Mick Rennie, John 'the Greek' xxx (?), Fred Layton, Stacey Shilling, and Ed 'Easy Ed' Doucette.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 20:08
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5N-AJL

Didn't mean to open a can of worms.

Was Monty Hartley in Trinidad in 1990? If so I think I may have met him briefly while I stayed with Henry Boyt out there.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 20:19
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Originally Posted by Tail-take-off
Didn't mean to open a can of worms
No problem.
Was Monty Hartley in Trinidad in 1990?
Yes Monty was in Trinidad before being posted to Nigeria. Met him only twice. 1st time was in Redhill on his way to Nigeria, 2nd time was when he arrived at Eket in 5N-AJL to offer me a lift to Aker Base, PH.

I will always remember in the Post Crash investigation how everyone, including the client and the surviving passengers, all spoke very highly of Monty. Had a rather solemn night in Trinidad later that year when I had to debrief the accident to many of his fellow workers & friends.
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 20:31
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C.C.C.

What a shock: SASless with hair and a waistline
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Old 26th Feb 2009, 20:47
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On a lighter note....

I thought the recent release of the new "Pink Panther" movie might give us an oppertunity to celebrate the orininal Inspector Clouseau!

"Zis Steeve Marrtin, ee looks nossing like mee!"
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