Helicopter reported down in the GOM
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Helicopter reported down in the GOM
Radio news reported a seach on-going for occupants of a helicopter that has crashed into the GOM. One survivor recovered so far and four others missing.
No other details known.
No other details known.
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RLC Sas. Hope the other 4 are OK. 
Link here ; Local News: Helicopter carrying five goes down in Gulf; One rescued | one, carrying, rescued - Local News -
Link here ; Local News: Helicopter carrying five goes down in Gulf; One rescued | one, carrying, rescued - Local News -
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This is unbelievable, how many helos have to sink in the GOM before someone does something about it.
I know in the military they have a safety stand down for a period of time and look at all their procedures etc, maybe its something the GOM operators could do.
I know in the military they have a safety stand down for a period of time and look at all their procedures etc, maybe its something the GOM operators could do.
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The air temperature was about 36 degrees, with water temperatures at 62 degrees around the time of the crash, said Donovan Landreneau, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, La. Wind was blowing from the west at 23 knots, and there was a small craft advisory in effect.
A fine day to go flying over water without survival suits.....probably in a single engine aircraft to boot!
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Most, if not all the major operators have stand down procedures in the gulf. I believe that singles and twins where not flying for Bristow this morning due to the inclement weather.
However it was reported that this operator was operating. Its a sad situation with needless loss of life and another black mark on GOMEX aviation.
Last heard that one survivor was rescued but later died at the coast guard station. Two others where found deceased with another two still missing. No word if the pilot was found.
God be with their families in their hour of need.
However it was reported that this operator was operating. Its a sad situation with needless loss of life and another black mark on GOMEX aviation.
Last heard that one survivor was rescued but later died at the coast guard station. Two others where found deceased with another two still missing. No word if the pilot was found.
God be with their families in their hour of need.
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That second engine compensates for the failure of the first engine....and might prevent having to take a swim in rough, cold, water.
I re read the news link which confirmed an engine failure was the cause of the accident
Regardless, it's very sad news
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Sad news indeed.
212man - I think there may have been some sarcasm in ayarr's post.
The real a irony is that if the airframe has sunk the chances of it being recovered by the operator or NTSB are low so understanding why may be imposssible.
RLC are currently growing by 50% by the purchase of a big proportion of Air Logistics single engined fleet. Rotorcraft Leasing Company L.L.C.
Can anyone confirm the aircraft type? 206B?
212man - I think there may have been some sarcasm in ayarr's post.
The real a irony is that if the airframe has sunk the chances of it being recovered by the operator or NTSB are low so understanding why may be imposssible.
RLC are currently growing by 50% by the purchase of a big proportion of Air Logistics single engined fleet. Rotorcraft Leasing Company L.L.C.
Can anyone confirm the aircraft type? 206B?
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As someone that flew back and forth across forty miles of Cook Inlet today from Homer to Lake Clark, with temps just above 0 F, a west wind of 20 knots above 200 feet agl, and snow over the Alaska Range, I would love to see 36 F, and water remp of 62 F. I was wearing an immersion suit, had a raft and was on pop out floats, but still had no interest in using that equipment.
I don't know the rest of the weather situation, but frankly the reported weather in itself doesn't sound unreasonable.
I don't know the rest of the weather situation, but frankly the reported weather in itself doesn't sound unreasonable.
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Safety stand-down for the entire GOM??? You must be joking, Ned. The chances of that are less than nil. The chances of even one operator standing down are just about nil. Money talks, and everything else walks.
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George,
If you think the weather in the GOM at the time of the accident was not so bad....ask yourself this question....what are the chances of the aircraft remaining up right following a ditching?
Assuming the aircraft rolls over....and you now find yourself in the water without an immersion suit....with air temps just above freezing...and the water temperature at 64 degrees....just what are your survival times?
With the wave heights, wind, and the aircraft rolling over....what are the chances they even deployed the life raft...much less got into thing?
If you are going flying over water....you must also consider the wave height as the sea may just not be a suitable place to make a forced landing.
That just applies to a "controlled forced landing" with minimum impact forces.
Safety Stand Down for the entire GOM?
How many operators now? How many aircraft is it......over 400?
If you think the weather in the GOM at the time of the accident was not so bad....ask yourself this question....what are the chances of the aircraft remaining up right following a ditching?
Assuming the aircraft rolls over....and you now find yourself in the water without an immersion suit....with air temps just above freezing...and the water temperature at 64 degrees....just what are your survival times?
With the wave heights, wind, and the aircraft rolling over....what are the chances they even deployed the life raft...much less got into thing?
If you are going flying over water....you must also consider the wave height as the sea may just not be a suitable place to make a forced landing.
That just applies to a "controlled forced landing" with minimum impact forces.
Safety Stand Down for the entire GOM?
How many operators now? How many aircraft is it......over 400?
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Now let's make an assumption here....water temp 54 degrees F, air temp about 36 degrees F....no immersion suit, no life raft, but issue inflatable life vests deployed.
Position reports due every 15 minutes....but not followed up upon immediately.....and in this case....after local efforts failed to locate the aircraft on an 18 mile flight from its base.....at approximately two hours after the aircraft went missing....the Search Call is issued.
Response time for the USCG....probably 15-30 minutes.....
Oh.....what was your expected survival time at the outset in this situation.....oh yeah....about 15 minutes!
Do I see a slight problem in the Oil Company/Helicopter Operator logic here?
Position reports due every 15 minutes....but not followed up upon immediately.....and in this case....after local efforts failed to locate the aircraft on an 18 mile flight from its base.....at approximately two hours after the aircraft went missing....the Search Call is issued.
Response time for the USCG....probably 15-30 minutes.....
Oh.....what was your expected survival time at the outset in this situation.....oh yeah....about 15 minutes!
Do I see a slight problem in the Oil Company/Helicopter Operator logic here?
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SASless,
Am I correct in the assumption that immersion suits are not used with those water temperatures?
Condolences to all the families and friends at this dark time.
Am I correct in the assumption that immersion suits are not used with those water temperatures?
Condolences to all the families and friends at this dark time.
Thread Starter
Gomer Pylot would be better placed to tell us what the GOM practices are re immersion suits and water conditions.
I know some operators do limit flight operations based upon sea surface state and wind levels for single engine aircraft....but it is not an industry wide practice to my knowledge.
As to immersion suits....unless I am horribly wrong...there are none in the GOM.
I know some operators do limit flight operations based upon sea surface state and wind levels for single engine aircraft....but it is not an industry wide practice to my knowledge.
As to immersion suits....unless I am horribly wrong...there are none in the GOM.
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Reading posts here, or accidents reports, I wonder - who is doing accounting for those operators ? Because it is apparently profitable for them to loose machines and people, than have a reliable communication equipment, and safety gear.
And BTW that 15 minutes survival estimate isn't correct, even without protective equipment, average male could survive up to an hour in those conditions... But calling for Coasties two hours after loosing contact is pure nonsense. After that period of time, there were very little chances of finding anyone alive, actually zero to finding someone who could survive till the next day.
And BTW that 15 minutes survival estimate isn't correct, even without protective equipment, average male could survive up to an hour in those conditions... But calling for Coasties two hours after loosing contact is pure nonsense. After that period of time, there were very little chances of finding anyone alive, actually zero to finding someone who could survive till the next day.
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Fubar
You are playing ostrich. You need to consider the effect of cold shock, followed by the sea spray & windchill. Based on the met data in the press report conditions were equivalent to North Sea summer conditions where an immersion suit and multiple layers would be required for the passengers.
See page 17 here: http://www.ukooa.co.uk/downloadabled...K_Coleshaw.pdf
And remember that you need a survival time to be at least 1.5 times the best rescue time.
If this aircraft was bought from Air Logistics (N180AL) does that mean it had sat tracking and ALERTS?
You are playing ostrich. You need to consider the effect of cold shock, followed by the sea spray & windchill. Based on the met data in the press report conditions were equivalent to North Sea summer conditions where an immersion suit and multiple layers would be required for the passengers.
See page 17 here: http://www.ukooa.co.uk/downloadabled...K_Coleshaw.pdf
And remember that you need a survival time to be at least 1.5 times the best rescue time.
If this aircraft was bought from Air Logistics (N180AL) does that mean it had sat tracking and ALERTS?