Winching problem
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Gold Coast, Queensland
Winching problem
Any one have details what went wrong with the winching incident off Thursday Island. The news said both the medic & crewman were injured after falling 16 metres onto the deck. Hopefully not too serious.
Joined: May 2004
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From: Aus, Europe & everywhere in between
Just saw on the Aussie news website:
Rescuers plunge 16m from helicopter onto ship as winch breaks | The Courier-Mail
Mentions "substantial injuries".
Hope all is OK.
Rescuers plunge 16m from helicopter onto ship as winch breaks | The Courier-Mail
Mentions "substantial injuries".
Hope all is OK.
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
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From: Great South East, tired and retired
Crab,
There's no problem with the skills and experience of those lads, all are eminently suitable for the task.
The cable apparently contacted a mast and the shock loading snapped it. See the newest Heliops for an article on shock loading - it's ... well ... shocking.
The Teabag has shoulder and arm injuries, the paramedic is not in good condition - perhaps because he is carried lower in the harness and the teabag landed on him?
There's no problem with the skills and experience of those lads, all are eminently suitable for the task.
The cable apparently contacted a mast and the shock loading snapped it. See the newest Heliops for an article on shock loading - it's ... well ... shocking.
The Teabag has shoulder and arm injuries, the paramedic is not in good condition - perhaps because he is carried lower in the harness and the teabag landed on him?
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Australia
Before you start asking questions about the winch operators experience and skill level, Mr Crab, perhaps you should wait until the investigation has run its course and the findings are released. Just remember that it takes a CREW to carry out a winch job. Not just the Pilot, not just the Crewman. I know for a fact that the CREW involved are both very professional and experienced operators.
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: EGDC
Patriot - my point was exactly that - the article talks only about the pilot's experience and doesn't mention the winch-op at all. Deck winching can go from benign to scary in a heartbeat - perhaps winching the winchman down first and then sending the paramedic would be a better procedure - it is easier for one person on the wire to control their position and fend off obstacles than it is 2 and you only hurt one person at a time if it goes wrong.
A hi-line sounds like it would have been a good idea if the winching area was so tight that a mast got in the way!
If it was a merchant vessel I'm guessing it was a reasonable size - anyone know what the sea state was at the time?
A hi-line sounds like it would have been a good idea if the winching area was so tight that a mast got in the way!
If it was a merchant vessel I'm guessing it was a reasonable size - anyone know what the sea state was at the time?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Gold Coast, Queensland
I am still a bit surprised that both the medic & crewman went down together as normally the medic looks after the patient, so I'm not sure what the crewman was going to do.
No doubt all this will come out later. The news said the medic was quite seriously hurt, so let's hope everyone recovers.
No doubt all this will come out later. The news said the medic was quite seriously hurt, so let's hope everyone recovers.
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From: australia
In flight conditions
As I understand the winching took place in the Gulf of Carpentaria, approx 50 nm west of Horn Island in the Torres Straits. vessel was a container ship called MV Maersk Duffield. weather and sea state were all within limits etc
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From: 58-33N. 00-18W. Peterborough UK
If it was a merchant vessel I'm guessing it was a reasonable size
SeapixOnline.Com professional maritime photo library
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From: Europe
Would like to know how much cable failure accidents we have in that kind of operation?
Know some accidents in the mountains due to shock loading and one accident with the back jumping cable damaged the MR.
Know some accidents in the mountains due to shock loading and one accident with the back jumping cable damaged the MR.
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: EGDC
So it was a chuffing big boat, in daylight, in reasonable sea and wind conditions with crews appropriately trained and practised - what went wrong?
Since the report states the winch wire snagged a mast, you can rule out mechanical failure of the winch - it won't hold up several thousand tons of merchant vessel and the wire appears to have snapped after getting snagged.
There is no mention of a mechanical failure of the aircraft either which pretty much leaves operator error due to either the choice of the winching area or the control of the winching evolution or both.
Sorry to be criticising the crew but there seems little else that could have caused this unfortunate accident other than poor piloting, poor winch operating or both.
Since the report states the winch wire snagged a mast, you can rule out mechanical failure of the winch - it won't hold up several thousand tons of merchant vessel and the wire appears to have snapped after getting snagged.
There is no mention of a mechanical failure of the aircraft either which pretty much leaves operator error due to either the choice of the winching area or the control of the winching evolution or both.
Sorry to be criticising the crew but there seems little else that could have caused this unfortunate accident other than poor piloting, poor winch operating or both.
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Newcastle Uk
So there you have it no need to hold an enquiry Job done Crab that fountain of knowledge to all things SAR has worked out who's fault it was.
The little respect I had for him has just gone out the window.
The little respect I had for him has just gone out the window.
Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Australia
It's great to see that this Rumour Network is living up to its name, cheers Crab...
As all (well most) SAR/EMS crews' know all too well, the very mundane that has been practiced and trained for time and time again can, in a heart beat, turn very ugly and into dangerous situation; it looks like this may have been one of those times. I am sure that the crew would not have been tasked to conduct any rescue that they were not qualified for or up to completing.
Why don't we all do the professional thing and wait for the the investigation to run its' course and then dissect the findings and then throw comment, be it re equipment failure or human error.
An update on the Rescue Crewie is that he will recover from his injuries after surgery and should be back in the saddle in a few months after rehab (straight from the horses mouth). The paramedic has undergone surgery for his injuries and all are hopeful that he recovers fully.
Well done to the second crew (yes, from the same company and with the same training) that were called out to recover their injured comrades; one can only imagine the thoughts and feelings that they were experiencing on the trip out. Great job guys & girls
As all (well most) SAR/EMS crews' know all too well, the very mundane that has been practiced and trained for time and time again can, in a heart beat, turn very ugly and into dangerous situation; it looks like this may have been one of those times. I am sure that the crew would not have been tasked to conduct any rescue that they were not qualified for or up to completing.
Why don't we all do the professional thing and wait for the the investigation to run its' course and then dissect the findings and then throw comment, be it re equipment failure or human error.
An update on the Rescue Crewie is that he will recover from his injuries after surgery and should be back in the saddle in a few months after rehab (straight from the horses mouth). The paramedic has undergone surgery for his injuries and all are hopeful that he recovers fully.
Well done to the second crew (yes, from the same company and with the same training) that were called out to recover their injured comrades; one can only imagine the thoughts and feelings that they were experiencing on the trip out. Great job guys & girls