R22 down near Rockhampton
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R22 down near Rockhampton 18th Jan 2010
Chopper crash near Rockhampton | Rockhampton News | Local News in Rockhampton | Rockhampton Morning Bulletin
VH-JFG
Ouch.....
Di
A PILOT escaped from the cabin of a helicopter after it crashed on a property 50km west of Rockhampton this morning.
A Queensland Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the pilot was out and uninjured before crews arrived on scene at Evergreen Road near Westwood about 8.20am.
The chopper, a Robinson R22, was only a few metres off the ground when it crash landed.
A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said the pilot, who was the plane’s sole occupant, reportedly walked away from the accident and would not be transported to hospital.
“Nothing caught fire or anything like that,” she said.
Fire and rescue crews' sprayed foam around the crash site area as a precaution before it was left in the hands of Queensland police just before 10am.
A Queensland Fire and Rescue spokesperson said the pilot was out and uninjured before crews arrived on scene at Evergreen Road near Westwood about 8.20am.
The chopper, a Robinson R22, was only a few metres off the ground when it crash landed.
A Department of Community Safety spokeswoman said the pilot, who was the plane’s sole occupant, reportedly walked away from the accident and would not be transported to hospital.
“Nothing caught fire or anything like that,” she said.
Fire and rescue crews' sprayed foam around the crash site area as a precaution before it was left in the hands of Queensland police just before 10am.
VH-JFG
Ouch.....
Di
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I'm very glad the pilot is safe.
I hope this isn't inappropriate, and apologise if it is judged as such. I would not be asking if there were any casualties of the incident, yet do have a brief question.
From generally meandering around the forum it seems that some posters hold the opinion that R22's are...well...not the safest things on the planet. There have been quotes such as 'you wouldn't get me in one of those' etc.
Do people have genuine concerns or are they just pulling legs?
I hope this isn't inappropriate, and apologise if it is judged as such. I would not be asking if there were any casualties of the incident, yet do have a brief question.
From generally meandering around the forum it seems that some posters hold the opinion that R22's are...well...not the safest things on the planet. There have been quotes such as 'you wouldn't get me in one of those' etc.
Do people have genuine concerns or are they just pulling legs?
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The chopper, a Robinson R22, was only a few metres off the ground when it crash landed.
Aside from the quality journalism above, I'm very pleased to gather from the quotes that nobody has been injured.
The R22 is a great little helicopter for buzzing from A to B but it does not have a great margin of power or a margin for error. The smallest mistakes seem to bite people and bite very hard. Its a popular helicopter because its popular with schools around the world, mostly because they are cheap to buy and run. Was never designed for training.
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Well I remember noticing that when it some guys here realised there were actually pilots inside the R22 they were surprised. I think they thought they were radio control or something.
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Both the Robinson R22 & R44 helicopters are very safe and practical for any field they may be used in from training to mustering which this perticular helicopter was used for mustering.
Vh-JFG was a Beta helicopter so yes it had a little less power than the Beta II, although this was not the fault or reson this aircraft crashed.
VH-JFG was following a herd of cattle and a poddy calf fled the herd, pilot banked to chase the calf striking the tail rotor on the ground loss of tail rotor loss of control in any helicopter.
Vh-JFG then toppled over due to inpact on the ground and beat it self to death. pilot escaped uninjured.
R22 helicopters are very safe machine statistics prove this, The R22 helicopters is the most popular helicopter in the world. The only reason people dnt think they want to get into one is for size only.
Vh-JFG was a Beta helicopter so yes it had a little less power than the Beta II, although this was not the fault or reson this aircraft crashed.
VH-JFG was following a herd of cattle and a poddy calf fled the herd, pilot banked to chase the calf striking the tail rotor on the ground loss of tail rotor loss of control in any helicopter.
Vh-JFG then toppled over due to inpact on the ground and beat it self to death. pilot escaped uninjured.
R22 helicopters are very safe machine statistics prove this, The R22 helicopters is the most popular helicopter in the world. The only reason people dnt think they want to get into one is for size only.
Errr - how does banking the helicopter make the tail rotor hit the ground then?
So, like so many R22 accidents this was pilot error but, just for once, not a problem with the handling qualities -just poor flying.
So, like so many R22 accidents this was pilot error but, just for once, not a problem with the handling qualities -just poor flying.
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What BULL****
r_eksa_t
I'm sure you have no idea what your on about. The R22 killed more test pilots than any other helicopter. There the statistics.
Crab,
Well said, he sounds like one of your fellow countrymen here on a tourist visa.
Banger
I'm sure you have no idea what your on about. The R22 killed more test pilots than any other helicopter. There the statistics.
Crab,
Well said, he sounds like one of your fellow countrymen here on a tourist visa.
Banger
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The only reason people dnt think they want to get into one is for size only.
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i lent a bit of space to a 22 owner while they were up our neck of the woods, when it was there parked next to 2 gazelles a non flyer came in we told him it was a remote control helicopter that we worked from the gazelles i thought he had twigged we were having him on, but later that night he was heard in the pub explaining about the half sized remote control helicopter you could put 2 passengers in for sightseeing or police work
hey ho
hey ho
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My 2 cents on Franks 22....
Spent over 6500 hard hours in them mustering/shooting and other relevant Australian bush tasks and I was never let down or did I ever feel unsafe. Even when operating over gross weight at crazy DA's. If maintained by good engineers and you do a good pre flight that machine will keep on going very honestly. I have friends that have over 15,000 hrs in them and they will say the same as me.
Great machine, very reliable, very safe, and lots of fun if flown correctly.
MG
Spent over 6500 hard hours in them mustering/shooting and other relevant Australian bush tasks and I was never let down or did I ever feel unsafe. Even when operating over gross weight at crazy DA's. If maintained by good engineers and you do a good pre flight that machine will keep on going very honestly. I have friends that have over 15,000 hrs in them and they will say the same as me.
Great machine, very reliable, very safe, and lots of fun if flown correctly.
MG
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Even when operating over gross weight
http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/779235/ao-2007-046.pdf
http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/...600979_001.pdf
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Great machine, very reliable, very safe, and lots of fun if flown correctly
This one is a clear case of Pilot Error.. Glad he walked away and lives to fly another day..
I didn't realize it was possible to gross weight out an R22, after-all it's only got 2 seats 
I mean, how heavy do both occupants need to be to overload an R22? Or are we talking about, in hot conditions you can overload an R22 with just 2 occupants due to performance limitations. Not that I fly an R22, or would wish to, I ask these questions only out of curiosity.
EDIT: Now I understand, I have since read the AI reports linked in Brian Abrahams post. Particularly the more recent Doongan Station WA one. Makes you wonder what the pilot must have been thinking at the time. Fortunately for the passenger he decided to walk.
I mean, how heavy do both occupants need to be to overload an R22? Or are we talking about, in hot conditions you can overload an R22 with just 2 occupants due to performance limitations. Not that I fly an R22, or would wish to, I ask these questions only out of curiosity.EDIT: Now I understand, I have since read the AI reports linked in Brian Abrahams post. Particularly the more recent Doongan Station WA one. Makes you wonder what the pilot must have been thinking at the time. Fortunately for the passenger he decided to walk.
Last edited by gulliBell; 20th Jan 2010 at 15:44.
hover cuts
this may help you make up your mind...
YouTube - 0-Speed Autorotation from 100-200 feet, R22 helicopter
YouTube - 0-Speed Autorotation from 100-200 feet, R22 helicopter
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No i wouldnt have a clue im just the person that picked the wreck up today.
R22 may have killed more pilots than any other helicopter in the world but thats because the r22 is the most popular helicopter in the world.
its like a car the more there are the more chances there are of a fatality common sense realy.
but when it comes to it the pilot turned to hard close to ground taking out the tail rotor, making the calf he was chasing a very expensive young calf.
R22 may have killed more pilots than any other helicopter in the world but thats because the r22 is the most popular helicopter in the world.
its like a car the more there are the more chances there are of a fatality common sense realy.
but when it comes to it the pilot turned to hard close to ground taking out the tail rotor, making the calf he was chasing a very expensive young calf.