Helicopter crash near Sydney 22 July 2011
Two believed dead in chopper crash | News.com.au
A HELICOPTER has crashed in a northern Sydney suburb this morning.
Fire crews and police are at the scene of the accident in bushland in South Turramurra.
Two people are believed to have died in the accident.
Macquarie Radio reported the helicopter crashed near a tennis and netball court complex.
A local man, Kevin, said he was in the complex when he heard the aircraft flying very low before it went down.
"I thought the helicopter was going to crash into the roof, but it went into the bush," he told Macquarie Radio.
"There's smoke coming up.
"Whether it's one of the traffic helicopters or not, I'm not sure but it sounds pretty serious."
There are unconfirmed reports a second person was in the helicopter
Fire crews and police are at the scene of the accident in bushland in South Turramurra.
Two people are believed to have died in the accident.
Macquarie Radio reported the helicopter crashed near a tennis and netball court complex.
A local man, Kevin, said he was in the complex when he heard the aircraft flying very low before it went down.
"I thought the helicopter was going to crash into the roof, but it went into the bush," he told Macquarie Radio.
"There's smoke coming up.
"Whether it's one of the traffic helicopters or not, I'm not sure but it sounds pretty serious."
There are unconfirmed reports a second person was in the helicopter
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Seems to be a bad day for Helo accidents in Aust.
At least everyone survived this one although it sounds like it was a close call.
Chopper hits pole, flips on tarmac | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au
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At least everyone survived this one although it sounds like it was a close call.
Chopper hits pole, flips on tarmac | News | NT News | Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia | ntnews.com.au
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Sydney Morning Herald update:
Sad event 
Sydney Morning Herald
Police have suspended until tomorrow the operation to retrieve two bodies from the wreckage of a helicopter crash on Sydney's north shore.
They now believe there are no more victims of the crash that occurred in thick bushland just inside Lane Cove National Park at South Turramurra about 9.15am today.
But inclement weather and hazardous conditions at the foot of the 15m cliff in Lane Cove National Park have led to the decision to call off the recovery operation today.
The Bell 206 LongRanger that crashed is owned by engineering and concrete mixing business Davcron, aviation registration details showed.
Davcron owner Bruce Campbell, 65, who lives on the central coast and was on his way home, and his pilot, Colin, are missing, a spokesman for Davcron told the Herald.
Police have confirmed the death of Mr Campbell and are waiting to officially identify the body of his pilot.
Witnesses told of seeing the helicopter upside down in a downpour making a "horrendous sound" before crashing in the national park, near Canoon and Kissing Point roads.
The wreckage was spread out over a large area about 100 metres into the bush at the end of Canoon Road.
Ku-ring-gai Local Area Command acting Superintendent Michael Banfield said: "A number of witnesses said they saw a part fly off the back of the helicopter."
Paramedics had to abseil down the cliff face near netball courts to get to the wreckage.
Fire crews were also called to extinguish a number of small blazes around the crash site, Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Chris Bishop said.
Kevin Williams, who was working at the South Turramurra netball courts at the time, said he saw the helicopter flying very low.
"Council workers were here having a morning tea break and I heard this horrendous sound, I thought it was going to crash into the club house, but it was about 100 metres away," Mr Williams said.
He said he and the council workers ran towards the bush surrounding the netball courts.
In what weather conditions can helicopters fly? ... This CASA diagram show minimum requirements needed for pilots to fly in reduced visibility conditions. Photo: CASA
"I saw this black smoke spiralling up.
"The vibration was loud ... it was a pretty eerie sound.
"One of the council workers said it flew across and back again, very low and upside down and it crashed into the bush.
"There wasn't much hope of survival, one of the council chaps said it might have hit a cliff face.
"[Police] had to get ropes to get over and down to where the helicopter finished off."
Mr Williams said it was hard to tell how high the cliff is because it is in dense bushland, with many rock faces.
Engine stop
Residents said it was raining heavily when they heard the helicopter's engine stop suddenly just before 9am.
"I heard the engine cut out on the chopper or it hit something," Roslyn Kohlmayer, whose house is closest to the crash site, said.
"It stopped very suddenly."
Fred Kohlmayer, her husband, said he thought the helicopter was landing on the netball courts, near where it ultimately crashed.
"I thought there was something wrong," Mr Kohlmayer, who has lived on Canoon Road since 1963, said.
A resident said she heard the crash this morning.
"A helicopter was more or less circling for a while," she said.
"I thought they were looking for someone for a while and then I heard a bit of a crash ... as though it had hit the top of a tree."
No flight plan
An Air Services Australia spokesman said the helicopter was flying outside controlled airspace and it had not filed a flight plan, "which is quite common for small helicopters and airplanes".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman Dan O'Malley said investigators were dispatching a team to the crash site
The helicopter can hold up to seven people, he said.
He added that the investigators would be looking at all aspects of the crash, including whether poor weather conditions played a part.
Not Westpac helicopter
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service chief executive Stephen Leahy said the helicopter was not from his organisation.
He said his service had a helicopter flying at La Perouse in south Sydney this morning, where the weather was "exceptionally bad".
Mr Leahy said that, while he was not aware of the current weather conditions at South Turramurra, helicopters were still "capable" of flying in such weather.
The Australian Traffic Network said the helicopter was not from its company either.
Other helicopter flight companies that smh.com.au spoke to said none of their pilots took to the air this morning.
AAP reports: Macquarie Radio reported the helicopter crashed near a tennis and netball court complex.
A local man, Kevin, said he was in the complex when he heard the aircraft flying very low before it went down.
"I thought the helicopter was going to crash into the roof, but it went into the bush," he told Macquarie Radio.
"There's smoke coming up.
"Whether it's one of the traffic helicopters or not, I'm not sure but it sounds pretty serious."
Police said they had set up a command post at the end of Canoon Road and urged residents to keep clear of emergency services.
They now believe there are no more victims of the crash that occurred in thick bushland just inside Lane Cove National Park at South Turramurra about 9.15am today.
But inclement weather and hazardous conditions at the foot of the 15m cliff in Lane Cove National Park have led to the decision to call off the recovery operation today.
The Bell 206 LongRanger that crashed is owned by engineering and concrete mixing business Davcron, aviation registration details showed.
Davcron owner Bruce Campbell, 65, who lives on the central coast and was on his way home, and his pilot, Colin, are missing, a spokesman for Davcron told the Herald.
Police have confirmed the death of Mr Campbell and are waiting to officially identify the body of his pilot.
Witnesses told of seeing the helicopter upside down in a downpour making a "horrendous sound" before crashing in the national park, near Canoon and Kissing Point roads.
The wreckage was spread out over a large area about 100 metres into the bush at the end of Canoon Road.
Ku-ring-gai Local Area Command acting Superintendent Michael Banfield said: "A number of witnesses said they saw a part fly off the back of the helicopter."
Paramedics had to abseil down the cliff face near netball courts to get to the wreckage.
Fire crews were also called to extinguish a number of small blazes around the crash site, Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Chris Bishop said.
Kevin Williams, who was working at the South Turramurra netball courts at the time, said he saw the helicopter flying very low.
"Council workers were here having a morning tea break and I heard this horrendous sound, I thought it was going to crash into the club house, but it was about 100 metres away," Mr Williams said.
He said he and the council workers ran towards the bush surrounding the netball courts.
In what weather conditions can helicopters fly? ... This CASA diagram show minimum requirements needed for pilots to fly in reduced visibility conditions. Photo: CASA
"I saw this black smoke spiralling up.
"The vibration was loud ... it was a pretty eerie sound.
"One of the council workers said it flew across and back again, very low and upside down and it crashed into the bush.
"There wasn't much hope of survival, one of the council chaps said it might have hit a cliff face.
"[Police] had to get ropes to get over and down to where the helicopter finished off."
Mr Williams said it was hard to tell how high the cliff is because it is in dense bushland, with many rock faces.
Engine stop
Residents said it was raining heavily when they heard the helicopter's engine stop suddenly just before 9am.
"I heard the engine cut out on the chopper or it hit something," Roslyn Kohlmayer, whose house is closest to the crash site, said.
"It stopped very suddenly."
Fred Kohlmayer, her husband, said he thought the helicopter was landing on the netball courts, near where it ultimately crashed.
"I thought there was something wrong," Mr Kohlmayer, who has lived on Canoon Road since 1963, said.
A resident said she heard the crash this morning.
"A helicopter was more or less circling for a while," she said.
"I thought they were looking for someone for a while and then I heard a bit of a crash ... as though it had hit the top of a tree."
No flight plan
An Air Services Australia spokesman said the helicopter was flying outside controlled airspace and it had not filed a flight plan, "which is quite common for small helicopters and airplanes".
Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman Dan O'Malley said investigators were dispatching a team to the crash site
The helicopter can hold up to seven people, he said.
He added that the investigators would be looking at all aspects of the crash, including whether poor weather conditions played a part.
Not Westpac helicopter
Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service chief executive Stephen Leahy said the helicopter was not from his organisation.
He said his service had a helicopter flying at La Perouse in south Sydney this morning, where the weather was "exceptionally bad".
Mr Leahy said that, while he was not aware of the current weather conditions at South Turramurra, helicopters were still "capable" of flying in such weather.
The Australian Traffic Network said the helicopter was not from its company either.
Other helicopter flight companies that smh.com.au spoke to said none of their pilots took to the air this morning.
AAP reports: Macquarie Radio reported the helicopter crashed near a tennis and netball court complex.
A local man, Kevin, said he was in the complex when he heard the aircraft flying very low before it went down.
"I thought the helicopter was going to crash into the roof, but it went into the bush," he told Macquarie Radio.
"There's smoke coming up.
"Whether it's one of the traffic helicopters or not, I'm not sure but it sounds pretty serious."
Police said they had set up a command post at the end of Canoon Road and urged residents to keep clear of emergency services.
Sydney Morning Herald
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Chopper victim was on his way home
Chopper victim was on his way home From: AAP July 22, 2011 3:04PM
A SELF-made businessman and grandfather was on his way home when his helicopter crashed in thick bushland in northern Sydney.
Bruce Campbell, 65, and his pilot, who has not yet been named, were killed when their Bell 206 went down about 9.15am (AEST) today, startling nearby residents of South Turramurra.
The crash site in the Lane Cove National Park, at the western end of Canoon Road, was found about 100 metres into the bush, at the bottom of a 10m to 15m cliff face that emergency services workers could only reach on foot and by abseiling down.
Mr Campbell was flying back to his home at Wyee, on the Central Coast, when the helicopter crashed.
The grandfather of five was the founder of Davcron Engineering at Granville in Sydney's west, and owned the helicopter, his operations manager of 15 years Bryan Stephens said.
The Australian, 3 hours agoEnd of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Mr Stephens said his boss would routinely be flown from Rosehill, near his workplace, back to his Central Coast home, which has a hangar, every Friday morning.
He described Mr Campbell as a "down-to-earth style of person".
"We're all devastated," he said.
"A lot of people are going to be devastated because he made a lot of friends in the concrete industry."
Mr Campbell's business, which manufacturers concrete mixers, began in Granville during the early 1980s before expanding to another site at West Gosford.
It now employs 25 people.
Mr Campbell's wife died several years ago.
He is survived by three sons, including his eldest son David who is part of the business.
The pilot is believed to have worked on a casual basis.
Mr Stephens said he was aged in his late 20s or early 30s.
NSW Fire and Rescue Inspector Chris Bishop said parts of the helicopter had been on fire when crews got to it and they could tell by the smell that a lot of fuel had been spilt.
"There were several fires, small fires, burning at the time," he told reporters.
Acting Superintendent Michael Banfield of Ku-Ring-Gai Local Area Command said two bodies were found at the crash site.
"At this stage, it's a crime scene and investigations are ongoing," Supt Banfield told reporters at the scene.
"It's a complete wreck."
One resident, who lives just off Canoon Road and walked very near to the crash site, claimed the helicopter came down upside down.
"There was a loud explosion and then it just went down upside down," said the man, who did not want to be named.
"It looks as though it's clipped a tree on the way down or something."
Green and white-coloured wreckage was strewn more than 100 metres, he said.
Another resident Hoa Messer said she was in the back room of her house and heard a loud bang.
"It was like an explosion," she said.
Read more: Chopper victim was on his way home | News.com.au
Another sad day for the Australian Helicopter Community.
A SELF-made businessman and grandfather was on his way home when his helicopter crashed in thick bushland in northern Sydney.
Bruce Campbell, 65, and his pilot, who has not yet been named, were killed when their Bell 206 went down about 9.15am (AEST) today, startling nearby residents of South Turramurra.
The crash site in the Lane Cove National Park, at the western end of Canoon Road, was found about 100 metres into the bush, at the bottom of a 10m to 15m cliff face that emergency services workers could only reach on foot and by abseiling down.
Mr Campbell was flying back to his home at Wyee, on the Central Coast, when the helicopter crashed.
The grandfather of five was the founder of Davcron Engineering at Granville in Sydney's west, and owned the helicopter, his operations manager of 15 years Bryan Stephens said.
The Australian, 3 hours agoEnd of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
Mr Stephens said his boss would routinely be flown from Rosehill, near his workplace, back to his Central Coast home, which has a hangar, every Friday morning.
He described Mr Campbell as a "down-to-earth style of person".
"We're all devastated," he said.
"A lot of people are going to be devastated because he made a lot of friends in the concrete industry."
Mr Campbell's business, which manufacturers concrete mixers, began in Granville during the early 1980s before expanding to another site at West Gosford.
It now employs 25 people.
Mr Campbell's wife died several years ago.
He is survived by three sons, including his eldest son David who is part of the business.
The pilot is believed to have worked on a casual basis.
Mr Stephens said he was aged in his late 20s or early 30s.
NSW Fire and Rescue Inspector Chris Bishop said parts of the helicopter had been on fire when crews got to it and they could tell by the smell that a lot of fuel had been spilt.
"There were several fires, small fires, burning at the time," he told reporters.
Acting Superintendent Michael Banfield of Ku-Ring-Gai Local Area Command said two bodies were found at the crash site.
"At this stage, it's a crime scene and investigations are ongoing," Supt Banfield told reporters at the scene.
"It's a complete wreck."
One resident, who lives just off Canoon Road and walked very near to the crash site, claimed the helicopter came down upside down.
"There was a loud explosion and then it just went down upside down," said the man, who did not want to be named.
"It looks as though it's clipped a tree on the way down or something."
Green and white-coloured wreckage was strewn more than 100 metres, he said.
Another resident Hoa Messer said she was in the back room of her house and heard a loud bang.
"It was like an explosion," she said.
Read more: Chopper victim was on his way home | News.com.au
Another sad day for the Australian Helicopter Community.
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It was not former Australian of the Year and top bloke.
It was 2 guys from the Central Coast, and not the one who owns half the race horses in Australia. I suspect full details will follow once the authorities are OK to release them.
FYI - I was driving very close to the crash site about 20 minutes before the accident this morning and commented "no flying in Sydney today, the cloud is in the trees".
I then sent a text to a mate intending to fly back to Sydney today in his heli that said "No fly Sydney today"...he is still on the ground down south.
I know that heli laneway extremely well, and it was not the place to be flying this morning.
Arrrj
PS _ I note whilst I was typing, RM posted all the details...
It was 2 guys from the Central Coast, and not the one who owns half the race horses in Australia. I suspect full details will follow once the authorities are OK to release them.
FYI - I was driving very close to the crash site about 20 minutes before the accident this morning and commented "no flying in Sydney today, the cloud is in the trees".
I then sent a text to a mate intending to fly back to Sydney today in his heli that said "No fly Sydney today"...he is still on the ground down south.
I know that heli laneway extremely well, and it was not the place to be flying this morning.
Arrrj
PS _ I note whilst I was typing, RM posted all the details...
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Some news sites have named the pilot, but the Police news release from 4pm say they havent officially identified the pilot.
==============================
Police suspend extraction of helicopter wreckage - South Turramurra
Friday, 22 July 2011 03:54:33 PM
Police have suspended until tomorrow the extraction of wreckage and two bodies following a helicopter crash in South Turramurra this morning.
About 9.15am (Friday 22 July 2011), police responded to reports the helicopter had crashed into bushland north of the Canoon Road sports complex in South Turramurra.
The helicopter is extensively damaged and the bodies of two people have been found in the wreckage.
Police have been working today to extract the wreckage and bodies from the rugged terrain where the helicopter crashed. However, due to a number of hazards in the area and inclement weather, this aspect of the police operation has been suspended until tomorrow.
Police are also awaiting the arrival of experts from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
The wreckage will remain under guard overnight and a command post will remain in place at the end of Canoon Road. Members of the public are urged to avoid the area.
Police now believe there were only two people on board the helicopter when it crashed.
They have confirmed the identity of one of the crash victims, a 65-year-old man from Wyee. Police are yet to officially identify the second person.
Police investigations are continuing.
==============================
Police suspend extraction of helicopter wreckage - South Turramurra
Friday, 22 July 2011 03:54:33 PM
Police have suspended until tomorrow the extraction of wreckage and two bodies following a helicopter crash in South Turramurra this morning.
About 9.15am (Friday 22 July 2011), police responded to reports the helicopter had crashed into bushland north of the Canoon Road sports complex in South Turramurra.
The helicopter is extensively damaged and the bodies of two people have been found in the wreckage.
Police have been working today to extract the wreckage and bodies from the rugged terrain where the helicopter crashed. However, due to a number of hazards in the area and inclement weather, this aspect of the police operation has been suspended until tomorrow.
Police are also awaiting the arrival of experts from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
The wreckage will remain under guard overnight and a command post will remain in place at the end of Canoon Road. Members of the public are urged to avoid the area.
Police now believe there were only two people on board the helicopter when it crashed.
They have confirmed the identity of one of the crash victims, a 65-year-old man from Wyee. Police are yet to officially identify the second person.
Police investigations are continuing.
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sorry loss
From Channel 7 news
pilot was Colin Greenwood.
knew him from DG's time at Sydney Helicopters, Bluesky and PNG.
The pax used to be flown on the same sector in a Robbie a few years ago.
Very sad day.
pilot was Colin Greenwood.
knew him from DG's time at Sydney Helicopters, Bluesky and PNG.
The pax used to be flown on the same sector in a Robbie a few years ago.
Very sad day.
Last edited by catseye; 22nd Jul 2011 at 08:30. Reason: remembered the rest.
....an eyewitness interview reported on the Channel 7 news last night that he saw something fall off the back of the helicopter in flight, and it immediately fell from the sky inverted....
What do you think happened?
I've never flown a chopper. I live a few kilometres from the crash scene.
Several witnesses report seeing "something fly off the back of the helicopter". Two report hearing "the engine really loud, sounding 'horrible'" then that "the engine stopped very suddenly".
Then witnesses reported seeing the helicopter inverted.
Given this was a turbine engine, I guess we can assume that the sound they were hearing was the tail rotor, not the 'engine'. Given the pilot was both experienced and respected, it's unlikely he flew it into the trees.
Could the entire tail-rotor assembly have broken off?
Then again, witnesses report that the chopper made two passes over them: we could speculate that he knew he had a problem and was trying to get down on the nearby basketball courts.
Would he have had that long if he lost his tail rotor? Given that the weather was truly opaque at the time, why would he not have been at a higher altitude? Because he was under one of the main approaches to Sydney Airport, perhaps?
Just asking...
Several witnesses report seeing "something fly off the back of the helicopter". Two report hearing "the engine really loud, sounding 'horrible'" then that "the engine stopped very suddenly".
Then witnesses reported seeing the helicopter inverted.
Given this was a turbine engine, I guess we can assume that the sound they were hearing was the tail rotor, not the 'engine'. Given the pilot was both experienced and respected, it's unlikely he flew it into the trees.
Could the entire tail-rotor assembly have broken off?
Then again, witnesses report that the chopper made two passes over them: we could speculate that he knew he had a problem and was trying to get down on the nearby basketball courts.
Would he have had that long if he lost his tail rotor? Given that the weather was truly opaque at the time, why would he not have been at a higher altitude? Because he was under one of the main approaches to Sydney Airport, perhaps?
Just asking...
Assuming eye witness reports are accurate, that something came off the helicopter and it immediately went inverted, suggests that the helicopter was out of control and there was nothing the pilot could do to change the outcome....
The pilot would not choose to be flying at a higher altitude given the poor weather, he would be trying to maintain visual reference with the ground under the weather, low and slow...
No doubt all will be revealed at the subsequent enquiry.
p.s. I don't think a tail rotor falling off a B206 would cause it to go inverted, it would pitch nose down and rotate clockwise.
The pilot would not choose to be flying at a higher altitude given the poor weather, he would be trying to maintain visual reference with the ground under the weather, low and slow...
No doubt all will be revealed at the subsequent enquiry.
p.s. I don't think a tail rotor falling off a B206 would cause it to go inverted, it would pitch nose down and rotate clockwise.
If you look at Webtrack for Sydney 0900 - 0916 local time 22/7 you can see him fly east along the Parramatta river then turn north into the lane up the valley. He then weaves and sometimes backtracks as he proceeds up the valley. Scud running I suspect. The movements immediately prior to the crash are exceptional.
Col spent some time going in circles in Fox Valley after a few unusual turns to the right in the Channel 10 lane. Wonder why he chose that route instead of out the heads and up the coast. Very sad, known him since his student days.
