Ambulance Victoria Winching Accident
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Ambulance Victoria Winching Accident
From ABC News
Man dies in rescue chopper mishap - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A man has died during a helicopter rescue operation in Victoria's north-east this afternoon.
Police say the man was being lifted with a winch into the Ambulance Victoria helicopter near Mansfield when he fell to the ground about 12:30pm AEST.
He was being rescued after he was injured in bushland at Macs Cove.
Police and Work Safe are investigating.
Man dies in rescue chopper mishap - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
A man has died during a helicopter rescue operation in Victoria's north-east this afternoon.
Police say the man was being lifted with a winch into the Ambulance Victoria helicopter near Mansfield when he fell to the ground about 12:30pm AEST.
He was being rescued after he was injured in bushland at Macs Cove.
Police and Work Safe are investigating.
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From the Age,
A man has died during a rescue mission in north-east Victoria after he fell from an ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Kelly Yates said the man was injured around 10am on Saturday while bushwalking, and was in the process of being rescued when he died about 12.30pm at Macs Cove, near Mansfield.
She said police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the man, and that WorkSafe has been notified.
Ambulance Victoria CEO, Greg Sassella, said in a statement that an air ambulance helicopter was dispatched to rescue a man who sustained leg injuries near Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.
''Tragically, the man has fallen as he was being winched and died.
''Our thoughts and sympathies are with the man's family. We are also providing support to the flight crew and paramedics involved,'' he said.
Ambulance Victoria has suspended winching operations, and will assist all investigating authorities, Mr Sassella said. State Emergency Service spokesman Toby Borella said "Mansfield SES were involved with locating the person, but that was the extent of our involvement".
WorkSafe spokesman Peter Flaherty said ''we're aware of an incident at Lake Eildon, and we're making inquires''
ABC Update
Ambulance Victoria is investigating after a patient fell to his death during a helicopter rescue operation in the state's north-east this afternoon.
The man was bushwalking with a group at Macs Cove, near Mansfield, when he broke his ankle about 10:30am AEST.
The ambulance helicopter was sent in to rescue the man about midday because of the terrain.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella says he fell about 30 metres to his death while he was being winched into the helicopter with a paramedic.
"I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him into the helicopter," he said.
Mr Sassella says Ambulance Victoria has suspended all winch rescues while the equipment is tested.
Police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria are also investigating.
A man has died during a rescue mission in north-east Victoria after he fell from an ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police spokeswoman Kelly Yates said the man was injured around 10am on Saturday while bushwalking, and was in the process of being rescued when he died about 12.30pm at Macs Cove, near Mansfield.
She said police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the man, and that WorkSafe has been notified.
Ambulance Victoria CEO, Greg Sassella, said in a statement that an air ambulance helicopter was dispatched to rescue a man who sustained leg injuries near Mansfield on Saturday afternoon.
''Tragically, the man has fallen as he was being winched and died.
''Our thoughts and sympathies are with the man's family. We are also providing support to the flight crew and paramedics involved,'' he said.
Ambulance Victoria has suspended winching operations, and will assist all investigating authorities, Mr Sassella said. State Emergency Service spokesman Toby Borella said "Mansfield SES were involved with locating the person, but that was the extent of our involvement".
WorkSafe spokesman Peter Flaherty said ''we're aware of an incident at Lake Eildon, and we're making inquires''
ABC Update
Ambulance Victoria is investigating after a patient fell to his death during a helicopter rescue operation in the state's north-east this afternoon.
The man was bushwalking with a group at Macs Cove, near Mansfield, when he broke his ankle about 10:30am AEST.
The ambulance helicopter was sent in to rescue the man about midday because of the terrain.
Ambulance Victoria chief executive Greg Sassella says he fell about 30 metres to his death while he was being winched into the helicopter with a paramedic.
"I understand he was at the door of the helicopter and they were attempting to get him into the helicopter," he said.
Mr Sassella says Ambulance Victoria has suspended all winch rescues while the equipment is tested.
Police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria are also investigating.
Last edited by Rotor Work; 31st Aug 2013 at 07:31.
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Last edited by meanttobe; 31st Aug 2013 at 12:17.
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Just an idea of the AAV 412 winching operation and the equipment used:
Apparently yesterday's patient was >140kg, which would have been an issue to be considered in the winching apart from any other factor.
Apparently yesterday's patient was >140kg, which would have been an issue to be considered in the winching apart from any other factor.
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Ambulance Victoria Resumes Restricted Winching Operations
From ABC News
Ambulance Victoria has resumed some of its helicopter winching operations, after a patient fell to his death in the state's north-east yesterday afternoon.
The 68-year-old Sydney man was being rescued from a remote location near Mansfield after breaking his ankle, when he fell about 30 metres while being winched into the ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police says his body was retrieved from the site shortly before 1:00pm AEST.
Ambulance Victoria suspended winching operations after the incident but says it has decided to resume restricted winching, saying it has full confidence in its people, equipment and procedures.
They are investigating the incident, along with police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria.
The man, who is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilograms, was bushwalking with a group when he broke his ankle about 10:30am yesterday.
The paramedic and flight crew involved in the rescue are being questioned, with counselling also being offered.
Ambulance Victoria has resumed some of its helicopter winching operations, after a patient fell to his death in the state's north-east yesterday afternoon.
The 68-year-old Sydney man was being rescued from a remote location near Mansfield after breaking his ankle, when he fell about 30 metres while being winched into the ambulance helicopter.
Victoria Police says his body was retrieved from the site shortly before 1:00pm AEST.
Ambulance Victoria suspended winching operations after the incident but says it has decided to resume restricted winching, saying it has full confidence in its people, equipment and procedures.
They are investigating the incident, along with police, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Work Safe Victoria.
The man, who is understood to have weighed more than 100 kilograms, was bushwalking with a group when he broke his ankle about 10:30am yesterday.
The paramedic and flight crew involved in the rescue are being questioned, with counselling also being offered.
UTC/Goodrich list 42305 or 42325 for the 412 and both of these are "Maximum Lift Load 600 lb. (272.16 kg)"
Breeze HS-20200 is the same.
There are 450 lb products out there but you probably wouldn't expect them on this aircraft.
Anyway, as was discussed at IKAR 2012, shock load is the achilles heel of helicopter winching. Tiny events that lead to shock loads can have catastrophic results if the winch is not a modern example with overload clutch protection.
Breeze HS-20200 is the same.
There are 450 lb products out there but you probably wouldn't expect them on this aircraft.
Anyway, as was discussed at IKAR 2012, shock load is the achilles heel of helicopter winching. Tiny events that lead to shock loads can have catastrophic results if the winch is not a modern example with overload clutch protection.
Bariatric casualties are becoming more commonplace as the percentage of grossly overweight people in the population increases.
One way of managing the big lads and lasses is to double strop them so that they present more or less horizontal at the door making the entry similar to a stretcher one.
One way of managing the big lads and lasses is to double strop them so that they present more or less horizontal at the door making the entry similar to a stretcher one.
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Why would the casualty in the video have been sent on his own then dropped down again? The double thumbs up is fine as a clear symbol but is it really necessary all the way up? maybe a hand on the casualty instead?
Thread Starter
ABC News Update
Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are to interview witnesses to the Victorian rescue accident on Saturday in which a 68-year-old man died.
The man from Sydney fell 30 metres to his death as he was being winched aboard an Ambulance Victoria helicopter after breaking his ankle while hunting.
He was being airlifted from a remote area known as Macs Cove at Lake Eildon, near Mansfield north-east of Melbourne.
The ATSB's Greg Madden says a team of four investigators will interview witnesses.
"The four investigators are in Melbourne conducting interviews, examining the helicopter and the winching equipment and also looking at maintenance records and we're also intending to interview witnesses in the coming days," he said.
"Once we've reviewed and analysed the information, if there are safety lessons that become apparent, we'll certainly advise the regulator along with the industry, the operators in the industry including the helicopter operators that have similar equipment."
He expects a preliminary report to be prepared within a month.
Ambulance Victoria has given the all clear to using some of its helicopter winches after the accident.
All winching operations were suspended immediately after the accident, but the service's chief executive, Greg Sassella, says engineers have confirmed the safety of winches on three of its five helicopters.
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
Ambulance Victoria says both the winch and the helicopter were more than capable of lifting the patient and the paramedic.
That is a view echoed by Steve McGhie of the Ambulance Employees Association.
He says the man's weight would definitely be an issue in the investigation in terms of the helicopter's capabilities and the distance it had to fly to hospital.
"It's certainly something that has to be taken into consideration," he said.
"I daresay it will be one of the factors in the investigation."
He says the issue is whether or not the equipment fitted correctly and that is relevant whether the person is large or small.
Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau are to interview witnesses to the Victorian rescue accident on Saturday in which a 68-year-old man died.
The man from Sydney fell 30 metres to his death as he was being winched aboard an Ambulance Victoria helicopter after breaking his ankle while hunting.
He was being airlifted from a remote area known as Macs Cove at Lake Eildon, near Mansfield north-east of Melbourne.
The ATSB's Greg Madden says a team of four investigators will interview witnesses.
"The four investigators are in Melbourne conducting interviews, examining the helicopter and the winching equipment and also looking at maintenance records and we're also intending to interview witnesses in the coming days," he said.
"Once we've reviewed and analysed the information, if there are safety lessons that become apparent, we'll certainly advise the regulator along with the industry, the operators in the industry including the helicopter operators that have similar equipment."
He expects a preliminary report to be prepared within a month.
Ambulance Victoria has given the all clear to using some of its helicopter winches after the accident.
All winching operations were suspended immediately after the accident, but the service's chief executive, Greg Sassella, says engineers have confirmed the safety of winches on three of its five helicopters.
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
Ambulance Victoria says both the winch and the helicopter were more than capable of lifting the patient and the paramedic.
That is a view echoed by Steve McGhie of the Ambulance Employees Association.
He says the man's weight would definitely be an issue in the investigation in terms of the helicopter's capabilities and the distance it had to fly to hospital.
"It's certainly something that has to be taken into consideration," he said.
"I daresay it will be one of the factors in the investigation."
He says the issue is whether or not the equipment fitted correctly and that is relevant whether the person is large or small.
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What actually failed/broke?
If the "winching machine" 
and all its associated kit were good, then one thing that could have gone wrong was him lifting his arms as he got to the door and falling out the strop.
I know from personal experience that the strop gets uncomfortable and I am only 89 kilos, so a larger person would be quite likely in a pretty sore state after being winched and it would almost be a reflex to reach out to the person at the door for assistance, and that would be the last thing the patient should do.
"We like to make sure that we check the equipment all the way down to every connector, every strap we use, the winching machine, everything that is mechanical and we've gone through that, or the engineers have gone through that," he said.
and all its associated kit were good, then one thing that could have gone wrong was him lifting his arms as he got to the door and falling out the strop. I know from personal experience that the strop gets uncomfortable and I am only 89 kilos, so a larger person would be quite likely in a pretty sore state after being winched and it would almost be a reflex to reach out to the person at the door for assistance, and that would be the last thing the patient should do.
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Love the people walking in right under the helicopter once it arrives on site. I was looking for the baby, normally it's a mum with a baby that wants to stick themselves right in the crash path....
Hedski - looks like the winchman/paramedic forgot to attach himself to the hook (winching 101!).
Don't know if the aircraft had single engine hover performance but the casualty and winchman didn't have an escape route (other than wire cut or into the rock face) if the aircraft had to flyaway.
The hand signals are just comedy!
Don't know if the aircraft had single engine hover performance but the casualty and winchman didn't have an escape route (other than wire cut or into the rock face) if the aircraft had to flyaway.
The hand signals are just comedy!
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single engine fly away
Crab,
not many ems machines in oz will have fly away and generally the client doesn't specify it except for some downtown /rooftop pads.
not many ems machines in oz will have fly away and generally the client doesn't specify it except for some downtown /rooftop pads.
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Mmmmmm ...
...... single engine fly away ..... I very much doubt it had any ....
Those machines are so heavy with all the associated medical gear that I understand they cant even launch from base with full tanks ...
But anyway that that is not an issue in this case and only detracts from what happened.
So sad this has occurred ....
...... single engine fly away ..... I very much doubt it had any ....
Those machines are so heavy with all the associated medical gear that I understand they cant even launch from base with full tanks ...
But anyway that that is not an issue in this case and only detracts from what happened.
So sad this has occurred ....
Last edited by spinwing; 2nd Sep 2013 at 14:20.
single engine fly away ..... I very much doubt it had any
interesting since I believe in EASA-land a HEMS aircraft must have that capability for live winching which is why air ambulances with winches aren't a player in UK.
JAR-OPS 3.005(h)(d)(1)
The Helicopter. During HHO, the helicopter must be capable of sustaining a critical power unit failure with the remaining engine(s) at the appropriate power setting, without hazard to the suspended person(s)/cargo, third parties, or property (Except for HEMS HHO at a HEMS operating site where the requirement need not be applied.)
EASA SPA.HHO.125 Performance requirements for HHO
Except for HHO at a HEMS operating site, HHO shall be capable of sustaining a critical engine failure with the remaining engine(s) at the appropriate power setting without hazard to the suspended person(s), cargo, third parties or property.
Training has to be conducted with OEI Performance (just like SAR)