Helicopter down in Antarctica: Dec 2013
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Helicopter down in Antarctica: Dec 2013
Australian chopper crashes in Antarctica with three onboard
Three people have been injured after an Australian helicopter crash landed in Antarctica about 150 nautical miles from Davis Station.
The Squirrel helicopter made an emergency landing about 3:00am (AEDT).
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash which left one person has back injuries and the other two with minor injuries.
The safety bureau's Julian Walsh says a rescue and salvage mission is underway.
"We'll obviously obtain maintenance documentation in relation to the helicopter and information about the weather conditions and those types of things," he said.
"But until we know a little but more about the actual circumstances of the accident, it's a little bit difficult to actually determine the more detailed lines of inquiry that our investigation is likely to take."
The helicopter was one of two returning to the station after surveying a penguin colony at Amery ice shelf.
The second helicopter landed near the crash site and its crew is looking after the injured people until medical support arrives.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) says the group has adequate survival equipment and a tent has been set up to keep the injured warm.
Communication is being maintained with Davis Station.
The chopper is operated Helicopter Resources and is chartered by the AAD
The Squirrel helicopter made an emergency landing about 3:00am (AEDT).
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash which left one person has back injuries and the other two with minor injuries.
The safety bureau's Julian Walsh says a rescue and salvage mission is underway.
"We'll obviously obtain maintenance documentation in relation to the helicopter and information about the weather conditions and those types of things," he said.
"But until we know a little but more about the actual circumstances of the accident, it's a little bit difficult to actually determine the more detailed lines of inquiry that our investigation is likely to take."
The helicopter was one of two returning to the station after surveying a penguin colony at Amery ice shelf.
The second helicopter landed near the crash site and its crew is looking after the injured people until medical support arrives.
The Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) says the group has adequate survival equipment and a tent has been set up to keep the injured warm.
Communication is being maintained with Davis Station.
The chopper is operated Helicopter Resources and is chartered by the AAD
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Helicopter down in Antarctica.
Just heard that a helicopter has come down in Antarctica with unknown injuries to the pilot & 2 passengers. The second helicopter landed to assist which is why they fly in pairs. They hope to get a Twin Otter in to pick them up. No idea who or why they came down but it's good their injuries appear slight.
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company?
I hope that injured are well!
Does anybody know which company is involved?? is the ADD the same as PHi?
I heard that they have there one AS350 and one B212
Thanks
Does anybody know which company is involved?? is the ADD the same as PHi?
I heard that they have there one AS350 and one B212
Thanks
ABC Update
Hope that the crew have a quick recovery
Fly Safe
R W
The Australian Antarctic Division is racing against time to rescue three people injured in a helicopter crash on the frozen continent.
The chopper's pilot and two Antarctic Division employees were in the aircraft when it came down about 150 nautical miles from Davis Station, breaking into several pieces.
They are being helped by two people in another helicopter that was travelling in tandem.
The crew were returning to Davis station after surveying a penguin colony when the Squirrel helicopter crashed at 3:00am (AEDT).
Rescuers are hopeful that a break in the weather will help efforts to reach the injured crew.
The Australian Antarctic Division's Tony Fleming says rescuers are trying to reach the injured before conditions change.
The helicopter itself is a write-off.
"It's disabled, and it's not recoverable," Mr Fleming said.
"We are focussing on the recovery operation. The second helicopter is fine and a couple of the injured employees are taking shelter in that second helicopter."
Hope that the crew have a quick recovery
Fly Safe
R W
The Australian Antarctic Division is racing against time to rescue three people injured in a helicopter crash on the frozen continent.
The chopper's pilot and two Antarctic Division employees were in the aircraft when it came down about 150 nautical miles from Davis Station, breaking into several pieces.
They are being helped by two people in another helicopter that was travelling in tandem.
The crew were returning to Davis station after surveying a penguin colony when the Squirrel helicopter crashed at 3:00am (AEDT).
Rescuers are hopeful that a break in the weather will help efforts to reach the injured crew.
The Australian Antarctic Division's Tony Fleming says rescuers are trying to reach the injured before conditions change.
The helicopter itself is a write-off.
"It's disabled, and it's not recoverable," Mr Fleming said.
"We are focussing on the recovery operation. The second helicopter is fine and a couple of the injured employees are taking shelter in that second helicopter."
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Could someone tell me why they wouldn't just get in the second Squirrel and fly back to the base? Surely packing 6 in for 1:30 is worth the risk compared to staying out on the ice with injured people?
Thanks
Thanks
Switch on Lofty
I had read that the second Squirrel required more fuel & the weather had deteriated.
From Canberra Times
Australian Antarctic crash victims rescued from remote ice shelf
Three Australian Antarctic expeditioners injured in a helicopter crash have been evacuated from a remote ice shelf in a successful rescue mission.
The victims were conscious and stable, and undergoing medical assessment at Australia's Davis station far south-west of Perth, the director of the Antarctic Division, Tony Fleming, said on Tuesday.
"It's a great result," Dr Fleming said. "We took advantage of a small weather window and its succeeded."
The three were injured when their Eurocopter Squirrel crashed on the Amery Ice Shelf as they returned from surveying a penguin colony late on Sunday. A second helicopter flying with them landed, and rendered first aid while the rescue was mounted.
<iframe id="dcAd-1-4" src="http://ad-apac.doubleclick.net/N6411/adi/onl.ct.environ/environ;cat=environ;ctype=article;pos=3;sz=300x250;tile=4;or d=110513.0?" width='300' height='250' scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"> </iframe>
Crevassing prevented a fixed wing aircraft Twin Otter carrying a medical crew from landing on the ice shelf near the crash site, Dr Fleming said.
But a reconnaissance plane located a clear site on Sansom Island, about 90 kilometres away, and the second helicopter ferried the injured there before all returned to Davis, another 220km away, late on Monday night.
The names of the injured have not been released, and a decision is yet to be made on whether they will be evacuated from Antarctica.
The crashed helicopter is not recoverable, according to Dr Fleming.
"It's in a few pieces," he said.
I had read that the second Squirrel required more fuel & the weather had deteriated.
From Canberra Times
Australian Antarctic crash victims rescued from remote ice shelf
Three Australian Antarctic expeditioners injured in a helicopter crash have been evacuated from a remote ice shelf in a successful rescue mission.
The victims were conscious and stable, and undergoing medical assessment at Australia's Davis station far south-west of Perth, the director of the Antarctic Division, Tony Fleming, said on Tuesday.
"It's a great result," Dr Fleming said. "We took advantage of a small weather window and its succeeded."
The three were injured when their Eurocopter Squirrel crashed on the Amery Ice Shelf as they returned from surveying a penguin colony late on Sunday. A second helicopter flying with them landed, and rendered first aid while the rescue was mounted.
<iframe id="dcAd-1-4" src="http://ad-apac.doubleclick.net/N6411/adi/onl.ct.environ/environ;cat=environ;ctype=article;pos=3;sz=300x250;tile=4;or d=110513.0?" width='300' height='250' scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"> </iframe>
Crevassing prevented a fixed wing aircraft Twin Otter carrying a medical crew from landing on the ice shelf near the crash site, Dr Fleming said.
But a reconnaissance plane located a clear site on Sansom Island, about 90 kilometres away, and the second helicopter ferried the injured there before all returned to Davis, another 220km away, late on Monday night.
The names of the injured have not been released, and a decision is yet to be made on whether they will be evacuated from Antarctica.
The crashed helicopter is not recoverable, according to Dr Fleming.
"It's in a few pieces," he said.
The crashed helicopter is not recoverable, according to Dr Fleming.
"It's in a few pieces," he said.
"It's in a few pieces," he said.
When a PHI Bell 212 crashed near Lake Fryxell in 2003, every last rivet of the wreck had to be recovered at great effort and expense to ensure no fuel and oil contamination. I hope this time its the same. Helicopter companies should not be allowed to leave their wrecks in such a pristine area.
Dr Fleming needs to exert some authority.
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There are a number of ways of deciphering what Dr Fleming says, one meets your request. He might simply be saying that it won't return to flying, which is generally what recovered means.
Removal is another issue, and I agree with you that it should be.
Glad the crew are okay, or at least well enough not needed to be evacuated immediately.
Removal is another issue, and I agree with you that it should be.
Glad the crew are okay, or at least well enough not needed to be evacuated immediately.
Nothing should be left in a pristine environment, but clearly none of you have been to the edge of the Amery Ice Shelf where this occurred. It is a crisscrossed crevasse ridden hellhole, swept by catabatic winds.
The risks of retrieval are likely to be too high, and in any case the location of the wreck would have minimal environmental impact as it is already well offshore and will be an iceberg in the next couple of decades.
The risks of retrieval are likely to be too high, and in any case the location of the wreck would have minimal environmental impact as it is already well offshore and will be an iceberg in the next couple of decades.
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you only have to look around the Chinese and Russian bases and airfields to know the "leave it pristine" idea is crap.
There are oil drums, dead helicopters/aeroplanes and stuff all over the place.
Let alone around Mactown.
With a little tongue in cheek here, but I wonder if it would be in better hands if an oil company was looking after it under obligated environmental conditions than leaving it for scientists, whose mothers cannot get there to clean up after them.
;-)
DD
There are oil drums, dead helicopters/aeroplanes and stuff all over the place.
Let alone around Mactown.
With a little tongue in cheek here, but I wonder if it would be in better hands if an oil company was looking after it under obligated environmental conditions than leaving it for scientists, whose mothers cannot get there to clean up after them.
;-)
DD
Looks like the met will be good tomorrow for the long medevac from/back to Hobart. I hope it all goes well.
Authorities wait for right conditions to fly injured Antarctic expeditioners home - Yahoo!7
Authorities wait for right conditions to fly injured Antarctic expeditioners home - Yahoo!7
Authorities are planning to fly three injured expeditioners back to Hobart after a helicopter crash in Antarctica.
Doctors are continuing to monitor the condition of three Australians who were in a helicopter which crashed during an Antarctic research trip early on Monday morning.
After a challenging rescue, the pilot and two Australian Antarctic Division employees are now at Davis Station in a serious condition.
The Antarctic Division says one of the expeditioners is now able to walk.
The other two have upper body injuries, but are conscious and able to eat and drink.
Specialists from the Royal Hobart Hospital are providing advice using advanced telecommunications.
All three will be flown to Hobart once they are medically cleared and the weather permits.
Doctors are continuing to monitor the condition of three Australians who were in a helicopter which crashed during an Antarctic research trip early on Monday morning.
After a challenging rescue, the pilot and two Australian Antarctic Division employees are now at Davis Station in a serious condition.
The Antarctic Division says one of the expeditioners is now able to walk.
The other two have upper body injuries, but are conscious and able to eat and drink.
Specialists from the Royal Hobart Hospital are providing advice using advanced telecommunications.
All three will be flown to Hobart once they are medically cleared and the weather permits.
Back in Hobart
Trio injured in Antarctic helicopter crash return to Hobart - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Three Australians injured when their helicopter crashed in Antarctica last Sunday have been flown to Hobart overnight.
The helicopter crashed near Davis Station last Sunday when it was returning from a penguin surveying journey.
The Australian Antarctic Division has been waiting for favourable weather to fly the injured back.
The nature of the injuries has not been disclosed but are described as serious.
The helicopter broke into three pieces on impact.
The Australian Transport Bureau is investigating the crash.
Trio injured in Antarctic helicopter crash return to Hobart - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Three Australians injured when their helicopter crashed in Antarctica last Sunday have been flown to Hobart overnight.
The helicopter crashed near Davis Station last Sunday when it was returning from a penguin surveying journey.
The Australian Antarctic Division has been waiting for favourable weather to fly the injured back.
The nature of the injuries has not been disclosed but are described as serious.
The helicopter broke into three pieces on impact.
The Australian Transport Bureau is investigating the crash.
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer
Fantastic news, here's to a speedy recovery 
Investigation: AO-2013-216 - Collision with terrain involving Aerospatiale Squirrel helicopter, AS350B, VH-HRQ, 260 km from Davis Base, Australian Antarctic Territory on 1 December 2013
Collision with terrain involving Aerospatiale Squirrel helicopter, AS350B, VH-HRQ, 260 km from Davis Base, Australian Antarctic Territory on 1 December 2013
Preliminary Report
Collision with terrain involving Aerospatiale Squirrel helicopter, AS350B, VH-HRQ, 260 km from Davis Base, Australian Antarctic Territory on 1 December 2013
Preliminary Report