EC-135 crashes into ocean near Port Hedland off Western Australias Pilbara coast
Bolkow 117 crash from above link:
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
During the turn from the base leg into the final, airspeed reduced to zero and
altitude decreased continuously until the collision with the surface of the water.
•
Power was not increased and the approach terminated once the warning of the
radio altimeter sounded
altitude decreased continuously until the collision with the surface of the water.
•
Power was not increased and the approach terminated once the warning of the
radio altimeter sounded
Scattercat - it was meant as a rhetorical question since I know the provision has to be there and fully understand that with the low population density, it is unlikely to be anything like in many European countries.
However, if there is a an operation requiring regular ship to shore transfers at night, it would seem prudent to have some local SAR capability for exactly the sad scenario we are seeing now.
I thought there was a military/contracted SAR unit a little way towards Perth that would be the closest>
However, if there is a an operation requiring regular ship to shore transfers at night, it would seem prudent to have some local SAR capability for exactly the sad scenario we are seeing now.
I thought there was a military/contracted SAR unit a little way towards Perth that would be the closest>
The USA has 20% more land area but 1200% more population....telling me there a long way between Pubs in Oz.....and other modern conveniences like SAR!
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Basically CASA gets a list of charter companies around the country to advise of their helicopter types & DOC rates. Then when there is an accident, CASA knows which company to contact & basically that company is obliged to go & do their best. I don;t think they would launch a R 22 to search 100 miles out to sea! Not that many aircraft are winch or float fitted or IFR, so the response isn't always great. The SAR provided for the RAAF is near Perth, a civilian company as the RAAF have no helicopters, some 2000 nm from Port Hedland, so not a quick solution. The MPT in Port Hedland must be 50 years old & I think this is the first ditching, ironically with a modern helicopter. There have bee
n some close shaves but this must be the worst accident. The water is quite warm, the pilot would have worn a life jacket but it doesn't look good. No mention if the 135 sank quickly?
n some close shaves but this must be the worst accident. The water is quite warm, the pilot would have worn a life jacket but it doesn't look good. No mention if the 135 sank quickly?
Just a slight correction Nigel, it's AMSA who have the list and contact you for searching, not CASA.
There is (or was) at least 1 fixed-wing company down the road at Karratha who was Tier 4 and have been out on many searches in years gone by, along with CHC/Bristow/HeliNZ (been a while since I was around that region so things may have changed). Police Air Wing PC12 based in KA may be available too. Bond over at Barrow Island as well. There's a fixed wing charter company in Hedland and also the RFDS but I'm not sure if they've done any form of SAR work at all. Also some helos up in Broome, and some fixed wing too (Coastwatch Dash aircraft are based there).
The helos which are contracted to the offshore work up in that region typically have the ability to do winch ops, however it can take them over an hour to get the winch installed and airborne.
Someone told me many years ago even a Qantas 737, before they started their approach, went to check on a bunch of smoke that was reported offshore from KA. Someone called up thinking a boat was on fire. Was just a rig flaring!
There is (or was) at least 1 fixed-wing company down the road at Karratha who was Tier 4 and have been out on many searches in years gone by, along with CHC/Bristow/HeliNZ (been a while since I was around that region so things may have changed). Police Air Wing PC12 based in KA may be available too. Bond over at Barrow Island as well. There's a fixed wing charter company in Hedland and also the RFDS but I'm not sure if they've done any form of SAR work at all. Also some helos up in Broome, and some fixed wing too (Coastwatch Dash aircraft are based there).
The helos which are contracted to the offshore work up in that region typically have the ability to do winch ops, however it can take them over an hour to get the winch installed and airborne.
Someone told me many years ago even a Qantas 737, before they started their approach, went to check on a bunch of smoke that was reported offshore from KA. Someone called up thinking a boat was on fire. Was just a rig flaring!
CHC operates a number of winch equipped AW139 and AW189 aircraft an hour away from PH in Karratha. They also have a winch operator and rescue crewman permanently on site, with a SAR aircraft and crew nominated each day. One of the CHC 189's with SAR crew is involved in the current search.
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CarRAMROD.
You're right! That's what happens to one's memory with age & being retired for 10 years! The main problem years ago was not having a winch when on an offshore contract. I'm sure John E will remember flying a 76 to try to save some people in a fishing trawler in NW Tassie one stormy evening. A rope was used to lower a pump onto the boat but the petrol can broke away. The boat ran on diesel, so the pump without fuel was useless!
You're right! That's what happens to one's memory with age & being retired for 10 years! The main problem years ago was not having a winch when on an offshore contract. I'm sure John E will remember flying a 76 to try to save some people in a fishing trawler in NW Tassie one stormy evening. A rope was used to lower a pump onto the boat but the petrol can broke away. The boat ran on diesel, so the pump without fuel was useless!
Mark, insider, thanks for the info.
Like I said been a while since I was out that way and back then I don't recall anything being winch-ready in much shorter than an hour.
Further question just out of interest, are these recall times applicable to AMSA taskings or just for their contracted oil/gas clients?
Like I said been a while since I was out that way and back then I don't recall anything being winch-ready in much shorter than an hour.
Further question just out of interest, are these recall times applicable to AMSA taskings or just for their contracted oil/gas clients?
6 p.m. WST....1000Z,
Ch 7 News announcing that, as of this evening, the search has been 'called off'.
Despite 'good' conditions, nothing has been found.
Several Helos, Fixed wing, and boats involved.
The pilot who got out, is OK.
More advice tomorrow, I would expect.
Not good news.
Ch 7 News announcing that, as of this evening, the search has been 'called off'.
Despite 'good' conditions, nothing has been found.
Several Helos, Fixed wing, and boats involved.
The pilot who got out, is OK.
More advice tomorrow, I would expect.
Not good news.
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THE body of a man believed to be the pilot of the helicopter that ditched in the water off Port Hedland has been located and recovered from the water.
Police advised that the wreckage of the helicopter was located with sonar equipment at about 12.30pm on Saturday.
Police divers were moved to the scene and located the body believed to be that of the missing pilot, 44-year-old Brett Gallard.
The pilot’s family have been kept informed and a formal identification process is underway.
https://thewest.com.au/news/pilbara/...-ng-b88777478z
Police advised that the wreckage of the helicopter was located with sonar equipment at about 12.30pm on Saturday.
Police divers were moved to the scene and located the body believed to be that of the missing pilot, 44-year-old Brett Gallard.
The pilot’s family have been kept informed and a formal identification process is underway.
https://thewest.com.au/news/pilbara/...-ng-b88777478z
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