Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

EC-135 crashes into ocean near Port Hedland off Western Australias Pilbara coast

Wikiposts
Search
Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

EC-135 crashes into ocean near Port Hedland off Western Australias Pilbara coast

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 14th Mar 2018, 23:46
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Sydney, Oz.
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
EC-135 crashes into ocean near Port Hedland off Western Australias Pilbara coast

Helicopter crashes into ocean near Port Hedland off WA's Pilbara coast - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A helicopter carrying two people has crashed into the ocean off Western Australia's north coast.

The accident happened 30 kilometres north of Port Hedland about midnight.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokesman said the helicopter — reported to be an EC-135 model — was heading out to a ship to pick up a marine pilot when it crashed.

The passenger has been recovered but a search continues for the pilot.

Seven aircraft and seven vessels are taking part in the search.

More to come.

Last edited by zhishengji751; 14th Mar 2018 at 23:51. Reason: clarified title
zhishengji751 is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 03:20
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The land of Oz
Posts: 117
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Not good at all. Crashed last night around midnight according to some reports.

Is night MPT in Port Hedland a 2-pilot gig?
Tibbsy is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 03:21
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 824
Received 229 Likes on 72 Posts
Apparently it was two pilots on a training flight not a MPT flight. Thoughts are with everyone at Aviator Group.
KiwiNedNZ is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 04:01
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
https://www.northwesttelegraph.com.a...-ng-b88774914z

If anyone knows the name of the pilot that is missing, please PM me.
Lude-og is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 04:07
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 366
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
KiwiNed the article says that they were on the way to pick up a marine pilot onboard a ship. It was that person who saw the helicopter ditch and alerted AMSAR.
I have heard that it was a normal flight but with a check captain onboard.
Kulwin Park is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 04:09
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 824
Received 229 Likes on 72 Posts
KP - You are probably correct. I just heard it was as training flight with a check & training guy plus pilot onboard and no one else so wrongly assumed it was not MPT.
KiwiNedNZ is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 06:16
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Blue Yonder
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
maybe VH-ZGA? VH-ZGZ seems to be participating in the search.

https://www.flightradar24.com/ZGZ/10b7b454
duncan_g is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 07:26
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 34
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Yep, ZGA.

Lude-og, if you are concerned about your countryman, he's not involved.

Normally done single pilot day and night, in this case Training Captain doing night line training

Sad.

Capt.
Capt SFB is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 08:37
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Some years ago we used to do that MPT flight in a basic 206 on fixed floats with no special equipment except for an adjustable large landing light off a Cessna. Single pilot day & night, biggest problem was when sea fog would roll in quickly & unexpectedly. The alternate inland was 200 nm plus! Fun days!
Nigel Osborn is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 09:02
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Earth
Age: 54
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Nigel Osborn
Some years ago we used to do that MPT flight in a basic 206 on fixed floats with no special equipment except for an adjustable large landing light off a Cessna. Single pilot day & night, biggest problem was when sea fog would roll in quickly & unexpectedly. The alternate inland was 200 nm plus! Fun days!
What's your point? You do know that there is a Pilot missing.
Heliringer is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 09:21
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Germany
Posts: 919
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
:-(
Trainingflights can be dangerous.
2016 a BK117 went down over the sea while conducting winch training.
Pilots didnīt recognize until to late :-(
https://www.bfu-web.de/DE/Publikatio...ublicationFile
Flying Bull is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 11:13
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,325
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
Who provides helicopter SAR in that area?
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 11:38
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: On land
Posts: 245
Received 29 Likes on 13 Posts
Crab,

Australia is massive. We have cattle stations bigger than European countries. This might be difficult to believe, but in most of Australia, no one provides SAR.
Nescafe is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 12:05
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: steady
Posts: 382
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Last recorded data point on fr24: 100FT, 22KTS
Attached Images
File Type: jpg
VH-ZGA.jpg (78.7 KB, 101 views)
whoknows idont is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 12:07
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Australia
Age: 47
Posts: 728
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
All the companies played a role today Babcock,HNZ,CHC,Bristow and not to mention a sister ship of the one that went down along with a Chalenger 604.
belly tank is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 12:34
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: EGDC
Posts: 10,325
Received 622 Likes on 270 Posts
Nescafe - so Australia is exempt from ICAO/IMO provision of SAR???

https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navig...-rescue-region
crab@SAAvn.co.uk is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 12:59
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Western Oz
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Try this page.

https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navigation/search-and-rescue/contracted-search-and-rescue-aircraft-and-equipment

Mainly tier 3 and 4 helicopters contracted to oil companies. Stand to be corrected but nearest tier 2 may be Perth. 700plus nm away.
PhilJ is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 13:01
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Australia sometimes
Posts: 103
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by [email protected]
Nescafe - so Australia is exempt from ICAO/IMO provision of SAR???

https://www.amsa.gov.au/safety-navig...-rescue-region
No Crab, Australia is not exempt. However, in practical terms, due to having vast regions that are very sparsely populated, we don't have the same level of response capability in those areas as you might expect in most European countries. It will often take several hours to get assets on scene. This is not unique to Australia mind you.
Scattercat is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 13:03
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: On top of the Longline
Posts: 318
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Originally Posted by Flying Bull
:-(
Trainingflights can be dangerous.
2016 a BK117 went down over the sea while conducting winch training.
Pilots didnīt recognize until to late :-(
https://www.bfu-web.de/DE/Publikatio...ublicationFile
For those of us who are linguistically challenged -https://www.bfu-web.de/EN/Publicatio...ublicationFile
heliduck is offline  
Old 15th Mar 2018, 13:35
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland
Posts: 943
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Heliringer
The point I tried to make, obviously not very well, is that the Port Hedland job was a mickey mouse operation with not the best equipment available being used due to the cost. Now it has a modern twin & I expect a lot more training. It's a tragedy that for whatever reason a modern helicopter has gone down & a pilot is missing. During my 45 years of helicopter flying I've had to make numerous searches, so I'm fully aware of the possible tragic outcome of this accident.
Nigel Osborn is offline  


Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.