R44 Accident Geelong
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Joined: Sep 2014
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From: On land
R44 Accident Geelong
ABC News
Two people have escaped serious injury after a helicopter crashed while doing circuits at a regional airport, west of Melbourne.
The Robinson R44 helicopter was doing circuits — taking off and landing — when something went wrong around 10:00am, airport owner Gary Baum said.
Mr Baum said he found the helicopter on its side, with one man lying on the ground and another walking nearby.
They were both talking, he said.
"The debris of the whole aircraft is scattered over a 50-metre radius."
"It is believed both patients are in a stable condition.
The Robinson R44 helicopter was doing circuits — taking off and landing — when something went wrong around 10:00am, airport owner Gary Baum said.
Mr Baum said he found the helicopter on its side, with one man lying on the ground and another walking nearby.
They were both talking, he said.
"[There's] severe damage underneath the helicopter and the rotor blades have actually hit and broken the tail off and exploded but the cabin has stayed all together."
"It is believed both patients are in a stable condition.
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: on the ground
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Africa
The cut off tail plane is 10 m behind the wreck, located within the non-skids sliding marks.
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: UK/OZ
Would be very useful to know if the fuel leak was due to a ruptured bladder or broken fuel supply line.
R44 crash survivability has been improved since the mandatory fitting of the new tank, perhaps some tweaks are still required?
The windscreen lays toward the beginng of the debris trail.
Mjb
R44 crash survivability has been improved since the mandatory fitting of the new tank, perhaps some tweaks are still required?
The windscreen lays toward the beginng of the debris trail.
Mjb
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 787
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From: Europe
Hello Mjb,
the new tank improves only the post crash survivability. It doesn't protect you to be killed or wounded. It try to protect you from not to burned alive if you're wounded and not able to move away from the wreckage.
.
the new tank improves only the post crash survivability. It doesn't protect you to be killed or wounded. It try to protect you from not to burned alive if you're wounded and not able to move away from the wreckage.
.
Joined: Dec 2014
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From: Africa
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Great South East, tired and retired
“pre-crash survivability”
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: OZ
All the mindless bashing aside, it would be interesting to know where the fuel got out. If anyone actually knows.
Having lost a friend to a post crash fire in an R44, and still occasionally flying one for fun, I was hoping the bladder tanks had reduced the chance of a post crash fire.
Having lost a friend to a post crash fire in an R44, and still occasionally flying one for fun, I was hoping the bladder tanks had reduced the chance of a post crash fire.
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 280
Likes: 20
From: OZ
From memory, the fuel tank vents are internal. The caps probably pretty well seal up.
Fuel leaking from a cap, a vent, or even a severed fuel line is more like a trickle. (Taking 10 mins + to empty the tanks at a guess. And depending on the angle leaving some in the tanks.) having the tanks sliced open by a broken flex plate could have the entire contents onto the hot engine/two magnetos in seconds. Two very different scenarios.
Fuel leaking from a cap, a vent, or even a severed fuel line is more like a trickle. (Taking 10 mins + to empty the tanks at a guess. And depending on the angle leaving some in the tanks.) having the tanks sliced open by a broken flex plate could have the entire contents onto the hot engine/two magnetos in seconds. Two very different scenarios.
