Erickson Aircrane accident Jericho, Victoria

[John Eacott]

Originally Posted by gulliBell

Sudden stoppage when TR/MR hit water may have busted the TR driveshaft.

Cause and effect: wind shift and overcontrol of the Crane resulting in the tail rotor impacting the water and subsequent TRDS failure could explain the accident.

twinstar_ca, all aircrew must have a current HUET and also wear LSJ, helmet, etc on fire ops in Australia.

WRT the recovery and conjecture about lifting the wreck: all Aircranes on contract here are S64E models, there are no 64Fs used. The tank will no doubt have taken in plenty of water after the ditching so it will become a weight issue, and the altitude will also be a factor if aerial recovery becomes involved. It could be some time before recovery is attempted especially with worsening fire conditions today and later in the week. 40C+ temperatures are again forecast in the south east of Oz

[SASless]

At least it is fresh water and no sea water.....makes the rebuild easier.

[noooby]

Originally Posted by John Eacott

Cause and effect: wind shift and overcontrol of the Crane resulting in the tail rotor impacting the water and subsequent TRDS failure could explain the accident.

twinstar_ca, all aircrew must have a current HUET and also wear LSJ, helmet, etc on fire ops in Australia.

WRT the recovery and conjecture about lifting the wreck: all Aircranes on contract here are S64E models, there are no 64Fs used. The tank will no doubt have taken in plenty of water after the ditching so it will become a weight issue, and the altitude will also be a factor if aerial recovery becomes involved. It could be some time before recovery is attempted especially with worsening fire conditions today and later in the week. 40C+ temperatures are again forecast in the south east of Oz

Do you mean they're all E models except for the one sitting upside down in the dam? Because that is an F model.

Tank has a manual dump handle in the cockpit roof. That'll let it drain. While filling, right seater (captain is on left) calls out the water quantity and pilot flying pulls when they've got what they need. Mechanic in the back calls out if the mainwheels get close to the water so that the tail rotor stays well clear.

[gulliBell]

Originally Posted by SASless

.....makes the rebuild easier.

Rebuilding after a sudden stoppage, let alone an immersion, 'aint ever easy, and it's always eye-wateringly expensive. I guess problem bilong insurer now.

[Droop Snoot]

Originally Posted by noooby

Do you mean they're all E models except for the one sitting upside down in the dam? Because that is an F model.

References say it's an E model... apparently they retrofitted the dual wheel main landing gear from the F.

[cattletruck]

Birdstrike perhaps? They certainly were in the right spot for that kind of thing.

Meanwhile, when I turn on the tap water I'm thinking some avtur will soon start coming out .

[SASless]

Gulli....Erickson is the manufacturer you recall.

That saves on the cost somewhat....and I bet they are self insured.

Salt water corrosion shall not be an issue in this one.

[noooby]

Originally Posted by Droop Snoot

References say it's an E model... apparently they retrofitted the dual wheel main landing gear from the F.

Really?? I wonder why they did that. From memory the F gear doesn't raise and lower like the E (handy when washing it to help water run off), unless they just replaced the lower strut and not the whole leg.
You learn something new everyday.

[megan]

Confirming it's registered on the FAA data base as an "E" model.

[physicus]

is there any further information as to probable cause?

[Kulwin Park]

And how did the recovery go? Craned out or air-lifted out?

[TylerMonkey]

Here is an informal list of the air crane N numbers I found so far ,
if anyone wants to copy.
Too much time on my hands . . .

N154AC GEORGIA PEACH
158 GOLIATH
159 CAMILLE
163 BUBBA
164 INCREDIBLE HULK
171 ANNIE
172 MARIAH
173 CHRISTINE
176 LUCILLE
179 ELVIS
189 Gypsy Lady
194 DELILAH
217 MALCOLM
218 ELSIE
229 TUG Italy
243 MARTY
247 JERRY
957 ICHABOD

OLGA N6962R
ISABELLE OB203

[FullOppositeRudder]

Nothing we probably don't already know, but preliminary ATSB report is here: https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications...r/ao-2019-008/

A bit more information here: ATSB begins investigation into Erickson Aircrane incident

Ongoing and serious bushfires in Victoria probably mean that recovery will be very much a secondary task for the remaining aircraft - if indeed it's used at all.

[John Eacott]

Closing an interview just now on the current bushfires in Victoria, the Emergency Services Commissioner responded that 'they have a plan for the recovery of the aircraft, and it will be about another six weeks'.

[rjtjrt]

Any update on the recovery of this aircraft?

[maxspeedz]

Skycrane base

Hey there,
Heading to Aussie soon, just wondering where are the skycranes based would love to see one up close.....Cheers MS

[Evil Twin]

Think you may have missed them. The one at Bankstown left a couple of weeks back along with the Firehawks. Not sure if the others have left yet

[TWT]

Saw one today about 11am flying over Melbourne ( appears to have departed from YMEN)

[Capt SFB]

G'day Chaps,

3 x Skycranes currently sitting on the wharf in Geelong waiting for their ride to Greece . . .

Cheers,
Capt.

[John Eacott]

She's out

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