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Three people have died in a helicopter crash at Lake Eyre in South Australia's far north.

A person at an outpost station reported the helicopter going up in flames on Thursday evening.

Police say the helicopter went down about 150 kilometres north-west of Marree.

An outback tour operator says four boats have gone to assist at the crash site near the Cooper Creek outlet.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is co-ordinating the response to the crash.

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THREE people have died in a helicopter crash at Lake Eyre.

William Creek pilot Trevor Wright said the he believed the helicopter was being used for aerial photography and video and flying near the edge of Lake Eyre when it crashed before 7.30pm.

He said the occupants were planning to land and meet a group of people on the edge of the lake for dinner in the early evening.

''When the helicopter didn't turn up they became anxious and sent out a search party on foot, then they found the wreck,'' Mr Wright said

He said news of the victims had spread around the William Creek community.

''Everyone in the local community knows about it and is distraught it's an aviation community,'' he said.

''It's incredibly upsetting for this to happen. We really feel for the families of the victims.''

The police helicopter is flying to the scene, which is 146km north north west of Marree and 142km north east of William Creek on the eastern side of Lake Eyre.

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Early this morning the ABC confirmed that among the passengers on its chopper was journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean.

The helicopter was being flown by Gary Ticehurst, the founder and principal of Film Helicopters Australia, who has been contracted to fly ABC staff since 1980.

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THE Australian Broadcasting Corporation fears that one of its helicopters crashed last night in South Australia's remote northeast, with grave concerns the three staff members on board have been killed.

South Australian police were this morning attempting to make their way to the site of the crash, which occurred east of Lake Eyre shortly after 7.30pm.

They confirmed three people died after the helicopter went down northwest of Marree and 140km north east of William Creek on the eastern side of Lake Eyre.

An ABC spokesman confirmed last night they had lost contact with a news crew that was filming at Lake Eyre.

"We have not been in contact with them," ABC communications director Mr Mick Millett said.

"We are deeply worried."

Police were unlikely to reach the crash site until early this morning and were being hampered by its remote location and bad weather conditions.

Early this morning the ABC confirmed that among the passengers on its chopper was journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean.

The helicopter was being flown by Gary Ticehurst, the founder and principal of Film Helicopters Australia, who has been contracted to fly ABC staff since 1980.

His company is considered Australia's leading film and television aerial production specialist. Its website boasts that Ticehurst has "vast experience, flying helicopters for more than 30 years, and has more than 14,000 chopper hours supporting the film and television industry both in Australia and internationally".

"Film Helicopters Australia offers highly experienced pilots with the ability to carry out low level filming operations, provide aircraft ranging from helicopters to other specialist aircraft and co-ordinate and fly all and varied "on camera' aircraft sequences," it continues.

With more than 39 years' experience in journalism, Lockyer is one of the ABC's most experienced reporters. Corrigin-born, Lockyer started at the ABC's Perth office in 1969 where he did his ABC radio and TV news cadetship. From 1979, he spent the next nine years as a foreign correspondent in Jakarta, Bangkok and Washington and as the ABC's Asia Correspondent based in Singapore.

Lockyer was one of the first journalists to report on the full extent of the Khmer Rouge atrocities in Cambodia and the flight of boat people from Vietnam. He spent much time in the early 1980s covering the troubles in Central America.

After 11 years at the Nine Network in Sydney, he rejoined the ABC in 1999 as Olympics Reporter for TV News to cover the Sydney Games. His reporting efforts at the Olympics earned him a Logie award as most outstanding TV News Reporter in 2000. He later led the ABC TV News coverage of the Athens Olympics in 2004 and reported on the Beijing Olympics, in 2008, for The 7.30 Report.

Between the Olympics, Lockyer has provided extensive coverage of rural issues, particularly the extensive drought. Those efforts earned him a Centenary Medal in 2003 and he was twice awarded the NSW Farmers Mackellar Media prize for coverage of rural issues.

He spent much of 2005 presenting Western Australia's 7:00pm ABC TV news, before returning to Sydney to fulfil a number of presentation and reporting roles for ABC TV News and Current Affairs, including the dramatic rescue of two miners from Tasmania's Beaconsfield gold mine. Of late he has focused on rural issues, particularly the water crisis confronting the nation.

Cameraman Bean, based in Queensland, is also one of the ABC's most experienced hands with more than 22 years at the broadcaster. In that time he has worked in news and for 7.30, News 24, Landline, Australian Story, Catalyst, The New Inventors, Gardening Australia, Art Nation and for the Australia Network.

He also filmed documentaries Return To Lake Eyre and After The Deluge

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Do ABC have a helicopter based in SA or is this a local SA company on charter?

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Journalist Paul Lockyer, pilot Gary Ticehurst, and cameraman John Bean are believed to have been killed in a helicopter crash in the far north of South Australia last night. Local tour operator Rex Ellis told 891 Breakfast he had just farewelled the trio when he said there appeared to be problems shortly after the helicopter's ascent.

The helicopter had taken off from Cooper Inlet, 140km north of Maree, when the problems occurred.
"It went pretty low, on the other side of the river, and then briefly went out of sight on the other side of the dunes and then we didn't hear anything."
Taking off just after 7:00pm, Rex said the chopper had circled and flew for less than a minute before it quickly descended.
"We just saw a glow and we realised something pretty bad had happened."
Rex and the other witnesses alerted the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the police as they quickly travelled across the river in boats.
"It took us about an hour to get to the scene, but it was too late to do anything for them."
ABC Managing Director Mark Scott said the team had been working on a news and feature project at the time of the accident.
He described the men as 'the best of the best' in their fields.
South Australian police have confirmed the location of two deceased persons in the wreckage of the crash, with the search continuing this morning to locate the third person believed to have been in the helicopter.
Mr Scott said police were not expecting survivors from the crash.
He said he had spoken with the families of the staff last night and expressed how much their husbands and fathers meant to the ABC, with his thoughts, love and prayers with the families.
SA Police said official confirmation of the names of those who died in the crash would not be made until later in the day.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/284...x2-700x467.jpg

Gary Ticehurst has been the ABC’s lead helicopter pilot since the mid-1980s and is one of the most experienced media pilots in Australia.

In almost 40 years as a chopper pilot, Ticehurst logged more than 16,000 hours of flying time.

Ticehurst, who was 60, is survived by his wife Therese.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race was a constant in Ticehurst’s career with the ABC. Every year he brought stunning pictures to the ABC’s TV audience and enabled radio reporters to close in on the action.

But during the tragic 1998 race, Ticehurst did more than just cover the race - he played a significant role in the rescue of 14 crew members from stricken yacht Business Post Naiad, which lost a skipper and crew member.

The yacht Stand Aside was the first to fall victim to the wild weather, with Ticehurst's chopper among the search and rescue crew.

"You could see the huge waves ... it was just an amazing sight," Ticehurst told CNN in a 2002 interview.

"I'm used to flying through weather fronts, but this was sitting like a whirlwind, and here was Stand Aside in the middle of this with half its roof missing," he said.

Six men died during the Sydney to Hobart, but a total of 55 were rescued.

Stephanie Hagger from Marine Search and Rescue remembers Gary’s contribution vividly.

"Incredible man, big heart ... Gary’s piloting during that [rescue] was incredible," she said.

The yachting community has also paid tribute to Ticehurst, describing him as a wonderful character and "fearless pilot".

"He made a great contribution to the Sydney to Hobart race and yachting in general, because of his ability to to get close and capture those moments of drama at sea," Sydney to Hobart spokesman Peter Campbell said.

"And of course, he played a vital role in the search and rescue in 1998 in the gale, he was out there spotting boats and relaying their position. Then again in the rescue of the upturned yacht Skandia, he was very much involved in that.

"He was instrumental in finding the positions of various yachts, he was out above the water in terrible conditions ... he did make a very important contribution by relaying messages and that sort of thing.

"He was an outgoing personality."

He was the embodiment of the hundreds of people who work so hard behind the scenes to bring ABC News to audiences across Australia.

His skill brought stories to life and while his efforts were invisible to the public, they were hugely valued by his colleagues.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/image/284...x2-700x467.jpg

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Ticehurst, a well-known media pilot, had worked for the ABC for more than 25 years. Bean, a Brisbane-based cameraman, had worked throughout Australia, the Pacific and in Washington in a 20-year career at the broadcaster.

The ABC's managing director, Mark Scott said: "This has been the longest of nights and we fear it will be the saddest of days."

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Investigators have begun the grim task of sifting through the helicopter wreckage in the South Australian outback where three of the ABC's most-respected newsmen died on Thursday evening.

Journalist Paul Lockyer, cameraman John Bean and pilot Gary Ticehurst died after their chopper crashed near Lake Eyre while they were working on news and feature projects in the region.

The trio were remembered earlier today at a memorial service in the South Australian town of William Creek, where about 100 people paid their respects.

Prior to the crash they were interviewing tourists on a small island near Lake Eyre. After taking off, witnesses reported seeing the helicopter making an unusual manoeuvre before dropping out of sight.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau says it will take several days search through the wreckage about 150 kilometres north-west of Marree.

The bureau's Joe Hattley says four investigators who travelled to the site this morning are methodically sorting through the debris.

Mr Hattley says the investigators are looking at parts including the engines and helicopter rotor blades.

"They'll try and determine what components might be useful for the ATSB to bring back for further examination and they'll also conduct a site map to try and to determine how the helicopter came to the ground," he said.

"We'll also be looking for any embedded electronic devices. Helicopters like this carry devices such as GPS equipment, that sort of thing. If we're fortunate we can download the information and get an idea of the track and altitude and where the helicopter was going.

"We're always hopeful that we'll get enough evidence to tell us what the nature of the accident was."

The bureau's Richard Batt says getting to the remote site has been a logistical nightmare, but the team is well-experienced.

"We have a team with investigators with a background as pilots, operational investigators, also aircraft engineers, technical specialists, so a full range of expertise will be bought to the investigation," he said.

"The team are well-experienced and quick to cope with the conditions that they'll find."

South Australia Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Smith says burned wreckage was spread over a wide area at the remote crash site.

He says heavy rainfall in the area had made it difficult for local officers to reach the site and removing the bodies would be difficult.

It could take a year before the cause of the crash is known.

The ABC has been granted special permission to fly the Australian flag at half mast at its offices around the country as a sign of mourning.

William Creek, which is an air base for flights over the lake, held a memorial service for the trio as part of events to mark the official opening of the air strip.

Outback pilot Trevor Wright spoke at the service, which was attended by about 100 people in the remote region.

He extended his sympathies to the families of Lockyer, Bean and Ticehurst and to the broader ABC. "Our thoughts are with you," he said.

He spoke with affection about the trio. "They were very well respected ... and to see this number of people turn up is just fantastic," he said.

Earlier, Mr Wright said Lockyer was highly regarded amongst locals for his role in highlighting rural issues.

"Paul was at home whether he was in the city or the bush... he had a fantastic rapport with everyone," he said.

"It was a tragic accident and [given] his relationship with Lake Eyre and William Creek, we feel it's fitting that we have this memorial service for him."

A priest from Coober Pedy led the service, which was attended by locals, pastoralists and those in the town.

The experienced ABC crew had been working on news and feature projects in the region when their Sydney-based chopper went down.

Tributes flow
Yesterday, ABC managing director Mark Scott said the ABC feared the worst and paid tribute to the men, who he called "three news gatherers at the peak of their craft".

"These guys loved getting out and about and finding great Australian stories and bringing them to the Australian people," he said.

"That's what they've been doing the last few days and their loss would be a terrible loss to all of us here."

On Friday morning John Bean's wife, Landline reporter Pip Courtney, said he was "the most wonderful husband a girl could wish for".

"Devastated, broken, I will be lost without him," she said in a statement.

"I fell in love with him on the road and adored working with him. He was so, so talented, I loved watching him at work. So privileged. I can't believe he's gone. Our families are devastated."

Lockyer's wife Maria also issued a statement.

"For 38 years Paul has been my soul mate, a loving husband and father and a loyal friend to many. He will be in our thoughts every day," she said.

The family of veteran pilot Ticehurst said he was a hero.

"It’s not every day you get to meet a legitimate hero so we, his loved ones, are eternally grateful to have spent a lifetime with one," the family said in a statement.

Three of the best

Lockyer was one of the ABC's most experienced journalists with an award-winning career spanning more than 40 years locally and internationally.

He had been a correspondent in Washington, Singapore and throughout Asia and won a Logie Award for best TV reporter.

His work in recent years focused on regional and rural issues and his work on the Queensland floods this year won universal acclaim.

Ticehurst is a legend among media pilots - he has served the ABC for more than 25 years and was well liked by all who flew with him.

He had served as the lead pilot for the ABC in Sydney since the mid 1980s and was a larger-than-life figure who was known by everyone in the news room.

Brisbane-based cameraman Bean has worked for the ABC for 20 years across a diverse range of programs in news and entertainment, including international assignments.

He travelled extensively throughout Australia and the Pacific region for work and last year completed a stint in the Washington Bureau.

The tragedy is the worst to hit the ABC since four staff members died in a light plane crash west of Rockhampton in 1983.

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On 18 August 2011, Aérospatiale Industries AS355F2 (AS355) helicopter, registered VH-NTV (NTV), was operating in an area south-east of Lake Eyre, South Australia (SA). On board were the pilot and two passengers. The helicopter landed on an island in the Cooper Creek inlet, about 145 km north of Marree, SA at 1715 Central Standard Time.

At about 1900, the pilot departed the island to take the occupants back to their accommodation at a property about 47 km north of Marree. It was reported that, soon after takeoff, the helicopter collided with terrain. The aircraft was substantially damaged and there were no survivors.

The weather conditions were reported to have been fine and clear at the time. Sunset in the area was at 1758 and the end of evening civil twilight at 1822. Moon rise was at 2158. The aircraft was equipped to conduct operations at night under the visual flight rules.

The ATSB dispatched a team of four investigators to the site. Due to the remote location, the on-site examination was unable to commence until 20 August. The wreckage was located about 3 km east-north-east of the island in Cooper Creek. The examination identified all major components and extremities of the helicopter at the accident site. The wreckage trail was 60 m long and indicated that the aircraft was travelling in an easterly direction at the time of impact. Much of the wreckage was damaged by a post-impact fire.

The on-site examination is continuing and several components will be recovered from the site for technical examination. These include both engines, a number of components from the helicopter's flight control system, some of the flight instruments, and the helicopter's global positioning system unit.

In addition, a number of witnesses have been or are being interviewed, and the following data is being obtained for later examination:
the helicopter's maintenance and airworthiness records
helicopter operational information
records of the pilot's experience and medical status.
Witnesses or anyone else with information about the accident are asked to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616.

The AS355 is a light utility helicopter powered by two turboshaft engines. The accident was the first fatal accident involving a twin-engine helicopter in Australia since 1986, and the first involving an AS355 in Australia.

At the time of the accident, there were 10 AS355 helicopters registered in Australia (including NTV). NTV was manufactured in 1988 and first registered in Australia in February 1989.

The investigation is continuing. The ATSB will be issuing a Preliminary Factual Report within 30 days of the accident.

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UPDATE August 24, 2011: A memorial service for Gary Ticehurst will be held in Sydney at Rushcutters Bay Park, near the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, on Tuesday, August 30 at 11.30am. The service is open to anyone who would like to attend and is being held by the family and the ABC.

A reel of Ticehurst's feature film work is being compiled by Matt Graham and will be screened at the memorial service. He is trying to locate images (still or moving) of Gary and his work. If you have contributions, these can be sent to Matt Graham, who can be contacted on 0430 572 770.

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On behalf of Gary's widow Theresa, daughter Michelle and son Matthew, they would like to advise CYCA members that a memorial service for Gary will be held in Rushcutters Bay Park on Tuesday 30 August 2011, commencing at 11:30am.

With the cooperation of Woollahra Municpal Council, the northern section of Rushcutters Bay Park will be open for car parking on a first come, first served basis for guests attending the memorial service from 0830 hours. Cars will need to be removed by 1800 hours.

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