R44 Down on NSW South Coast Feb 2012
 

Just read on news.com.au that there was a R44 fatality yesterday, very sad news. Does anyone know any more?

Two men die in fiery NSW helicopter crash

Supposedly took off got to ten feet and crashed with subsequent fire. Two dead including US film maker. They were evidently making a documentary. Pilot reported as 50 yrs old from Melbourne. RIP.

Fearing the worst
 

I'm hoping it's not Wighty, Great Wight 3D - Specialists in 3D Technology & Film Production

One of the victims listed here, pilot still unnamed. RIP.

James Cameron believed to be working with chopper crash victim - Local News - News - General - Illawarra Mercury

Here is more information about the passenger: The Santa Barbara Independent S.B. Filmmaker Mike DeGruy Killed in Helicopter Crash

Does anyone know what happened ? There's nothing in the DG&P forums.

Lots of discussion about it on the recreational aviation site Aircraft Pilots as it happened in front of clubhouse of some regulars on that site and they were involved in the attempted rescue.

Basically they are saying took off, somewhere in the take off the tail hit the ground and it flipped over and burned.

Apparently there were lots of people at the clubhouse at the time (sadly including children) and video was being taken at the time. Apparently ATSB have the video.

A german magazine does name Michael deGruy and Andrew Wight on the description to a video showing the site Australien: Filmemacher sterben bei Hubschrauberabsturz :sad:

More discussion on another Pprune forum
http://www.pprune.org/dg-p-general-a...ew-vh-cok.html

Investigation: AO-2012-021 - Collision with terrain - Robinson R44, VH-COK, Jaspers Brush, NSW, 4 February 2012

Link with report number and initial report, bit quicker here than the UK!

Hardly an Accident Report, more a news bulletin so far.

It also says that its expected release date is Feb 2013.

Not having a go at you TRC, but it was recently reported in these August chronicles that it would take eighteen months to two years to hear anything form your crash enquiry crowd.

Our crowd promised a twelve month only outcome and we have a useful 'beginning' visibly reported. That is not to say that I have never had a beef with them.

cheers tet

Not strictly true is it.

If there is a serious airworthiness issue they are pretty quick. "Our Crowd" had the first Initial Report into the 332 accident in the N. Sea out in a matter of weeks.

Anyway, I'm not getting into yet another pi$$ing contest on here - I'm heartily sick of reading them.

Well done to "your crowd" for being on the ball.

Rumour has it that the video footage shows the pilot was trying to close the door whilst in hover.........when control was lost.

Not saying this is factual, but if so it makes this incident even more tragic.

TB :(

ATSB Preliminary Report out:

Investigation: AO-2012-021 - Collision with terrain - Robinson R44, VH-COK, Jaspers Brush, NSW, 4 February 2012

TB

Sad to read about all this.

'Interesting' how RHC changed the tanks SB to 12 months earlier, two weeks after this accident. At this rate of avoidable post-crash fires, FAA may force RHC to get AD in place instead of SB.

The ratio of airworthy machines with all stainless steel tanks versus bladder retrofitted shows the machines out there aren't reaching overhaul/major maintenance that fast.

"Fire-risk helicopters can keep on flying"
 

Odd that this article is published in the travel section of this Australian newspaper group and not the news section?

Do they make a valid point about supply of parts?

Fire-risk helicopters can keep on flying


Mickjoebill

Is this an issue with the R22 also?

TB

What I find quite remarkable, is that no has yet made mention of the door opening issue... Trying to close the door while in the hover is a basic initial training issue which should never be done :ugh: as one can see from this fatal accident.
Forget about the fuel tank/lines that burnt the machine out right now. Deal with the cause of the accident so that others can learn from it.
I was taught and have taught that if the door opened, either land or get some height and speed (depending on where you are in the take-off profile) before trying to close it.

Whilst it may seem an obvious cause, the report doesn't say why/how the door opened nor does it actually report that the pilot was trying to close it.



Mickjoebill