We are actually being warned that our rainwater tank water is contaminated from the fire smoke and ash and probably not suitable for drinking. Given the water from the dam will be treated even with possible fuel contamination it might be safer! Go figure!

I expect they used the airbags affixed to the head and TRGB to flip it over, that'd be my guess anyway

If you look at the crash photos theres reed, so guess it crashed over in the background of photo 2, while bringing it to the ramp the water got deep enough that lift bags on the main rotor would flip it and they hauled it up the ramp

Just a stab in the dark

On Facebook is a video of the recovery posted by Royal Australian Navy



skadi

What a shame... Wonder if it will fly again?

Interesting recovery, but BZ to have achieved it in such a short space of time :ok:

:ok: Thanks John! Thats the FB video I mentioned in my post, but to embed the link didn't work.

skadi

I don't see why not, spent 23 years drinking water from a tank that had kerosene floating on top (to stop the mossies breeding). There are rather strict conditions applying to public reservoirs, recreational boating is not permitted with inboard or outboard engines due possible contamination, only electric, oars or other manual means are permitted.

Very lucky that the blades were unscathed, given that it was a fresh water immersion, I'd say that she may well fly again.

I'd be surprised if blades that had been immersed in water would fly again. Water is bound to have got in under the skins, and then the blades would be different weights, and when you start flying them water might escape from each blade at different rates, etc. It would be an ongoing maintenance nightmare. As for the rest of it, assuming the blades were turning at or near flight RRPM, when it hit the water something must have been bent or broken.

Water is bound to have got in under the skins,

really ?? So you don’t think heavy rain hitting them @ 400mph might get water inside ? I also think the water would just evaporate if kept in a warm place !! I think hitting the water is probably more harmful!!

I don't think your reasoning regarding wet weather flying works here - a car will keep you plenty dry in a torrential downpour going 120kmh down the motorway but drive it slowly into a lake and you'll realise it isn't as "waterproof" as you'd think.

As for the heat-drying you mention; given how precisely designed helicopter rotor blades are, and the structural stresses they need to withstand, I have my doubts that the blades will be considered airworthy even if they manage to get them dried and re-balanced after this.

Jayzus! Glad you blokes don’t fix them.

It will be under “sudden stoppage” or similar in the AMM.

Yeah, that too....

I've had water get in 212 blades just being parked out in the rain. Don't recall it happening due to flying in rain....anyway, they're probably stuffed from the sudden stoppage.

that would be the first Bell I have seen that the whole rotor system didn't depart after a sudden stoppage

from my maintenance experience standpoint...there's alot of garbage parts on that aircraft. Blades in my opinion fit that group regardless of their appearance at the moment.
yet there's a goldmine in parts remaining that will see air time again in the future.

Looking at the hull alone it would be total loss