Jervis Bay helicopter crash
 

Very little information at this point other than a radio report.

https://www.2gb.com/podcast/helicopt...vis-bay-coast/

With the report mentioning 9 patients, it suggests something larger than the training EC135's that regularly operate in the area. MarineTraffic website indicates MV Sycamore has been operating in Jervis Bay and is currently at anchor, though may not be related.

Update: CHC AW139 VH-NVE SAR heli has just made a flight from at or near HMAS Creswell to HMAS Albatross, presumably related.

It was an MRH90, the floats deployed and it remained upright.

3 Army MRH-90s were operating in the area:

A40-040 BSMN
A40-043 BSMN83
A40-008 BSMN84

A40-040 and A40-043 were scrambled just after 0900 UTC, so could be A40-008?

ABC News has produced a brief report overnight:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-...-bay/102132762

https://content.api.news/v3/images/b...1ade3a535c2f4b
Australian media sources have reported the Australian Defence Force to investigate cause of helicopter ditching near Jervis Bay, NSW, during routine counterterrorism training.

The MRH-90 Taipan fleet will be grounded while the cause of the incident is investigated. Two defence force personnel have sustained minor injuries after an army helicopter ditched into the water during routine counterterrorism training near Jervis Bay on the NSW south coast.

All 10 personnel on board the Australian Army MRH-90 Taipan multi-role helicopter were recovered from the water on Wednesday night 22 Mar ’23 and assessed at the HMAS Cresswell Naval Academy.

The Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart said the incident had the potential to end in "tragedy". "Quick responses from ADF personnel and emergency services and well drilled teams prevented a potential tragedy," Chief Stuart said.

"We will conduct a thorough investigation into this incident to determine the cause and ensure the platform remains safe to operate."

The training activity has been temporarily paused as a precaution and the MRH-90 Taipan fleet will be grounded while the cause of the incident is investigated, defence said in a statement.

"At this time defence’s priority is supporting the ADF members involved in the incident and their families," the department said. An ACT police spokeswoman said they were assisting the defence-led response to the incident in a support role after receiving a call at 2110 AEDT (UTC + 11).

With Video
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-03-...-bay/102132762

Witness report phoned in to radio station.

https://www.2gb.com/podcast/helicopt...vis-bay-coast/

One less to trade in against the UH60M.

At least this one does float. It has been a different story with the UH60M and MH-60R, that has no flotation

TV footage shows the machine as A40-025

As the UH-60 series were designed for the US Army and are ostensibly a land theatre platform, therefore not much of a need for floats, why add weight, cost and maintenance for a rarely needed option.

As for the over water H-60 variants, the crews HUET training is far, far more rigorous than say for commercial SLP, as such, the operators consider the risk/benefit analysis is for a ‘no floats’ requirement.

Are you an airline accountant in real life Hilife?

Not many people have a lot of nice things to say about the Taipan, but those floats may have saved 10 lives. Priceless and worth every cent.

The Chinook has no floats either, but is regularly embarked. Risk is managed every day within the military.

Risk Managed? Perhaps accepted is a more pertinent term? Let us not forget that the Chinook actually floats when upright.

Tipping the families of those killed in the 2006 Blackhawk crash, wish that the Australian Military
managed the risk with floats back then.

Nov 2006 event was pretty dynamic, floats may not have made a difference, the machine was breaking up prior to water entry. Not having them guarantees they don't help.

If you want to operate over the water, heavy and below MinSELF - having floats is a no-brainer. MCT Ops certainly fit that profile.

Hoping it won't happen is not risk-mitigation.

Yes sir!

But making the crew learn how to swim, is?
And don't forget to tell somebody to grab the life raft on the way out.

At sim training once:
The dreaded dark night IMC over unknown terrain dual engine failure.
Debrief : Instructor” You guys armed the floats. Why did you do that?”
Us: “Because in Canada, where we operate, the chances of ending up in a lake, pond, river or swamp vs on solid ground are about 50/50.”
Instructor: “Good idea!”
Some folks think “ditching” only when over the ocean. Heck you may end up in the local sewage settling pond…doesn’t hurt to have the floats armed. Gaining VMC at 100 feet over a lake it is probably going to be too late to arm the floats.