Brisbane Bell 47 accident; two injured
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Brisbane Bell 47 accident; two injured
Crew survives chopper nosedive
Two men are lucky to be alive after their helicopter nosedived into water near Brisbane airport just after midday.
Both men have been rushed to Royal Brisbane Hospital with spinal injuries.
Inspector John Flanagan says the men were spraying for fire ants in a privately owned helicopter when they got into trouble.
"They've lost control, some rotor problem I understand, but that'll be assessed by the aviation investigators," he said.
"They were towards the end of their run, so there was minimal fuel, minimal pesticides on the plane.
"The helicopter has just gone nose first, as I understand, into the water. It is in about five feet, roughly, of water at the moment."
Two men are lucky to be alive after their helicopter nosedived into water near Brisbane airport just after midday.
Both men have been rushed to Royal Brisbane Hospital with spinal injuries.
Inspector John Flanagan says the men were spraying for fire ants in a privately owned helicopter when they got into trouble.
"They've lost control, some rotor problem I understand, but that'll be assessed by the aviation investigators," he said.
"They were towards the end of their run, so there was minimal fuel, minimal pesticides on the plane.
"The helicopter has just gone nose first, as I understand, into the water. It is in about five feet, roughly, of water at the moment."
and
A HELICOPTER spraying for fire ants crashed near Brisbane airport today injuring two people, one seriously.
Police said the Bell 47 turbine helicopter went down shortly after midday near Schultz's Canal at Nudgee Beach.
One person was reported to have serious injuries while the second had minor injuries.
The helicopter had been spraying for fire ants when it crashed, police said.
Police said the Bell 47 turbine helicopter went down shortly after midday near Schultz's Canal at Nudgee Beach.
One person was reported to have serious injuries while the second had minor injuries.
The helicopter had been spraying for fire ants when it crashed, police said.
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B47 down BNE.
Heard on the news today.
turbine B47 crashed at BNE today whilst conducting aerial ag work near the airport. (fire ant control).
Aircraft crashed into water filled drain. 2 POB alive but suffering back injuries.
turbine B47 crashed at BNE today whilst conducting aerial ag work near the airport. (fire ant control).
Aircraft crashed into water filled drain. 2 POB alive but suffering back injuries.
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Just saw the news, reported that Mcdermot was injured in the crash.......tail rotor failure beileived to be the cause...reported pilots to be injured (obviously) but in a stable condition.........
this was a media account...this is all i know at present!!
hope all is well with the crew
belly
this was a media account...this is all i know at present!!
hope all is well with the crew
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Yes he was under instruction. I arrived into BNE from AKL that morning and was talking to Johnny Mac for about 40 mins while the 47 Soloys were going back and forth between the runways and terminals, looked cool.
Just spoke to Ian at McDermotts and apparently Johnny Mac is OK. Not sure about the other pilot.
Autorotate.
Just spoke to Ian at McDermotts and apparently Johnny Mac is OK. Not sure about the other pilot.
Autorotate.
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Just saw on the news that the crash is now a crime scene.
Possible sabotage suspected after two choppers and a fuel truck belonging to the same company were broken into.
wreckage dragged up to to be inspected for possible tampering.
Possible sabotage suspected after two choppers and a fuel truck belonging to the same company were broken into.
wreckage dragged up to to be inspected for possible tampering.
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To add to Wiz's comments:
source
Chopper crash site a crime scene
April 3, 2004
POLICE and aviation authorities were today investigating links between a helicopter crash in Brisbane yesterday and the break-in overnight of the compound which housed the aircraft.
The helicopter, owned by McDermott's Aviation on the Sunshine Coast, was spreading fire ant control baits when it plummetted 50 metres into a creek.
John McDermott, 48, and Jason Schellaars, 33, both received spinal injuries and were today recovering in hospital.
McDermotts Aviation spokesman Scott Dillon said police were called early today after two helicopters and a support vehicle were broken into and a CD player was stolen at the Nudgee compound.
A police spokeswoman said investigators were trying to determine if there was a link between the incidents.
April 3, 2004
POLICE and aviation authorities were today investigating links between a helicopter crash in Brisbane yesterday and the break-in overnight of the compound which housed the aircraft.
The helicopter, owned by McDermott's Aviation on the Sunshine Coast, was spreading fire ant control baits when it plummetted 50 metres into a creek.
John McDermott, 48, and Jason Schellaars, 33, both received spinal injuries and were today recovering in hospital.
McDermotts Aviation spokesman Scott Dillon said police were called early today after two helicopters and a support vehicle were broken into and a CD player was stolen at the Nudgee compound.
A police spokeswoman said investigators were trying to determine if there was a link between the incidents.
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Just got back to my hotel after visiting Johnny Mac in Royal Brisbane Hospital. He is doing well. They are going to operate on Wed to fuse two vertebrae together and should be out few days after that.
Comments about the sabotage is pure fantasy. The cops seemed to forget that the breakin actually occured the night after the accident so there is little chance of that being related.
John and Jason are in good spirits.
Autorotate.
Comments about the sabotage is pure fantasy. The cops seemed to forget that the breakin actually occured the night after the accident so there is little chance of that being related.
John and Jason are in good spirits.
Autorotate.
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Daily Teleegraph report
April 5, 2004
THE pilot of a helicopter that crashed into a creek in Brisbane last week says it is unlikely the aircraft was sabotaged.
John McDermott broke four vertebrae in his back and his co-pilot, Jason Schellaars, 33, suffered similar injuries when the Bell-47 helicopter crashed into Nudgee Creek near Brisbane Airport last Friday while they were dropping bait to control fire ants.
Thieves broke into McDermott Aviation's Brisbane offices on Friday night and stole radios and attempted to get into other helicopters.
But Mr McDermott said he believed it was unlikely the machine was sabotaged.
"I think it's purely coincidental that somebody was untimely enough to try to break into our other helicopters that night," he said.
Police and aviation officials said they were still investigating the cause of the crash.
Mr McDermott, 48, will undergo an operation on Wednesday to insert pins in his back after suffering a broken spine.
Mr Schellaars, whose injuries were not quite as serious, faces three months in a brace after crushing his spine.
Mr McDermott told reporters from his hospital bed today he considered he and Mr Schellaars were extremely lucky to escape after the helicopter dropped about 50m into the water.
He said he was training Mr Schellaars to drop fire ant baits when the helicopter began spinning.
"I took the controls and tried to fly out of the rotating and when it didn't want to come the way I wanted it to I just chopped the throttle and entered an autorotation.
"I didn't have any response from the tail rotor and I don't know any reason (for that) at the moment."
Mr McDermott said he had been told by doctors he should be able to start walking again soon after pins were inserted and was looking forward to returning to flying.
AAP
April 5, 2004
Chopper crash sabotage 'not likely'
THE pilot of a helicopter that crashed into a creek in Brisbane last week says it is unlikely the aircraft was sabotaged.
John McDermott broke four vertebrae in his back and his co-pilot, Jason Schellaars, 33, suffered similar injuries when the Bell-47 helicopter crashed into Nudgee Creek near Brisbane Airport last Friday while they were dropping bait to control fire ants.
Thieves broke into McDermott Aviation's Brisbane offices on Friday night and stole radios and attempted to get into other helicopters.
But Mr McDermott said he believed it was unlikely the machine was sabotaged.
"I think it's purely coincidental that somebody was untimely enough to try to break into our other helicopters that night," he said.
Police and aviation officials said they were still investigating the cause of the crash.
Mr McDermott, 48, will undergo an operation on Wednesday to insert pins in his back after suffering a broken spine.
Mr Schellaars, whose injuries were not quite as serious, faces three months in a brace after crushing his spine.
Mr McDermott told reporters from his hospital bed today he considered he and Mr Schellaars were extremely lucky to escape after the helicopter dropped about 50m into the water.
He said he was training Mr Schellaars to drop fire ant baits when the helicopter began spinning.
"I took the controls and tried to fly out of the rotating and when it didn't want to come the way I wanted it to I just chopped the throttle and entered an autorotation.
"I didn't have any response from the tail rotor and I don't know any reason (for that) at the moment."
Mr McDermott said he had been told by doctors he should be able to start walking again soon after pins were inserted and was looking forward to returning to flying.
AAP
In about 1973, the Australian army had one spear in for the same reason, pedals fitted barse-ackwards.
All was sweet with the student flying, until the instructor took over.
All was sweet with the student flying, until the instructor took over.
