Pilot killed in crash in the Central West NSW, Australia
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Pilot killed in crash in the Central West NSW, Australia
ABC news:
"A helicopter has crashed in the central west of New South Wales killing its pilot.
Police say the pilot was the only person in the aircraft.
The crash happened at Mt Dapper just outside of Gulgong.
It appears that the helicopter also caught fire.
Transport Safety Bureau officials will begin investigating the crash tomorrow morning."
"A helicopter has crashed in the central west of New South Wales killing its pilot.
Police say the pilot was the only person in the aircraft.
The crash happened at Mt Dapper just outside of Gulgong.
It appears that the helicopter also caught fire.
Transport Safety Bureau officials will begin investigating the crash tomorrow morning."
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apparently the pilot had just obtained his ticket, i was told it was last frday but it might have been searlier as he would have had to wait for the licence to arrive before flying. he may have hit a wire.
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Pilot was a very quiet and friendly man
Yes, it was night, and yes, he apparently collected a wire. But he was an extremely amiable, friendly guy who didn't deserve to go the way he did. May he rest in peace.
He had been licensed a few weeks. Not licensed last Friday. (Not that it matters anymore.)
He had been licensed a few weeks. Not licensed last Friday. (Not that it matters anymore.)
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Very sad indeed
Man dies in NSW chopper crash
Monday Jan 23 07:36 AEDT
A man was killed when his helicopter clipped overhead power lines before crashing and bursting into flames in central-western NSW.
The chopper came down at a Cobborah property, 28 km north-west of Gulgong, about 8pm (AEDT) on Sunday, a police spokeswoman said.
Initial investigations indicated it may have clipped power lines before going down.
Fire crews were called to the property, on Laheys Creek Rd, to put out a grass fire started by the crash.
The man, believed to the sole occupant of the aircraft, had not yet been identified.
His body was badly burnt in the accident, the spokeswoman said.
Air Transport Safety Bureau investigators would be at the site on Monday.
İAAP 2006 LATEST NEWS
Monday Jan 23 07:36 AEDT
A man was killed when his helicopter clipped overhead power lines before crashing and bursting into flames in central-western NSW.
The chopper came down at a Cobborah property, 28 km north-west of Gulgong, about 8pm (AEDT) on Sunday, a police spokeswoman said.
Initial investigations indicated it may have clipped power lines before going down.
Fire crews were called to the property, on Laheys Creek Rd, to put out a grass fire started by the crash.
The man, believed to the sole occupant of the aircraft, had not yet been identified.
His body was badly burnt in the accident, the spokeswoman said.
Air Transport Safety Bureau investigators would be at the site on Monday.
İAAP 2006 LATEST NEWS
PPRuNe Time
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ATSB Final Report
On 26 January 2006, at approximately 1930 Eastern Daylight-saving Time, the pilot of a Brantly International Inc B-2B helicopter, registered VH-FBE, departed Mount Dapper property near Gulgong, NSW, on a private flight to gain further experience on the helicopter.
After approximately 15 minutes, the helicopter was observed to commence a slow descent. An observer at the property homestead became concerned that the projected flight path may lead the helicopter to collide with the powerlines crossing the property. The observer reported seeing the helicopter contacting the powerlines, tumbling in the air and crashing to the ground. The helicopter was engulfed by fire and destroyed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured.
Figure 1: The accident site [photograph is in the ATSB Report at the website address indicated below]
Note: The powerlines post is visible at the right corner of the photo. The powerlines extended to the left, almost overhead of the wreckage.
The investigation did not find evidence of any pre-existing condition that would have contributed to the accident. All of the helicopter and its systems were accounted for at the accident site. All damage and the separation of parts of the helicopter were consistent with the onset of excessive loads experienced during impact with the wire and ground.
The helicopter had recorded 170.1 hours in service at the time of the accident. It had flown approximately 65.7 hours since the last periodic inspection completed in November 2005.
The pilot was qualified on the type and approved for low flying. He held a valid medical certificate. At the time of the accident he had accumulated a total of approximately 184 hours.
It was reported that the sky was clear, temperatures in the high twenties with a light and variable south-easterly breeze.
The observer reported that the powerlines had been on the property for a long time and their location was known by the pilot. The pilot had other power lines on the property marked with red coloured markers and had purchased two similar markers with the intention of having them fitted to the powerlines involved in the accident.
It is likely that the pilot became preoccupied with the operation of the helicopter and either forgot that there were powerlines in the area or did not see the powerlines.
After approximately 15 minutes, the helicopter was observed to commence a slow descent. An observer at the property homestead became concerned that the projected flight path may lead the helicopter to collide with the powerlines crossing the property. The observer reported seeing the helicopter contacting the powerlines, tumbling in the air and crashing to the ground. The helicopter was engulfed by fire and destroyed. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured.
Figure 1: The accident site [photograph is in the ATSB Report at the website address indicated below]
Note: The powerlines post is visible at the right corner of the photo. The powerlines extended to the left, almost overhead of the wreckage.
The investigation did not find evidence of any pre-existing condition that would have contributed to the accident. All of the helicopter and its systems were accounted for at the accident site. All damage and the separation of parts of the helicopter were consistent with the onset of excessive loads experienced during impact with the wire and ground.
The helicopter had recorded 170.1 hours in service at the time of the accident. It had flown approximately 65.7 hours since the last periodic inspection completed in November 2005.
The pilot was qualified on the type and approved for low flying. He held a valid medical certificate. At the time of the accident he had accumulated a total of approximately 184 hours.
It was reported that the sky was clear, temperatures in the high twenties with a light and variable south-easterly breeze.
The observer reported that the powerlines had been on the property for a long time and their location was known by the pilot. The pilot had other power lines on the property marked with red coloured markers and had purchased two similar markers with the intention of having them fitted to the powerlines involved in the accident.
It is likely that the pilot became preoccupied with the operation of the helicopter and either forgot that there were powerlines in the area or did not see the powerlines.
According to Airservices:
Location: MUDGEE (YMDG)
Date: 26-Jan-2006
First-light: 1852 UTC
Last-light: 0935 UTC
As EDT is plus 11, that makes last light at 2035, more than one hour after the accident.
No mention from the sketchy ATSB report of direction of travel re setting sun and attendant viz issues, or direction of travel V backgound colours and light levels. Wires on a wheat stubble backgound lit by a yellow setting sun are almost impossible to see.
RIP.
Location: MUDGEE (YMDG)
Date: 26-Jan-2006
First-light: 1852 UTC
Last-light: 0935 UTC
As EDT is plus 11, that makes last light at 2035, more than one hour after the accident.
No mention from the sketchy ATSB report of direction of travel re setting sun and attendant viz issues, or direction of travel V backgound colours and light levels. Wires on a wheat stubble backgound lit by a yellow setting sun are almost impossible to see.
RIP.
