Helicopter crash near Sydney 22 July 2011
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The Webtrack shows a dramatic increase in altitude just before the tracking finishes: having maintained c.900ft from the Parramatta, readout increases to >1600ft. Climb to altitude, inadvertent IMC followed by loss of control?
Over on D & G, this is a disturbing post:
Over on D & G, this is a disturbing post:
Didn't know either of those involved, but my sympathy to their families.
I was listening to this on area freq as I went overhead shortly afterwards. The rescue chopper was attempting to get overhead to winch a medic down to check if there were any survivors. He had to ask the 4 media choppers over the scence repeatedly - more than 3 times - to move clear of the site so they could safely get in; Wx conditions were very poor.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
I was listening to this on area freq as I went overhead shortly afterwards. The rescue chopper was attempting to get overhead to winch a medic down to check if there were any survivors. He had to ask the 4 media choppers over the scence repeatedly - more than 3 times - to move clear of the site so they could safely get in; Wx conditions were very poor.
I know the media drivers have a job to do, but to deliberately obstruct rescue attempts (fatalities had not been confiremd at this stage) is very poor form. They are fellow aviator's lives you could have been jeopardising!! The rescue pilot made it clear he could not get in for a winch while visually separating from so many other aircraft in marginal visibilty. He asked you repeatedly to clear the area over and to the south but you ignored this and ATC requests. Very unprofessional and callous. I won't list callsigns but I hope you are ashamed of yourselves - I was disgusted.
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Squeaks - very dramatic increase in altitude just prior to the accident. I wonder if the 'something seen to fly off the back of the helicopter' was a component failing due to design tolerances exceeded?
Tragic.
Tragic.
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An eyewitness report stated that the aircraft was inverted when a part was seen to fall off....
Underslung teetering rotor heads as are fitted to the Bell 206 series are very unstable when unloaded or upside down, If the aircraft became inverted the main rotor blades would have cut off the tailboom just behind the horizontal stabiliser.
This would have been the part seen to have "fallen off" the aircraft.
Heard today from people on the ground .... the tail rotor and vertical fin assembly were located around 50-100 metres from the main impact site.......
Underslung teetering rotor heads as are fitted to the Bell 206 series are very unstable when unloaded or upside down, If the aircraft became inverted the main rotor blades would have cut off the tailboom just behind the horizontal stabiliser.
This would have been the part seen to have "fallen off" the aircraft.
Heard today from people on the ground .... the tail rotor and vertical fin assembly were located around 50-100 metres from the main impact site.......
Was the tail rotor and gear box still attached to the fin structure?
I suspect there is more to this than inadvertent IMC, and that a mechanical failure of some sort is involved... The reason I say that is Colin had enough PNG exposure at dealing with bad weather to be able to manage keeping visual reference with the ground...
I suspect there is more to this than inadvertent IMC, and that a mechanical failure of some sort is involved... The reason I say that is Colin had enough PNG exposure at dealing with bad weather to be able to manage keeping visual reference with the ground...
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Disturbing post
Don't believe hearsay reports that sling mud at fellow pilots.
I was there that sad day and the media pilots actually vacated the area and guided the Rescue Helicopter in to the site. They then stayed clear until the Rescue Helicopter left the area and were thanked for their help by the Rescue helicopter pilot.
Avid Aviator may have missed a lot of this conversation as it was on 120.8 and not 125.8. I bet he didn't check his facts by ringing the Rescue Helicopter or Polair before posting his bile.
I find it shameful and disturbing that another pilot would smear reputations and goodwill of fellow pilots so easily and not even on the correct facts.
Col was a great bloke and a respected pilot and will be sadly missed by the Sydney helicopter community.
I was there that sad day and the media pilots actually vacated the area and guided the Rescue Helicopter in to the site. They then stayed clear until the Rescue Helicopter left the area and were thanked for their help by the Rescue helicopter pilot.
Avid Aviator may have missed a lot of this conversation as it was on 120.8 and not 125.8. I bet he didn't check his facts by ringing the Rescue Helicopter or Polair before posting his bile.
I find it shameful and disturbing that another pilot would smear reputations and goodwill of fellow pilots so easily and not even on the correct facts.
Col was a great bloke and a respected pilot and will be sadly missed by the Sydney helicopter community.
I think ATSB will work this one out pretty quickly whatever the cause.
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Col'n would find this the ultimate irony.
Bouncing a machine at low level in Australia.
Gullibell
Your assessment of Col'n is correct, he was flying in the most appalling weather out of Bulola when I last spoke to him.
Having seen a couple of his missives about the maintenance on his machine, I have no doubt about his professionalism and ability to fly a Long Ranger.
RIP Col'n
Bouncing a machine at low level in Australia.
Gullibell
Your assessment of Col'n is correct, he was flying in the most appalling weather out of Bulola when I last spoke to him.
Having seen a couple of his missives about the maintenance on his machine, I have no doubt about his professionalism and ability to fly a Long Ranger.
RIP Col'n
The ATSB Report is now available, confirming that the tail boom was severed in flight 
Link to Google Earth image from the report.
Accident site assessment
Analysis of the wreckage distribution and key components has indicated that a section of the helicopter's tail boom had separated in flight, after multiple main rotor blade strikes. The loss of the tail boom section was consistent with its location 50 meters to the south of the main wreckage (Figure 1) and also consistent with witness reports of the event. There was evidence that power was being delivered to the main rotor blades until the helicopter impacted the terrain. Examination of the flight control system did not reveal any preliminary indications of a contributory failure or pre-existing condition that would have led to the separation of the tail boom section.
Analysis of the wreckage distribution and key components has indicated that a section of the helicopter's tail boom had separated in flight, after multiple main rotor blade strikes. The loss of the tail boom section was consistent with its location 50 meters to the south of the main wreckage (Figure 1) and also consistent with witness reports of the event. There was evidence that power was being delivered to the main rotor blades until the helicopter impacted the terrain. Examination of the flight control system did not reveal any preliminary indications of a contributory failure or pre-existing condition that would have led to the separation of the tail boom section.
