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Filmmakers Lost in Aussie Chopper Accident

What: Bankstown Helicopter Pty. Ltd. Robinson R44 Raven II
Where: Jaspers Brush Airfield, Berry, NSW, Australia
When: Feb 2, 2012, 3:55 pm
Who: 2 aboard
Why: Taking off, the helicopter was carrying two men scouting locations for a Jervis Bay documentary when the Robinson crashed and caught the field on fire.

Andrew Wight, The fifty year old pilot was from Melbourne, writer-producer of the 3D movie “Sanctum” based on Wight’s near-death experience in an underwater cave.

Mike DeGruy, 60, of Santa Barbara, California, won multiple Emmy and British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA, awards for cinematography. He was a specialist in underwater photography.

Four ATSB investigators will be investigating.

A Rural Fire Service (RFS) responded. The cabin of the chopper burned, and sparked a brush fire.

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    IMPROPER MAINTENANCE LED TO Vegas AIR TOUR HELICOPTER CRASH

    What is it that I’ve always said? Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance.

    Looks like the NTSB Findings agree with me! See their report below about a helicopter crash in December 7, 2011, that occurred in my home away from home, Las Vegas Nevada.

    PRELIMINARY REPORT
    On December 7 at 4:30 Pacific Standard Time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2, operated by Sundance Helicopters as flight Landmark 57, crashed in mountainous terrain approximately 14 miles east of Las Vegas. The flight, a sightseeing tour, departed Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) en-route to the Hoover Dam area was operating under visual flight rules. The helicopter impacted in a narrow ravine in mountainous terrain between the cities of Henderson and Lake Mead. The pilot and four passengers were fatally injured.

    The National Transportation Safety Board determined today (Jan. 29, 2013) that the probable cause of the Dec. 7, 2011, air tour helicopter crash near Las Vegas, Nev., was inadequate maintenance, including degraded material, improper installation, and inadequate inspections.

    “This investigation is a potent reminder that what happens in the maintenance hangar is just as important for safety as what happens in the air,” said NTSB Chairman Deborah A. P. Hersman.

    At about 4:30 p.m. Pacific standard time, a Sundance Helicopters Eurocopter AS350, operating as a “Twilight City Tour” sightseeing trip, crashed in mountainous terrain about 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nev. The helicopter originated from Las Vegas McCarran International Airport at about 4:21 p.m. with a planned route to the Hoover Dam area and then return to the airport. The accident occurred after a critical flight control unit separated from another, rendering the helicopter uncontrollable. After the part separated, the helicopter climbed about 600 feet, turned about 90 degrees to the left, descended about 800 feet, began a left turn, and then descended at a rate of at least 2,500 feet per minute to impact. The pilot and four passengers were killed and the helicopter was destroyed.

    The NTSB found that the crash was the result of Sundance Helicopters’ improper reuse of a degraded self-locking nut in the servo control input rod and the improper or non-use of a split pin to secure the degraded nut, in addition to an inadequate post-maintenance inspection.

    Contributing to the improper (or lack of) split pin installation was the mechanic’s fatigue and lack of clearly delineated steps to follow on a “work card” or “checklist” The inspector’s fatigue and lack of a work card or checklist clearly laying out the inspection steps to follow contributed to an inadequate post-maintenance inspection. As a result of this investigation the NTSB made, reiterated and reclassified recommendations to the Federal Aviation Administration.
    “One of the critical lines of defense to help prevent tragedies like this crash is improved maintenance documentation through clear work cards, or checklists,” Hersman said. “Checklists are not rocket science, but they can have astronomical benefits.”

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    Washington National: Act III

    Click to reveal audio window

    You’ve heard about Act I, the American Airlines Boeing, which landed without the benefit of ATC guidance at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

    You’ve heard about Act II, the United Airlines Airbus, which also landed without benefit of ATC guidance.

    So why was the tower offline? Simple. The controller apparently fell asleep on duty. The supervisor was on duty alone that night

    It is interesting and perhaps significant to note that the media is much more alarmed about this than most pilots seem to be. The midnight shift at many airports has minimal traffic and there is only one air traffic controller on duty. As was the case at Reagan National, Pilots have access to other air traffic towers. When failing to raise National, the two planes that landed on Wednesday contacted a nearby Warrenton Tower.

    The controller is not a beginner. He’s been on the job at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport for 17 years. This was his 4th successive night on the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m shift. There’s no denying that he should not have fallen asleep, or that there should have been two controllers there. But there are some factors to consider.

    • The accident would have been a whole lot worse if there had not been established protocols for dealing with an airport deemed “uncontrolled.”
    • The first crew designated an advisory frequency. (Emergency procedures.)
    • The second flight crew was aware of the problem, having been informed via that frequency about the silent tower.
    • Washington noise abatement prevents all but a few midnight flights.

    Yes it was a bad situation, but it could have been worse. It’s a good thing there were fall back procedures for the pilots to rely on. At least they never lost radar. And pilots are trained to land without ATC guidance, just in case something like this happens. And, after all, there are airports like Casa Grande, Arizona which are unmonitored and uncontrolled. Listen to the pilots in the audio below. They don’t sound at all stressed by the situation.

    There are consequences that will be far reaching. A minimum of two controllers is going to be mandatory. The controller who fell asleep has been suspended and will be handled according to procedures in the Human Resource Policy Manual.

    But there may be more to come after this. Policy changes, perhaps a lawsuit, perhaps even criminal charges.Or perhaps only retraining for the controller. Time will tell. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has ordered two controllers on the midnight shift at National.

    Airport ATC Audio

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    Helicopter Crash Kills Pilot

    What: two-seater Robinson R22
    Where: Game reserve outside Port Alfred, Kariega Park Game Reserve situated between Kenton-on-Sea and Port Alfred
    When: 11am
    Who:
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    View Kariega in a larger map
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    Cessna Crash Lands on Pompano Beach Street, Pilots Walk Away

    What: ATA Flight School Cessna
    Where: Pompano Beach Air Park
    When: November 1, 2011 reported at 5:52 pm
    Who: 2 aboard, 2 survivors
    Why: A 27 year old instructor Vincent Paul Citrullo and 42 year old student pilot David Bakalar survived a crash at the intersection of Northeast 10th Street and Fifth Avenue in Pompano Beach Florida.

    The crash occurred during a ATA Flight School (Pembroke Pines) training flight while the student pilot was flying and losing altitude due to engine trouble. The instructor took the controls, and the plane struck a palm tree and a concrete pole, landing shy of Pompano Beach Air Park. Both were taken to North Broward Medical Center.

    Two fire trucks used foam on spilled fuel.

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    Parachuted Pilot Missing near Milton FL


    What: PA46
    Where: Milton Florida
    When: 01/12/2009
    Who: 1 person
    Why: After the pilot reported an in flight emergency, the piper crashed into a swampy area 1 mile from Milton FL. The pilot parachuted out but has not yet been found

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    Small Plane Crashes into Residential Suburb in Brazil

    A small plane crashed into homes in a suburban area of Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 19.

    The aircraft took off from Campo de Marte Airport and ploughed into the homes shortly after.

    All seven people aboard the plane were killed in the crash.

    The cause of the crash has not been reported yet.

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