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Squirrel Crash Kills Aussie Pilot

What: Eurocopter AS 350B2 Ecureuil
Where: 36km south of Manus Island, Papua New Guinea
When: Feb 13, 2011
Who: Pilot Mal Smith
Why: While flying from the Eastern Highlands centre of Goroka to Manus for mining contractors, Australian Sunshine Coast helicopter pilot Lloyd Lester suffered engine failure in a Eurocopter AS350 P2-PHL Ecureuil, and crashed into the Bismarck sea en route to Manus Island. Eyewitnesses report indicate that the engine lost power, started up and lost power again.

Pacific Helicopters owner, Mal Smith (who is also Eastern Highlands Province governor) said some of the wreckage was found, but not the engine or Mr Lester. He was hopeful he would be found alive, but three helicopters and two planes searched an area 24 kilometres to the west and 70 kilometres to south of Baluan Island and Mr Lester was not found. Nearby islands are being searched in case he made it to shore.

Lester is from Papua New Guinea

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    Read More…

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