ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 122179
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| Date: | Monday 9 May 2011 |
| Time: | 14:40 LT |
| Type: |  Robinson R22 Beta II |
| Owner/operator: | Versatile Helicopter Services Pty. Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-DSD |
| MSN: | 2638 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1996 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 83 Km NW of Julia Creek, QLD -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Dalgonally Station Homestead, 75 km NW of Julia Creek, Queensland |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
Per initial report from Queensland Police (via the Facebook page): "Initial reports suggest the crash involving a rotary aircraft occurred on private property via the Sedan Dip Road just after 2.30 this afternoon. The pilot, who was conducting mustering operations, died at the scene."
The official ATSB report concluded: "On 9 May 2011, the pilot of a Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Beta II helicopter, registered VH-DSD, was conducting mustering operations 83 km north-west of Julia Creek, Queensland. The helicopter was operating in close proximity to the ground when drive to the rotor system was lost resulting in a high rate of descent at the point of impact. The pilot was fatally injured.
The ATSB found that the two v-belts that transfer torque from the engine to the rotor system had failed. The damage to the forward v-belt indicated that it had partially dislodged from the drive sheave, resulting in significant damage to the belt. At some point the v-belt fragmented, compromising the redundancy of the belt-drive system. Once the rear v-belt failed, all drive to the rotors was lost.
As a result of the drive failure and operating conditions at the time, the pilot was faced with the need to conduct an autorotative landing from a low altitude and at minimal speed. As a consequence, there was limited time for the pilot to recognise the condition, respond accordingly, and for the autorotation to develop. This situation resulted in a high rate of descent at the point of impact."
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=186885988026088 [Queensland Police Facebook Page]
2. http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2011/aair/ao-2011-060.aspx
3. http://www.australianflying.com.au/news/atsb-warns-robinson-r22-operators-on-drive-belt-risks
4. http://www.atsb.gov.au/media/4052488/ao2011060_final.pdf
5. http://helihub.com/2011/05/09/09-may-11-vh-dsd-robinson-r22-julia-creek-australia-1f/
6. http://www.atsb.gov.au/newsroom/2011/201117.aspx [ATSB Press Release on the accident 6 July 2011]
7. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-05-10/probe-begins-into-fatal-chopper-crash/2713820
8. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/one-dead-in-air-crash-at-rural-property/story-e6freoof-1226052826719
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-May-2011 07:59 | gerard57 | Added |
| 10-May-2011 01:20 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Other fatalities, Phase, Damage, Narrative, Plane category, ] |
| 22-Apr-2014 21:59 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Apr-2014 22:01 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source] |
| 28-Mar-2019 21:03 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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