ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 232023
Last updated: 22 September 2020
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| Date: | 09-JAN-2020 |
| Time: | 16:20 LT |
| Type: |  Bell-Garlick UH-1H Iroquois |
| Owner/operator: | Aerial Agriculture Pty Ltd |
| Registration: | VH-ONZ |
| C/n / msn: | 5229 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Ben Boyd Reservoir, Ben Boyd National Park, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | |
The helicopter ditched to the waters of Ben Boyd Reservoir in SE NSW during aerial firefighting operations after a reported power loss. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, escaped from the inverted helicopter with only minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the helicopter was operating with the callsign HELITACK 205.
The helicopter was subsequently recovered from the reservoir and inspected by the operator’s maintenance organisation. A borescope inspection of the engine compressor section revealed a blade failure in addition to other blade and inlet guide vane damage.
Sources:
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/pilot-of-waterbombing-helicopter-escapes-after-crash-while-fighting-nsw-bushfires
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6574015/firefighting-helicopter-crashes-into-dam-near-eden-man-taken-to-hospital/?cs=14264
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2020/aair/ao-2020-003/
https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/628682-nsw-bushfire-crash.html
The ATSB will investigate this afternoon's collision with water of a UH-1H helicopter which was conducting fire control operations near Eden on the NSW South Coast. The helicopter is reported to have ditched in a reservoir but the pilot was able to swim to the shore. https://t.co/pKaArMHQHa
— ATSB (@atsbgovau) January 9, 2020
An Australian Army Heavy Recovery Vehicle recovering a Bell UH-1H which ditched while filling up from the Ben Boyd Reservoir to fight bushfires. The pilot swam to shore.
— Andy Netherwood (@AndyNetherwood) January 12, 2020
Pic: Sgt Bill Solomou (ADF) pic.twitter.com/lLOPsvshNO
Images:
Photo of VH-ONZ courtesy AirHistory.net
Redcliffe (YRED)
30 May 2010; (c) Ian McDonell
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Jan-2020 07:47 | gerard57 | Added |
| 09-Jan-2020 08:39 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Aircraft type, Embed code, Photo] |
| 09-Jan-2020 18:52 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 09-Jan-2020 19:41 | Kardz | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Location, Source, Embed code, Damage, Narrative] |
| 09-Jan-2020 20:00 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type] |
| 09-Jan-2020 20:58 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 12-Jan-2020 15:45 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 13-Jan-2020 22:13 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 25-Jan-2020 04:49 | Geno | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Sep-2020 10:46 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Source] |
| 22-Sep-2020 10:48 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Narrative] |
| 22-Sep-2020 10:53 | Aerossurance | Updated [Narrative] |
| 22-Sep-2020 10:57 | Aerossurance | Updated [Narrative] |
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