Pilot missing as helicopter plunges into Yarra River
December 29, 2007 08:01pm
By Julie Tullberg
News.com.au: http://use.net.au/?aXzc6

From this article, the journo quotes 'Mr Hall' as saying that "Jason saw a
light on the dashboard, possibly an oil engine light, which prompted him
to abandon the cockpit as soon as it crashed."

My question: what sort of light would require an immediate evacuation from
the aircraft? I'm confused.

Brian.

---------------------------

A PILOT is feared dead and a co-pilot has been rescued after their
helicopter crashed into the Yarra River at Port Melbourne.

Jay Hall, a Leisure Boating Club Melbourne maintenance engineer, rescued
the co-pilot, who's first name is Jason and who was struggling in the
water after being injured in the high-impact crash near the Pier 35 marina
about 6.30pm (AEDT) today.

The pilot was believed to be still in the cockpit, submerged under water.

"Brian" wrote in message news:fl5col$8im$1@aioe.org...

I suspect the warning light had little to do with the decision to evacuate..
The fact that it had already crashed, and was sitting in the water would be
enough for me.

Brian wrote:

Hmmm. I suspect that the passenger probably "abandon[ed] the cockpit as
soon as it crashed" because the machine was (likely) filling up with water
and sinking, and it probably had very little to do with any encouragement
received from a little light on the panel.

nospam@usenet.fake (Marty) wrote in news:fl5e45$cpr$1@aioe.org:

Brian wrote:

More likely that he survived as it would depend on which direction the
helicopter rolled. As a guess the pilot was trapped on the lower side in
this incident.

Brian wrote:

Me too! Additionally, from your correct conclusion/question, what sort
of "co-pilot" was it that didn't know what the warning light was?

The publication of the make and type of helo would have been a helpful clue.

My sympathies....... too much loss of life lately.

veritas wrote:

Oh really?

Ned wrote:

Probably justified too.

http://flightplanning.com/aus/?rego=ZON

Probably correct. The aircraft is the only one registered to The
Sponsorship Unit Pty Ltd, although I believe Aussie Copters (also owned by
Mr Gerald) operated a larger number of machines. A news report I read said
it was a black chopper which matches ZON's description (Airliners.net:
http://use.net.au/?4z3zZ )

"Craig Welch" pacific.net.sg> wrote in message
news:t1hen3thudm38p897n1vv1n2c83gbej5vb@4ax.com...

Kwyjibo wrote:

Even with the lower inertia blades, I don't think that they're an unsafe
aircraft... maybe 'unforgiving' is a better word. The whole inertia issue
does put a massive emphasis on correct training and piloting techniques
but I don't think that they're "unsafe".

In an R22, the pilot has no more than 1.2 seconds to take appropriate
action after an engine failure before the aircraft cannot be recovered -
slightly longer for the R44. Lowering the collective, applying throttle
and loading the disk *has to be* a reflex action.