York man died in helicopter crash after pilot became disoriented in storm
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/1113...nted_in_storm/
Sav's Rant:
"A diamond mining troubleshooter from York died in a helicopter crash in Africa when the pilot flew into the ground while trying to fly through a thunderstorm in the dark, an inquest heard."
Anyone who's been in the helicopter industry for more than a decade will most likely know someone, or know of someone, who's been caught-out by poor weather, in some cases with catastrophic consequences.
When I was introduced to the helicopter industry in the 1970's, bad weather was one of the 'top killers' among single-pilot VFR helicopter operations. 40 years on little has changed.
Its been discussed on fora elsewhere - and I can only repeat what I've said before many times; Don't fight with weather because if you do, and if you keep doing it, it will most likely kill you!
Let me also say .. that even with the advances in cockpit technology over recent decades, single-pilot IFR in poor weather in a helicopter is still a risky business. I will go further and say that I believe that the only effective means of mitigating risk levels while flying IFR in poor weather in a helicopter seem to be those which are achieved when the flight is conducted in a twin-engine helicopter with full CAT-A performance, crewed by a professionally trained two-pilot crew (ie. not just two pilots flying together) who regularly fly IFR in poor or marginal weather. Anything less than this is, in my opinion, to put yourself and your passengers at risk.
What am I saying? That one shouldn't fly SPIFR? No I am not saying that. SPIFR in a capable twin (one with the performance to climb out of a 'mess' should you get into one) on a clear night or with scattered cloud shouldn't be a problem for most instrument rated pilots but .. flying SPIFR in deteriorating weather and the statistics show that pilots (especially those who don't get the chance to fly IFR regularly) often find themselves becoming uncomfortable and/or disoriented.
At this year's Heli-Expo, HAI President Matt Zuccaro launched the HAI's 'Land and Live' initiative:
"Zuccaro got the idea for the initiative after reading several accident reports that he felt could have been prevented had the pilot made a precautionary landing. The initiative aims to eliminate the excuses pilots make for pressing on despite such safety inhibitors as bad weather, maintenance issues or lack of fuel, even though helicopters can quickly and safely land on nearly any surface. Zuccaro spoke with law enforcement representatives, FAA enforcers and helicopter operators, all of whom strongly supported the idea — a fact Zuccaro hopes will eliminate pilots' fear of getting into trouble for landing where they had not initially planned to land."
I wholly support this approach .. and also the one where the pilot says: "I'm sorry but we can't fly now, the conditions just aren't good enough" and where the flight never leaves the ground!
There is nothing more tragic than attending a crash site, sometimes just hours after an accident, when the weather has significantly improved and saying to yourself (as I have done) "If only he had waited just a couple of hours."
So please .. to anyone reading this .. single pilot in bad weather, as a general rule .. STEER CLEAR!
A diamond mining troubleshooter, from York in the United Kingdom, died in a helicopter crash in Africa when the pilot flew into the ground while trying to fly through a thunderstorm in the dark, an inquest heard.
Guy Summerfield, from Osbaldwick Lane, Kevin Ayre, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, and two other passengers were killed instantly along with their South African pilot who had become "disorientated".
The two-helicopter team was returning from checking the site of a fatal road accident involving a truck delivering drilling supplies to a site in Angola four days earlier in November 2007, an inquest heard this week.
Mr Ayre, 50, and Mr Summerfield, 36, were operations managers in a joint venture organisation. Their flight home was initially delayed by heavy rain but it was then decided to take off despite a warning a storm was on the way, the hearing at New Earswick Folk Hall on Tuesday was told.
Both Eurocopter Squirrel helicopters were forced to land 30 minutes after sundown because of the bad weather, it was said.
The aircraft had been in operation in Angola for four days. The airframes were one and a half years old - relatively new, the hearing was told.
But both pilot were trained for night flying and the weather started to clear. So a decision was made to press on to the team's base camp. But shortly after take off, all contact was lost with the doomed Eurocopter.
The surviving one returned to an agreed emergency rendezvous point to wait for the missing helicopter to reappear, but the wreckage was found in a nearby clearing along with the bodies of all on board.
Also killed were Australian David Hopgood, Chief Operating Officer for the mining company, the South African pilot Kottie Breedt and Namibian drilling expert Louwrens Prinsloo.
An investigation by the Angolan authorities revealed the cause of the crash was "pilot spatial disorientation".
This was due to "bad weather, night flying and unfamiliar terrain"according to York Coroner Donald Coverdale.
He said the 112-page file on the crash told "a story of tragedy in Angola".
Recording verdicts of accidental deaths from multiple injuries on both victims, he added: "In all the circumstances, what has happened here was just a tragic accident. Attempts to get any further information have proved fruitless."
The hearing was told the diamond hunt in Angola - which was called off following the tragedy - involved a number of firms working for mining giant BHP Billiton.
Mr Coverdale said the investigation of deaths abroad was always difficult for a coroner. He said he would ideally have liked a report on the state of the helicopter but he could not compel its production.
Widow Elaine Ayre said her husband was a fit and healthy man who had worked all over Africa for 20 years.
Mr Summerfield's widow Rachel had flown to South Africa to collect her husband's remains but had not responded to attempts by the coroner to contact her about the inquest.
Guy Summerfield, from Osbaldwick Lane, Kevin Ayre, from Leigh in Greater Manchester, and two other passengers were killed instantly along with their South African pilot who had become "disorientated".
The two-helicopter team was returning from checking the site of a fatal road accident involving a truck delivering drilling supplies to a site in Angola four days earlier in November 2007, an inquest heard this week.
Mr Ayre, 50, and Mr Summerfield, 36, were operations managers in a joint venture organisation. Their flight home was initially delayed by heavy rain but it was then decided to take off despite a warning a storm was on the way, the hearing at New Earswick Folk Hall on Tuesday was told.
Both Eurocopter Squirrel helicopters were forced to land 30 minutes after sundown because of the bad weather, it was said.
The aircraft had been in operation in Angola for four days. The airframes were one and a half years old - relatively new, the hearing was told.
But both pilot were trained for night flying and the weather started to clear. So a decision was made to press on to the team's base camp. But shortly after take off, all contact was lost with the doomed Eurocopter.
The surviving one returned to an agreed emergency rendezvous point to wait for the missing helicopter to reappear, but the wreckage was found in a nearby clearing along with the bodies of all on board.
Also killed were Australian David Hopgood, Chief Operating Officer for the mining company, the South African pilot Kottie Breedt and Namibian drilling expert Louwrens Prinsloo.
An investigation by the Angolan authorities revealed the cause of the crash was "pilot spatial disorientation".
This was due to "bad weather, night flying and unfamiliar terrain"according to York Coroner Donald Coverdale.
He said the 112-page file on the crash told "a story of tragedy in Angola".
Recording verdicts of accidental deaths from multiple injuries on both victims, he added: "In all the circumstances, what has happened here was just a tragic accident. Attempts to get any further information have proved fruitless."
The hearing was told the diamond hunt in Angola - which was called off following the tragedy - involved a number of firms working for mining giant BHP Billiton.
Mr Coverdale said the investigation of deaths abroad was always difficult for a coroner. He said he would ideally have liked a report on the state of the helicopter but he could not compel its production.
Widow Elaine Ayre said her husband was a fit and healthy man who had worked all over Africa for 20 years.
Mr Summerfield's widow Rachel had flown to South Africa to collect her husband's remains but had not responded to attempts by the coroner to contact her about the inquest.
Sav's Rant:
"A diamond mining troubleshooter from York died in a helicopter crash in Africa when the pilot flew into the ground while trying to fly through a thunderstorm in the dark, an inquest heard."
Anyone who's been in the helicopter industry for more than a decade will most likely know someone, or know of someone, who's been caught-out by poor weather, in some cases with catastrophic consequences.
When I was introduced to the helicopter industry in the 1970's, bad weather was one of the 'top killers' among single-pilot VFR helicopter operations. 40 years on little has changed.
Its been discussed on fora elsewhere - and I can only repeat what I've said before many times; Don't fight with weather because if you do, and if you keep doing it, it will most likely kill you!
Let me also say .. that even with the advances in cockpit technology over recent decades, single-pilot IFR in poor weather in a helicopter is still a risky business. I will go further and say that I believe that the only effective means of mitigating risk levels while flying IFR in poor weather in a helicopter seem to be those which are achieved when the flight is conducted in a twin-engine helicopter with full CAT-A performance, crewed by a professionally trained two-pilot crew (ie. not just two pilots flying together) who regularly fly IFR in poor or marginal weather. Anything less than this is, in my opinion, to put yourself and your passengers at risk.
What am I saying? That one shouldn't fly SPIFR? No I am not saying that. SPIFR in a capable twin (one with the performance to climb out of a 'mess' should you get into one) on a clear night or with scattered cloud shouldn't be a problem for most instrument rated pilots but .. flying SPIFR in deteriorating weather and the statistics show that pilots (especially those who don't get the chance to fly IFR regularly) often find themselves becoming uncomfortable and/or disoriented.
At this year's Heli-Expo, HAI President Matt Zuccaro launched the HAI's 'Land and Live' initiative:
"Zuccaro got the idea for the initiative after reading several accident reports that he felt could have been prevented had the pilot made a precautionary landing. The initiative aims to eliminate the excuses pilots make for pressing on despite such safety inhibitors as bad weather, maintenance issues or lack of fuel, even though helicopters can quickly and safely land on nearly any surface. Zuccaro spoke with law enforcement representatives, FAA enforcers and helicopter operators, all of whom strongly supported the idea — a fact Zuccaro hopes will eliminate pilots' fear of getting into trouble for landing where they had not initially planned to land."
I wholly support this approach .. and also the one where the pilot says: "I'm sorry but we can't fly now, the conditions just aren't good enough" and where the flight never leaves the ground!
There is nothing more tragic than attending a crash site, sometimes just hours after an accident, when the weather has significantly improved and saying to yourself (as I have done) "If only he had waited just a couple of hours."
So please .. to anyone reading this .. single pilot in bad weather, as a general rule .. STEER CLEAR!
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