Victoria emergency management commissioner Andrew Crisp says the crash of an Erickson Aircrane helicopter while fighting bushfires has led to the type being grounded across Australia while the cause of the accident is investigated.
The move follows an incident involving Helitak 341 N173AC that ended up in a dam in Gippsland in eastern Victoria on Monday, January 28.
Crisp told ABC Radio Melbourne the two Aircranes in NSW, one in South Australia and one in Western Australia, as well as Victoria’s second Aircrane, would remain on the ground until further notice.
“At this stage the Aircranes in those other jurisdictions and our other one will not fly until we get assurances from Kestrel and Erickson,” Commissioner Crisp told the ABC on Tuesday.
The two pilots and one engineer on board the aircraft survived the incident, the state government’s VicEmergency department said in a statement on its Facebook page on Monday.
The aircraft was fighting fires in the Thomson Complex Catchment.
“The two pilots and one engineer are safe after swimming to the edge of the dam where the aircraft crashed,” the VicEmergency statement said.
“Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Worksafe have been notified.”
https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency/photos/a.877634845661023/2102741963150299/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAppgW-u_Bmn-IJ2XC-DAb1ViAwC0mldKt-89CfS-dQ9DzQiUt448sYQlQtMkcc8x_jvNiuHd7kw2o2aInZEu5u7B7OwXRicRGHI1NPzPiBikv6l_H0kxXW-8Dz5NnxA7iO_FSTFs3N9jXJKZ5LNlpDvQ5WUKYl3WE_O9KWQT5Zn_wmjymF4ZAnIFQr-XXX-RfyrCV5Yf-FXx3ORqQx50cAdFcmeTee_2Rbhb5-f5q8xyQQiXfYsl8okpl_Sd5qVMmAPS_5t1sXFGh-D6sz9d1GzSo887271qgQgLDKRi2elFgt6AzPBxRxXY_U5sdY9LYLZfMOCEBwZzViz0KAlwxRhw&__tn__=-R
Shayne Whiteley posted some photos of the downed aircraft on his Twitter page.
First pic of crashed #Skycrane. Upside down and submerged in water. pic.twitter.com/9jUYdmIyCS
— Shane Whitely (@newsheli) January 28, 2019
VicEmergency said the Aircrane, which carries the nickname Christine, had been one of 10 aircraft involved in fire suppression activities at the Thomson Catchment Complex fires.
The state has 49 contracted aircraft to fight bushfires, including two Aircranes.
“Contingency plans are being put in place to ensure Victoria has adequate aircraft coverage over the Thomson Catchment Complex fires and for the state,” VicEmergency said.
Emergency services are battling fires burning across hundreds of hectares of bushland in the state.
Crisp said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigator would be on the scene on Tuesday.
Firefighting helicopters battling blazes in eastern Victoria have been grounded after one crashed into a dam in remote Gippsland. @MelinaSarris7 #7News pic.twitter.com/tY9uxceJZf
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) January 29, 2019
https://www.facebook.com/vicemergency/videos/vb.513636732060838/223808871905151/?type=3&theater
VIDEO: A look at the work of the Erickson Aircrane fighting bushfires from the VicEmergency Facebook page.
