Helicopter crash victims named

FOUR CSIRO scientists killed in a helicopter crash south of Sydney have been named by police.

The Robinson R44 light helicopter clipped a tree about 12.10pm (AEDT) on Thursday while attempting to land on a grassy area next to the popular landmark, Panorama House, at Bulli Tops.

Restaurant staff rushed out with fire extinguishers as it burst into flames, but they were beaten back by the heat.

All four men died at the scene.

The victims, all from Sydney, were Anthony Farmer, 68, of North Epping, Donald Price, 67, of Lindfield, Gerald Haddad, 71, of Elanora Heights and John Dunlop, 66, of Davidson.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has confirmed the aircraft was fitted with older-styled fuel tanks known to pose a fire hazard.

"The ATSB has highlighted how all-aluminium fuel tanks have proven susceptible to post-accident fuel leaks, increasing the risk of a potentially fatal post-impact fire when colliding with the ground," it says on its website.

The manufacturer and the ATSB have previously recommended the fuel tanks on R44s be replaced with safer bladder-type tanks.

The manufacturer's figures showed 4000 R44s were built with the all-aluminium tanks but only 1700 retrofit kits had gone out so far, the ATSB said.

A service bulletin issued by the manufacturer in 2010 told operators the retro-fitting needed to be carried out "as soon as practical, but no later than 30 April 2013".

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Four dead in helicopter crash

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous . Source: The Daily Telegraph

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: The Daily Telegraph

FOUR people have been killed in a helicopter crash south of Sydney just after midday today.

Police have confirmed four adults have been killed in a chopper crash at Bulli Tops, correcting earlier reports that a child was among those killed.

The helicopter crashed into a grassy clearing adjacent to Panorama House - a popular wedding and function centre located on the cliffs at Bulli Tops.

Acting Superintendent Tim Beattie said disaster victims experts will be brought in to identify the bodies in the burnt out wreck.

"It's an horrific scene...this helicopter appears to have collided heavily with the ground," Supt Beattie said.

An aerial view of the fatal helicopter crash south of Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper. Source: The Daily Telegraph

The helicopter exploded into flames during the crash and was lying on its right side, facing east, with a tarpaulin covering the charred cabin.

The tail rotor blade and stabiliser became detached and were found lying next to the helicopter tail.

The pilot and occupants were en route to Panorama House for lunch, when the accident happened at 12.12pm.

The crash happened in good flying conditions with clear skies and winds at about 10-15 knots.

Police said the four deceased people were not part of a wedding party, as previously reported.

They had flown from Bankstown Airport earlier today.

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous . Source: The Daily Telegraph

Investigators believe the helicopter clipped treetops, flipped over and exploded as it was coming into land in a clearing adjacent to Panorama House.

Witness Norm Upton was approaching Bulli Tops and noticed a plume of black smoke.

"I looked over and saw a helicopter on its side. It's fuselage was still intact but it was shouldering," Mr Upton said.

"Then I saw two men running towards it, and I knew straight away it must have been bad."

Emergency services raced to the site of the crash at around midday.

The helicopter involved in the crash registered to Bankstown Helicopters.

The company's Chief Pilot William Miller confirmed the Robinson R44 VH-HWQ had been hired out to a private pilot who was conducting 'private operations'." 

'At this time Bankstown Helicopters is unable to comment further as to the circumstances leading to the accident, or the condition of the occupants," he said in a written statement.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it has deployed a team of four investigators to the Bulli Tops crash scene to begin the on-site phase of its investigation.

A fatal crash on the south coast in February last year involving the same model of helicopter which claimed the lives of two men was also subject of an ATSB investigation.

In the wake of that inquiry the Bureau advised owners and operators of R44 helicopters to fit bladder-type fuel tanks saying there was a danger of fire from aluminium fuel tanks in the event of an accident.

A woman at the Cliffhanger Café at Bulli Tops said she was first alerted to the tragedy by the sounds of ambulance and emergency services sirens.

“We're about 500 metres away with a lot of trees in between…the first we knew was lots and lots of sirens going past," she said.

More to come.

View the original article here

Four dead in helicopter crash

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous . Source: The Daily Telegraph

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: The Daily Telegraph

FOUR people have been killed in a helicopter crash south of Sydney just after midday today.

Police have confirmed four adults have been killed in a chopper crash at Bulli Tops, correcting earlier reports that a child was among those killed.

The helicopter crashed into a grassy clearing adjacent to Panorama House - a popular wedding and function centre located on the cliffs at Bulli Tops.

Acting Superintendent Tim Beattie said disaster victims experts will be brought in to identify the bodies in the burnt out wreck.

"It's an horrific scene...this helicopter appears to have collided heavily with the ground," Supt Beattie said.

An aerial view of the fatal helicopter crash south of Sydney. Picture: Stephen Cooper. Source: The Daily Telegraph

The helicopter exploded into flames during the crash and was lying on its right side, facing east, with a tarpaulin covering the charred cabin.

The tail rotor blade and stabiliser became detached and were found lying next to the helicopter tail.

The pilot and occupants were en route to Panorama House for lunch, when the accident happened at 12.12pm.

The crash happened in good flying conditions with clear skies and winds at about 10-15 knots.

Police said the four deceased people were not part of a wedding party, as previously reported.

They had flown from Bankstown Airport earlier today.

Helicopter crash at Bulli Tops at the Panorama House function centre. Picture: Gregg Porteous . Source: The Daily Telegraph

Investigators believe the helicopter clipped treetops, flipped over and exploded as it was coming into land in a clearing adjacent to Panorama House.

Witness Norm Upton was approaching Bulli Tops and noticed a plume of black smoke.

"I looked over and saw a helicopter on its side. It's fuselage was still intact but it was shouldering," Mr Upton said.

"Then I saw two men running towards it, and I knew straight away it must have been bad."

Emergency services raced to the site of the crash at around midday.

The helicopter involved in the crash registered to Bankstown Helicopters.

The company's Chief Pilot William Miller confirmed the Robinson R44 VH-HWQ had been hired out to a private pilot who was conducting 'private operations'." 

'At this time Bankstown Helicopters is unable to comment further as to the circumstances leading to the accident, or the condition of the occupants," he said in a written statement.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it has deployed a team of four investigators to the Bulli Tops crash scene to begin the on-site phase of its investigation.

A fatal crash on the south coast in February last year involving the same model of helicopter which claimed the lives of two men was also subject of an ATSB investigation.

In the wake of that inquiry the Bureau advised owners and operators of R44 helicopters to fit bladder-type fuel tanks saying there was a danger of fire from aluminium fuel tanks in the event of an accident.

A woman at the Cliffhanger Café at Bulli Tops said she was first alerted to the tragedy by the sounds of ambulance and emergency services sirens.

“We're about 500 metres away with a lot of trees in between…the first we knew was lots and lots of sirens going past," she said.

More to come.

View the original article here