ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 214468
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| Date: | Friday 17 August 2018 |
| Time: | c. 14:00 LT |
| Type: |  Kawasaki BK 117B-2 |
| Owner/operator: | Sydney Helicopters |
| Registration: | VH-JWB |
| MSN: | 1094 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1994 |
| Engine model: | Textron Lycoming LTS101-750B-1 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | 9 km W of Ulladulla, NSW -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Fire fighting |
| Departure airport: | Milton Showgrounds, Ulladulla |
| Investigating agency: | ATSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On the afternoon of 17 August 2018, the pilot of a Kawasaki Heavy Industries BK117 helicopter, registered VH-JWB, was conducting fire-bombing operations approximately 9 km west of Ulladulla, New South Wales (NSW).
The pilot was on the third flight for the day and was conducting repeated water bombing of a fire on Plot Road, Woodburn, NSW. On the fifth fire-bombing circuit, at this location, the pilot filled the slung Bambi Bucket (bucket) without incident from a nearby dam and departed towards the fire area. Shortly after, the aircraft diverted off course, the bucket and longline became caught in trees and the helicopter collided with terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed.
The ATSB found that it was likely the pilot suffered an incapacitating medical event. As a result, the pilot unintentionally diverted off track, leading to the bucket becoming tangled in the trees and causing the helicopter to collide with terrain.
The pilot’s post-mortem identified a focus of acute inflammatory change in the heart muscle, a condition known as lymphocytic myocarditis. This condition is capable of causing sudden impairment or complete incapacitation. The pilot is unlikely to have known they suffered from this condition. There are no risk factors for the development of this condition and it cannot be detected by medical screening.
The pilot’s post-mortem also identified coronary heart disease which is also capable of causing sudden impairment and incapacitation. This condition was being effectively managed by medication.
Despite the pilot suffering from these two heart-related conditions, there was insufficient evidence to determine if they contributed to the accident.
The ATSB also determined that the pilot was known to use an over the counter medication for the treatment of hay fever that, although labelled as non‑sedating, was not approved for use while conducting flying operations.
Finally, the pilot did not wear the upper torso restraint correctly. Although on this occasion the accident was unsurvivable, the use of such a shoulder harness restraint generally reduces the likelihood of fatal head injuries.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.businessinsider.com.au/waterbombing-helicopter-crash-sydney-2018-8
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-17/waterbombing-helicopter-crash-nsw-south-coast-woodstock/10133264
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/helicopter-pilot-dies-while-battling-nsw-bushfires
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/pilot-reported-dead-as-fire-fighting-helicopter-crashes-on-nsw-south-coast-20180817-p4zy57.html
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/2018/aair/ao-2018-057/
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/vh-jwb#1d87942e
Images:
Photo: ATSB
Media:
Helicopter pilot dies while battling NSW bushfireshttps://t.co/Le2vPL6j7i
— SBS News (@SBSNews) August 17, 2018
A firefighting helicopter has crashed in NSW killing the pilot who was the only person aboard. The chopper crashed near Ulladulla after 2pm. Calls to emergency services indicated the chopper crashed into a tree. Police arrived to find the male pilot dead among the wreckage. pic.twitter.com/KKcuaYSHke
— 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) August 17, 2018
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Aug-2018 05:18 | gerard57 | Added |
| 17-Aug-2018 06:02 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Source, Embed code] |
| 17-Aug-2018 06:10 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 17-Aug-2018 06:52 | Mumbai-Merlin | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Operator, Source, Embed code] |
| 17-Aug-2018 06:57 | harro | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source] |
| 17-Aug-2018 07:16 | A.J. Scholten | Updated [Source] |
| 17-Aug-2018 08:34 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Aug-2018 08:35 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 17-Aug-2018 08:37 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code] |
| 17-Aug-2018 23:20 | Geno | Updated [Location, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 18-Aug-2018 09:43 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Embed code] |
| 14-Oct-2018 20:27 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Source, Embed code] |
| 21-May-2021 08:53 | harro | Updated [Location, Embed code, Category, Photo] |
| 04-Dec-2023 14:32 | harro | Updated [Other fatalities, Embed code, Narrative] |
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