ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 218519
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Saturday 19 March 1988 |
| Time: | 10:30 |
| Type: |  Bell 47G-3B1 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | VH-SJI |
| MSN: | 6632 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | Katherine Gorge, NT -
 Australia
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Passenger - Non-Scheduled/charter/Air Taxi |
| Departure airport: | Katherine Gorge, NT |
| Sliesbeck, NT | |
| Investigating agency: | BASI |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot intended to transport two passengers and their equipment along the Katherine Gorge. The helipad used for takeoff was on the side of the gorge, some 40 feet above the river level. The pilot initiated a running takeoff on the skids, but the helicopter began to sink as it left the river bank. Full throttle was applied, but without effect. As the helicopter approached the opposite bank at treetop level, the pilot raised the collective lever in an attempt to clear the trees. The aircraft did not respond and as it continued to sink, the pilot recalled seeing the engine and rotor RPM drop towards the lower limit of the operating range. The helicopter descended into the trees and came to rest on its left side about 400 metres from the takeoff point. The pilot subsequently advised that the helicopter had not been performing as well as he had expected during previous flights. Investigation revealed that the engine had been unable to develop rated power output and that the helicopter was some 114 kilograms over the maximum permissible all-up weight. Detailed examination of the turbocharger revealed that various components had suffered severe deterioration. The unit had exceeded its authorised life by nearly 400 hours. It was also likely that pilot operating techniques had contributed to the faults in the turbocharger, in that insufficient engine idling time prior to shutdown had been allowed.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/investigation_reports/1988/aair/aair198800705/
https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/28992/aair198800705.pdf
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 31 May 1987 | VH-SJI | 0 | Mountain Valley Station, NT | |
sub |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-Nov-2018 07:38 | Pineapple | Added |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation