Breaking News - Blackhawk Lost, (A25-221)

[Dean]

THIS FROM NINEMSN:

Australian chopper crash off Fiji
Wednesday Nov 29 20:00 AEDT
By ninemsn staff and wires

Australian soldiers are feared dead after an Army Blackhawk helicopter crashed at sea off Fiji.

The Australian Defence Force has confirmed the crash but offered few details, saying only that the helicopter had been operating from aboard the landing ship HMAS Kanimbla.

AND THIS ALSO:

Army Black Hawk 'lost at sea' near Fiji
Wednesday Nov 29 20:51 AEDT

An Australian army Black Hawk helicopter flying off a warship stationed near Fiji had been involved in an "incident", defence officials said. Media reports said the aircraft had been lost at sea.

"There has been an incident involving an army Black Hawk helicopter on HMAS Kanimbla this afternoon," an Australian Defence Force (ADF) spokeswoman said.

ABC television reported the helicopter had been lost at sea. It said some crew had been rescued but others were believed to be missing.

ABC later said the helicopter's crew was from Australia's elite Special Air Service unit but there was no official confirmation.

Australian army Black Hawks carry a crew of four and can transport up to 10 troops.

The Kanimbla was one of three Australian navy ships sent towards Fiji earlier this month in case thousands of Australian nationals holidaying there needed to be evacuated as fears grew of an imminent coup in the South Pacific island nation.

The Fijian military said earlier on Wednesday it would secure strategic parts of the capital Suva from midnight in exercises to be conducted because of the fear of foreign intervention.

The Defence spokeswoman said ADF head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston would give a media briefing soon.

[Dean]

It seems the Defence Forces have suffered more casualties when they are merely going about there duties as representatives of our country. Hopefully all are safe but should any be lost then our sympathies to their families.

[Dean]

Talk about insensitivity! Who is in control at ninemsn?

Attached Image

[Dean]

THE LATEST:


One dead, one missing after Australian chopper crash off Fiji
Wednesday Nov 29 20:00 AEDT
By ninemsn staff and wires

One Australian soldier is dead and one missing after an Army Blackhawk helicopter crashed at sea off Fiji.

The Australian Defence Force says the crash happened this afternoon as the helicopter, carrying six SAS soldiers and four aircrew, came into land on board HMAS Kanimbla.

The Blackhawk fell heavily onto the deck, and then went over the side of the ship.

According to Defence Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, nine soldiers were recovered from the sea after the crash. One of the injured subsequently died, and efforts are still underway to find the missing serviceman.

None of the eight survivors are seriously injured.

Chief Marshal Houston said the wreckage from the helicopter had sunk in deep water, and would most likely be unsalvageable.

"It's probably gone forever, given the depth of the water," he said.

While Chief Marshal Houston gave the location of the accident as "out to sea", Fijian sources said the Kanimbla was off the island of Kadavu. Civil aviation authorities in Suva confirmed the crash had not occured within Fijian territory.

News of the accident comes as the Fijian military announced exercises "in preparation" for the arrival of foreign troops.

The announcement, interpreted as sabre-rattling by observers, has prompted a voluntary evacuation of the families of Australian High Commission staff in Suva.


The army exercises are due to start at midnight, and in combination with the Australian Blackhawk crash, have caused great anxiety in the local population according to Fijian journalist Mithleshni Gurdaya.

Kanimbla and two other Australian warships were despatched earlier this month to stand by off Fiji to rescue Australian nationals in event of a coup by the Fijian military.

The vessel can accomodate up to four Blackhawks and 450 troops.

Over the last ten years, Australia has lost more service personnel in helicopter accidents than from any other cause.

Nine were killled in Nias Island in Indonesia in April 2005 when a navy Sea King helicopter crashed.

Eighteen servicemen, including 15 SAS members, were killed after a mid-air collision between two Blackhawks near Townsville in June 1996.

[gordon]

Yes we've lost more SAS guys in training exercises than we have in 2 Gulf wars and the Timor crisis.

I don't suppose anyone knows the serial of the Black Hawk at this stage.

Gordon

[darren.crick]

I have been advised that it could have been A25-221. The source is good, but it is unconfirmed.

[darren.crick]

Department of Defence Media Mail List
------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPA 324/06 Thursday, 30 November 2006

PERSONAL DETAILS OF SOLDIER KILLED IN BLACKHAWK CRASH NEAR FIJI

The Australian Defence Force, following agreement with the family, today released the name of the Australian solider who died as a result of a helicopter accident on HMAS Kanimbla yesterday.

Captain Mark Bingley, 35, was posted to Townsville to 171 Aviation Squadron as a Qualified Flying Instructor on Blackhawk helicopters.

The Minister for Defence, Dr Brendan Nelson, said Captain Bingley served the Australian Army with distinction.

“All Australians should feel very proud of his courage and commitment. Our sympathies go to all of Captain Bingley’s family, in particular his wife and son,” he said.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, also extended his condolences to the family and friends of Captain Bingley.

“He was an extremely competent and highly regarded member of Army’s aviation community.

“Captain Bingley will be remembered as a dedicated pilot who had an infectious energy and a great sense of humour.

“He was a valued team member who will be sorely missed by his comrades, the Army and the Australian Defence Force,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Captain Bingley was born in Launceston, Tasmania, and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1990.

On completion of Recruit Training, he served for several years as a Rifleman in The First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR), and was promoted to the rank of Corporal in 1997.

He was subsequently accepted for training as a helicopter pilot. On completion of his training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Aviation Corps in 1998.

During his service he flew helicopters for 5 Aviation Regiment in Australia and overseas, and undertook training in the United States of America.

Captain Bingley served in operations in East Timor, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands.

He was awarded the United Nations Medal for service in Cambodia and East Timor, the International Forces East Timor Medal, the Australian Active Service Medal, the Defence Long Service Medal and the Australian Defence Medal.

Captain Bingley is survived by his wife and son.

[darren.crick]

CPA 371/06 Friday, 15 December 2006

NAVY DETECTS MISSING BLACK HAWK’S LOCATOR BEACON

The Royal Australian Navy survey ship, HMAS Melville, has detected transmissions from the locator beacon believed to be from the Black Hawk helicopter that was tragically lost from HMAS Kanimbla on 29 November 2006.

Melville arrived on task during the early hours of Friday morning, 15 December 2006, equipped with a Towed Pinger Locating Drone supplied from the United States Navy (USN), and operated by US Department of Defence civilian contractors. Melville detected the beacon during its first pass over the crash site.

“It is important to understand that we have simply detected the transmission from the beacon. It will take a number of days to now localise the beacon’s position,” said the Navy’s Maritime Commander, Rear Admiral Davyd Thomas.

“At this stage we are unsure of the state of the aircraft or of how complex the terrain on the sea floor is in that area.”

[darren.crick]

Source has confirmed A25-221 as being the aircraft. I have emailed Bob C and asked his to get the website updated and get the guys names on the page as well.

I dont have any images of 221, from our Gallery Dean provided the one below...

Darren

Attached Image

[Dean]

Tha pic is more than a few years old now. Maybe around '96 IIRC, possibly even even as early 91.

This post has been edited by Dean on Dec 23 2006, 07:48 PM

[Luig]

On Sunday evening yesterday Saturday (06 Jan 07) the local Channel 10 news in Sydney reported that the Army BlackHawk crash report will become available by the end of the week (12th?). The report stated "unofficially" that the helo suffered a mechanical problem and this was being dealt with (& being reported on by the pilot) in the seconds before the crash. That is all that was said (more or less) yesterday.
Phil.

This post has been edited by Luig on Jan 7 2007, 10:51 AM

[Brendan Cowan]

Just to let you all know that the Board of Inquiry into the loss of Blackhawk 221 with two ADF Personnel is convening soon as per this Defence announcement:


Department of Defence Media Mail List
------------------------------------------------------------------------

CPA 141/07 Tuesday, 29 May 2007

BLACK HAWK 221 BOARD OF INQUIRY TO START HEARINGS

The Black Hawk 221 Board of Inquiry (BOI) today announced that the hearings will commence on Monday, 18 June 2007 at Randwick Barracks in Randwick, New South Wales.

The BOI has been established to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the loss of an Army Black Hawk helicopter (Number 221) operating with HMAS KANIMBLA off Fiji on 29 November last year. Two ADF personnel, Captain Mark Bingley and Trooper Joshua Porter, died in the incident.

The Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, appointed retired NSW Supreme Court Justice, The Hon. David Levine RFD QC (President) along with Group Captain Stephen Fielder AM and Commander Andrew Rourke RAN as members of the Board.

Since the BOI was established, Counsel Assisting have collected and analysed evidence relevant to the Terms of Reference. Witnesses and other key Defence personnel have been interviewed, and written statements have been obtained.

The hearing will be conducted publicly, in an open and thorough manner. However, some aspects may be restricted for operational security reasons, in the interests of those affected by the Inquiry, or otherwise in accordance with directions issued by the Board President.

The Defence Community Organisation continues to liaise closely with, and provide support and assistance to, the families of Captain Bingley and Trooper Porter.

The BOI Terms of Reference, Instrument of Appointment and other relevant information are available at: www.defence.gov.au/boi/blackhawk221

Note: Media arrangements for this Board of Inquiry are being finalised. A media briefing will be conducted prior to the commencement of hearings, details of which will be issued shortly.

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or (0408) 498 664

For a free subscription to Defence Direct, the Minister for Defence’s monthly e-newsletter, please follow this link:

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/defencedirect/spt/subscribe.html


DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE

Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946

[Brendan Cowan]

I had a quick look at the Defence BOI website mentioned in the announcment.

This might seem like a monumental nitpick, but the photo that it carries on the home page seems to be A25-222!

I can understand putting a a generic Blackhawk shot up there, but the very next bird in the fleet?

That makes it look like a mistake, particularly when the actual number of the accident aircraft (221) is emblazoned in the site masthead.

You would think that the selected image would either show 221 in better days, or would be generic enough not to make the serial number obvious.

As I say, putting 222 up there looks like some one fouled up.

Very odd.

BC

[Luig]

TV Channel 10 news in Sydney had footage taken from HMAS Kanimbla of this Blackhawk crash. It is dramatic. The commentary about it was a bit muddled so I cannot comment further. I would suppose the enquiry that started today will make the cause of this crash more clear over time.

[Luig]

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/heli....e#contentSwa p1

Defence chief demands end to helicopter 'cowboy' culture Tom Allard National Security Editor June 30, 2008

A CULTURE of risk-taking and sloppy safety standards exists in the army's elite helicopter squadron, according to a damning report by a military inquiry into the fatal crash of a Black Hawk helicopter off Fiji in 2006.

The scathing assessment of the Sydney-based 171 Squadron was in part based on evidence of a number of similar incidents, including the crash of a Black Hawk in East Timor last year that was kept under wraps by Defence because it was "not newsworthy".

Headed by the former Supreme Court judge David Levine, QC, the board of inquiry was convened last year to examine the crash of Black Hawk 221, which smashed into the deck of HMAS Kanimbla before tumbling into the Pacific Ocean and sinking on November 29, 2006.

The pilot, Captain Mark Bingley, and SAS Trooper Joshua Porter died in the accident.

The final report of the inquiry was handed to the Chief of Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston - a decorated helicopter pilot - six months ago.

He is said to have been appalled by its revelations. The Herald understands that, after reading it, he dubbed senior pilots from 171 Squadron "cowboys" and launched an audit of all of Defence's helicopter fleets to ascertain if the problems were more widespread.

Sources familiar with the report say it finds that senior pilots in 171 Squadron, while highly trained, had a culture of aggressive flying and a tendency to needlessly "push the envelope".

Safety procedures were slack and the reporting of incidents involving engine failures and other safety breaches was haphazard, it says.

The crash on HMAS Kanimbla occurred while Australian troops were stationed off Fiji preparing to remove Australians if the civil unrest there worsened. They undertook training exercises while they waited for a possible call to action.

In a helicopter packed with Special Air Service soldiers, Captain Bingley was attempting a special operations assault drill, flying at high speed before suddenly turning and "flaring" into a hover above the ship, with the helicopter's nose up, so soldiers could descend by rope or fire weapons.

The inquiry concluded that the exercise was highly dangerous, given the tailwind, the heavy cargo, HMAS Kanimbla's drift in the sea and the fact that it had not been rehearsed at a slower pace.

The report finds that Captain Bingley misjudged the strength of the tailwind.

The crash resulted from an overstressed engine losing power, leading to catastrophic "main rotor droop", a dramatic slowing of the rotor's blades.

However, the inquiry found that Australia's Black Hawks did not contain a "digital electronic control unit" that reduced the risk of rotor droop. Moreover, incidents of rotor droop were quite common but not always reported.

Indeed, late in the inquiry's deliberations it emerged that a Black Hawk undertaking a similar drill to Black Hawk 221 in East Timor had crashed.

No one was seriously injured but the helicopter was badly damaged and has yet to be repaired, the Herald has learned. The accident, which happened on June 21 last year, was never made public, even though it occurred when there was intense interest in helicopter safety.

Not only was the Black Hawk 221 inquiry underway, the damning report into the crash of a Sea King on Nias, Indonesia, in 2005, that killed nine Australian servicemen and women, had been released two days before the crash in East Timor. A Defence spokesman told the Herald the East Timor incident was not publicly announced as it was deemed "not newsworthy".

The Herald understands testimony from the aviation safety officer at the US Army's special operations command, Warrant Officer (5th Class) Charles King, was particularly influential during the inquiry into the Black Hawk 221 crash.

He described its flight plan as "an aggressive approach that had very small margin for error". After reviewing some of the training techniques of 171 Squadron, he said there was poor guidance about when a pilot should pull out of a manoeuvre.

He also said the presence of special forces troops in a helicopter often encouraged pilots to take more risks and regard any joint training exercise as a "no fail" proposition.

The inquiry's report and the results of Air Chief Marshal Houston's audit are expected to be published in the next fortnight.

[darren.crick]

thats not looking so good...

something for us... we should be trying to find out what the other incident was and the aircraft involved and I guess update 221's entry with more info located in this most recent release...

[Dean]

Give em back to the air force!

[darren.crick]

One was recently drenched in a fire system problem in Darwin recently wasnt it??

(notice I skipped over Dean's comment)

[jeep1943]

Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!
Give them back to the Air Force!

[darren.crick]

air farce?

[Luig]

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23949796-31477,00.html

Defence to act on inquiry Patrick Walters, National security editor July 01, 2008

DEFENCE will adopt all the key recommendations flowing from the board of inquiry report into the crash of an army Black Hawk helicopter in November 2006.

The crash, which killed an army pilot and an SAS trooper, has already generated changes in procedures governing potentially risky manoeuvres performed by the army's Black Hawk fleet.

Senior government sources confirmed yesterday that the report of the board of inquiry, headed by former Supreme Court judge David Levine QC, will be released on July 15 after an exhaustive review of its findings by Defence leaders, including chief Angus Houston.

Air Chief Marshal Houston ordered a full safety review of the defence force's rotary wing fleet after receiving the board of inquiry report on January 25. The internal review, covering both training and combat operations flown by army and navy pilots, is due to report next week.

The Levine report is understood to contain more than 50 recommendations flowing from the board of inquiry's findings into the crash of the Black Hawk from the army's 171 squadron off the coast of Fiji during a training mission on November 29, 2006. The pilot, Captain Mark Bingley, and SAS trooper Joshua Porter died as a result of the crash but nine others escaped.

The Levine report is understood to be critical of some of the flight procedures and manoeuvres performed by the army's pilots, which may have contributed to the crash of the Black Hawk flown by Bingley.

The board of inquiry heard last year that the manoeuvre attempted by Bingley as he came into land on HMAS Kanimbla was a complicated procedure under the prevailing conditions.

The Black Hawk was carrying six SAS soldiers, adding an extra 500kg, and had to cope with a 25km/h tailwind when it made a sudden left turn to assume a hovering position over Kanimbla. The aircraft then incurred severe "main rotor droop" with the engines failing to provide sufficient lift to prevent the Black Hawk from careering into the deck of the Kanimbla and into the sea.

During last year's board of inquiry, Commodore Jack Rush, senior counsel assisting the inquiry, said there was a perception in 171 squadron that "great airmanship came from flying an aircraft to its limits" and that Black Hawk crew felt "comfortable" when doing so.

The inquiry was told Bingley had had no prior training to conduct a "flare and turn" on approach to the Kanimbla -- a complex manoeuvre that pushed the aircraft close to its performance limits.

Bingley's approach involved aggressive braking with very little margin for error, the board of inquiry heard.

Pilot error is also understood to have been a factor in the crash-landing of a Black Hawk in East Timor on June 21 last year. None of the crew or passengers was injured but the machine was badly damaged and has not yet returned to operational service.

Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said yesterday he would not pre-empt the release of the report's findings. "It is very normal for there to be a time gap between the receipt of the report in the hands of Defence and the Defence's response," he said.