Risky fuel tanks need to be refitted, chopper firms told

12/03/2012 - The transport safety investigator says owners of Robinson R44 helicopters must get them fitted with a new type of fuel tank to avoid the risk of deaths.

Find related suppliers

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating fatal helicopter crash at Jaspers Brush, NSW, last month and another in Cessnock 12 months earlier, both involving R44 choppers.

In each case, the American-built helicopters crashed and caught on fire, killing all occupants.

US cinematographer Mike deGruy, 60, and Australian TV writer-producer Andrew Wight, 51, died in the Jaspers Brush incident after they set out to film a submersible vehicle launch in Jervis Bay.

In its preliminary report on the 2012 incident, the bureau notes the Robinson Helicopter Company had advised R44 owners in December 2010 to replace the all-aluminium fuel tanks with bladder-type fuel tanks.

These different fuel tanks improve resistance to post-accident fuel leaks, which can cause fires.

But the manufacturer told the bureau that only about one in 10 of the helicopters had been retrofitted.

"The Australian Transport Safety Bureau encourages all operators and owners of R44 helicopters that are fitted with all-aluminium fuel tanks to note the circumstances of this accident," the bureau's report states.

It says owners and operators should actively consider replacing aluminium fuel tanks as soon as possible.

The bureau is continuing its full investigation into the Jaspers Brush crash.

Source: AAP NewsWire

Browse the IndustrySearch directory: Automotive, Trucking & Transport

Have your say...

We welcome thoughtful comments from readers Comment Guidelines The approval of your comment is at the discretion of this article's publisher. Write your comment with the following in mind to ensure the highest likelihood of it being approved: - No promotional undertones - No use of profanity - Good spelling, grammar and layout - Check punctuation, language and missing words - No use of aggression - No unsubstantiated claims We reserve the right to remove comments at our discretion. Your name is used alongside Comments.
Name:
Email: