TWO HELICOPTER PILOTS employed by Torres Pilots’ marine pilots transfer contractor Flyon have survived uninjured a crash aboard the bulk carrier Star Coral off the Queensland coast.
The chopper had dropped off a Torres pilot to the 93,251 DWT, 2009-built, Bahamas-flag vessel which had arrived in ballast from Tianjin, China, at the Blossom Bank pilot boarding ground in Hydrographers Passage.
Torres Pilots’ Perry Sutton told DCN it appeared the helicopter rotor struck the ship as it was taking off, causing it to crash on deck.
“But both helicopter pilots walked away – thank goodness – and the marine pilot was on the bridge of the vessel at the time of the accident. There were no injuries and no damage to the vessel nor environment; no fuel leakage.
“The ATSB & AMSA both have been advised and witness reports submitted. TP’s SMS safety manager is conducting a safety review and will complete his report and submit same to the ATSB so I can’t pre-empt that investigation and speculate on the cause.”
But Mr Sutton said that the Blossom Bank PGB, which is 112NM from Mackay airport and beyond the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef, is being impacted by the severe weather from the tropical cyclone in the Coral Sea adjacent to Mackay.
The substantially damaged Augusta Westland AW109E was recovered from the vessel at the Hay Point anchorage Thursday returned to TP’s Mackay airport base.
“We are waiting on the insurance company assessor to complete an inspection of the helicopter at our Mackay base to determine if it is a write off,” Mr Sutton said.
