Thursday, August 04, 2011

Helicopter Crashes At University of Cape Town, Middle Campus– Passenger Comments (With Audio)




A light helicopter flipped on its roof on UCT’s Middle Campus early this morning.  Confirmed reports are that a photographer and the pilot survived the crash unharmed.

It has emerged that the helicopter was carrying Cape Town photographer, Terry February, when it crashed. February comments on the experience, moments after exiting the downed craft. This clip, courtesy of KFM.

Read more and photos:  http://www.2oceansvibe.com

A HELICOPTER was forced to make a crash landing on UCT’s Middle Campus this morning after it lost power.

The pilot was slightly injured, but none of the other three occupants was seriously injured.

Shocked university staff watched in horror as the helicopter dropped out of the sky, missing cars and landed hard on a campus road, breaking its skids and ending up on its belly, before falling over.

Oil and fuel flooded from the broken machine.

Shortly before the crash-landing the helicopter was heard circling above. Its engine did not sound good, a staff member said.

Clive Moos, a member of the university’s maintenance staff, said he was parking his car at the campus when he heard the helicopter circling above just before 9am.

“It did not sound good and then I heard a loud crash and drove to the other side where I saw the chopper hit a tree and tumble on to the road.”

The four men were helped from the wrecked aircraft by university workers. They were “clearly shaken”, Moos said.

Only the pilot was slightly injured, said Metro Fire and Rescue spokesman Theo Lane.

Police soon cordoned off the area and prevented bystanders from getting near the helicopter.

The cordon also prevented people entering the campus from Woolsack Avenue, in case the helicopter caught fire, police said.

Paramedics and firemen were on standby at the scene.

A pedestrian bridge near the campus entrance was soon crowded with onlookers.

Students on campus were also taking photographs and inspecting the helicopter.

Facebook and Twitter were abuzz with news of the crash as people tweeted pictures from the scene.

Marlon Kruger (@MK_MarlonKruger) tweeted a picture, saying: “just saw a helicopter crash! At UCT! Almost on my car!!!”

Gerda Kruger, executive director at UCT’s communication and marketing department, confirmed that “a small private helicopter made an emergency landing in Cross Campus Road on Middle Campus this morning at 9.

“Eyewitnesses said that the helicopter hit the top of some trees on the side of the road and then immediately afterwards attempted to land.

“During the landing the helicopter tumbled on to its side.

“The pilot and three passengers were shaken but not visibly hurt,” Kruger said.

According to its registration, the helicopter belongs to a company called Holographix Properties, based in Mossel Bay.

It, however, operated under the name of the company, Mac Young, as a sightseeing service.

When the Cape Argus contacted the company’s cellphone number, the man who answered said he could not comment because he was too busy “dealing with things”.

The helicopter, believed to be a Robinson R44 Raven II, is a four-seater with a six-cylinder Lycoming IO-540 fuel-injected engine.

It has a maximum range of 564km and a cruising speed of 217km/h.

Read more and photo: http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus

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