Jaspers Brush Recreational Flying Club: Tragedy hits small club

CRASH SITE: The Robinson R44 lies on its side after the crash at Jaspers Brush airfield

STORY: ADAM WRIGHT, SOUTH COAST REGISTER

08 Feb, 2012 01:39 PM

THEY are a tight-knit group at Jaspers Brush Recreational Flying Club and will all be affected in some way by Saturday’s fatal helicopter crash.

Pilot Andrew Wight, who wrote and produced the highly successful Australian film Sanctum, and American cinematographer Mike DeGruy died when their helicopter crashed and burst into flames on take-off at the Jaspers Brush airfield.

It was very quiet at the airfield on Monday; a few pilots were gathered on the clubhouse verandah while an insurance assessor went about his business.

The burnt wreckage of the Robinson 44 next to the airfield driveway is a confronting reminder of the accident.

Shoalhaven City councillor Dave Bennett is the club’s president.

He was filming the helicopter taking off from about three metres away.

“I saw the tail hit the ground and thought that’s not good, I’m very close.

“I ran toward the clubhouse, I fell but I’m not sure if I lost my footing or if my brain made me drop to the ground.

“I don’t remember what happened at that moment. As I got up I noticed one of the club members running to get a fire extinguisher.”

Before seeing it Cr Bennett knew the helicopter had crashed and was burning.

“I went to hook up a hose, I heard one of the men cry out briefly, but the fire was so intense it just went up straight away,” he said.

“There was no time to get to them - we were driven back by the heat.

“Afterwards everyone was in shock. There were tears, and life evaluations, people were counting their blessings. It reminds you that life is so tenuous.

“My main concern now is the welfare of the club members and making sure they get the right counselling.”

Mr Bennett said the crash would not put him off flying.

“Three or four people lost their lives in car accidents over the weekend too, but everyone still gets in their car.

“Relatively speaking flying is extremely safe,” he said.

Sunday’s crash brought the fatalities at the airfield to four.

In November 1991 two people died when an Army Pilatus Porter aircraft crashed on take-off.

The plane had 10 people on board who were taking part in Army parachute exercises.

Four aircraft are based at the facility which has a membership of 40.

Victims were filming documentary

AS POLICE and air safety investigators prepare reports into the fatal helicopter crash at Jaspers Brush on Saturday, the film industry is mourning the loss of two of its highly accomplished members.

Pilot Andrew Wight, who wrote and produced the highly successful Australian film Sanctum, and American cinematographer Mike DeGruy died when their Robinson R44 helicopter crashed and burst into flames on take-off at the Jaspers Brush airfield on Saturday afternoon.

It is believed they were about to film a sequence over Jervis Bay for a documentary being made by acclaimed director James Cameron, who was at the crash site shortly after the tragedy occurred.

Source:  http://www.ulladullatimes.com.au