Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A tribute to Gary Ticehurst: Aérospatiale AS 355F-2 Ecureuil II, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), VH-NTV, accident occurred August 18, 2011 near Marree, Australia

Scuttlebutt Sailing News
Published on December 10, 2014 
by Andrea Francolini, photographer

As the start of the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Race approaches on December 26, I find it fitting to take a moment away from all the hype to remember Gary Ticehurst, a true professional and gentleman in the industry. Gary, along with journalist Paul Lockyer and cameraman John Bean, died when their helicopter crashed on a dark night in 2011.

- See more at: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

What happened
On 18 August 2011, an Aérospatiale  AS355F2 (Twin Squirrel) helicopter, registered VH-NTV, was being operated under the visual flight rules (VFR) in an area east of Lake Eyre, South Australia. At about 1900 Central Standard Time, the pilot departed an island in the Cooper Creek inlet with two film crew on board for a 30-minute flight to a station for a planned overnight stay. It was after last light and, although there was no low cloud or rain, it was a dark night.

The helicopter levelled at 1,500 ft above mean sea level, and shortly after entered a gentle right turn and then began descending. The turn tightened and the descent rate increased until, 38 seconds after the descent began, the helicopter impacted terrain at high speed with a bank angle of about 90°. The pilot and the two passengers were fatally injured, and the helicopter was destroyed.

Investigation number: AO-2011-102
Investigation status: Completed

http://www.atsb.gov.au/investigation_report


ABC helicopter pilot Gary Ticehurst, pictured covering the Sydney to Hobart yacht race for the 25th time. 
Picture: James Elsby 
Source: The Australian 



Pilot Gary Ticehurst





 The scene of the helicopter crash that killed (insets) ABC reporter Paul Lockyer, pilot Gary Ticehurst and cameraman John Bean
Source: AdelaideNow

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