Helicopter Pilot Describes Deaths

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30831, 17 August 1965, Page 5

Helicopter Pilot Describes Deaths

(From Our Own Reporter)

TIMARU, August 16.

An inquest into the deaths of Frank Erceg, a private deer-shooter, of Arawhata, South Westland, and John Alexander Cumming, an employee of the Wanaka Hotel, was opened by the Timaru District Coroner (Mr E. G. Bradley) at the Timaru Police Station today and adjourned to Alexandra.

The two men were killed by the rotor blade of a helicopter in the Upper Matukituki Valley, west of Wanaka, on June 1.

Raymond Douglas Wilson, aged 27, of Timaru, a pilot employed by Helicopters (New Zealand), Ltd., said that on June 1 he was flying a Bell 47 G2 helicopter in the valley. The firm had been engaged by Westland Frozen Products to bring deer carcases from the valley to the river flats below. At 9.45 a.m., he left Niger hut on the south side of the valley. With him were Cumming and Erceg, who were shooting deer on the north face of the Upper Matukituki Valley. Shot Deer He flew the two men to the north side of the valley and landed them above the bushline. They shot some deer, then got back into the aircraft. Then he flew them fo a higher level where they shot more deer. “I left that spot in the helicopter and flew to a higher level still, and, putting down the helicopter, I left it and went in search of some deer,” witness said. The search was unsuccessful, and he returned with the helicopter to where the two men had placed some deer carcases they had shot. Some of these were loaded into the helicopters, and he took them to the river flats below.

When he returned for more carcases “Cumming was standing alone by a group of three deer, and Erceg was further up the hill. Motor Running “I came in and landed alongside Cumming, who left this position and walked up the hill to giVe Erceg some assistance to carry down a carcase,” Wilson said. “I remained in the helicopter with the motor running at flight r.p.m. 3000 (engine), and 350 r.p.m. (rotor), which is flight speed. I did not observe the approach of Cumming and Erceg with the deer carcase, and I did not anticipate their return to the helicopter so suddenly. “While Cumming and Erceg had been absent I kept the helicopter in a level position, with the skids on the ground,” witness said. “The first indication I had that something had happened was when the helicopter suddenly vibrated violently. On looking out of the bubble of the helicopter, I saw that both Cumming and Erceg had been struck by the rotor blade, and that their bodies lay nearby.” Killed Instantly

Witness said he immediately cut the motor and remained in the machine until the rotor blades had stopped. On leaving the machine he saw that both men had been killed instantly. His first thought was to get help. The helicopter had received damage as a result of the accident, and was unserviceable. He headed for the river flats, where Mir E. Meredith had a caravan and radio at Niger hut. He reported the incident to him, and with another employee of Helicopters (N.Z.), Ltd., they went fo the Cattle Flat station homestead, where he reported the matter to the police at Wanaka. Witness said the accident occurred,at 10.20 a.m. The

weather at the time was calm, with light wispy fog on the floor of the valley. The ceiling was unlimited. Rising Ground Wilson said he believed the cause of the accident was that Cumming and Erceg had momentarily overlooked that the rotor blades were close to the ground because of the rise in front of the machine. Both the deceased had been working with the helicopter for five days before the accident. Both had been quite familiar with the machine, and had been briefed before the accident about approaching the machilne while the rotor blades were turning, the witness said. The witness said he had had 360 hours’ flying time in helicopters and was the holder of a commercial pilot’s licence.

Sergeant D. T. Crowe represented the police.