Rescue 'copter damaged

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33433, 15 January 1974, Page 3

Rescue 'copter damaged

ri tss o.s.soeiaiioH > AUCKLAND, Jan. 14. Vandals, for the second time this season, have damaged the Auckland Surf Life-saving Association’s rescue helicopter while it was parked overnight on the Mechanics Bay pad. The vandals cracked the window of the pilot's door, and pushed in a plastic ventilator, apparently in an attempt to gain entry to the cockpit. Mr S. Anderson, the pilot, discovered the damage when he arrived early today, to make a surveillance patrol of the association’s clubs. “This is getting nasty,” he said. “I’ve had to go over the machine very closely to make sure other damage has not been done which could endanger the aircraft while it is flying.” Mr Anderson said he

thought the vandals tried

to enter the helicopter to get his crash helmet, which was left in the cockpit. A similar attempt was made about two months ago when he left the helmet in the machine. On that occasion the intruders unhitched the ground lock from the rotor blade, and wrenched off a pitot tube. The tube records the machine’s airspeed, and, had Mr Anderson taken off without noticing the damage, he could have been in serious difficulties. The aircraft was parked on a refuelling pad, enclosed by a low fence, alongside the container terminal, which is lit brilliantly at night.