Experienced pilot dies in helicopter crash fighting fires on NSW South Coast
A FELLOW firefighting pilot has farewelled experienced helicopter pilot Allan Tull, who died today when his waterbombing aircraft’s bucket caught on a tree.
NSW
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FIREFIGHTING mates have farewelled experienced helicopter pilot Allan Tull, who died today when his waterbombing aircraft’s bucket caught on a tree.
“RIP Sir. May you Rest In Peace … Thanks for your service,” fellow pilot Jamie Lankford, who had been flying alongside him during the South Coast emergency, said on his Facebook page.
A close friend, Will Chinda Rogers, posted on Facebook: “The pilot involved was a mate and a very experienced pilot. So raising a glass in your honour brother thanx for all the good times on the fires we have been on!”
Investigators are tonight on their way to the scene of the tragic chopper crash in which a firefighting pilot died after his waterbombing aircraft’s bucket caught on a tree.
Allan Tull was flying with Sydney Helicopters contracted to the Rural Fire Service and fighting to save homes and properties from the 1700-ha Mount Kingiman bushfire on the NSW South Coast.
Police, ambulance and fire crews rushed to the scene at Hobbs Lane at Woodstock, just west of Ulladulla about 2pm, but could do nothing to save him after the bucket brought the craft crashing to the ground.
Statement re incident on the Kingiman Fire. #NSWRFS pic.twitter.com/ywRfjeXT6u
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) 17 August 2018
He was well known as a highly skilled firefighting specialist who had worked throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania and Papua New Guinea.
Investigators with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau were last night travelling to the scene of the crash.
“(Investigators) will travel to the accident site overnight to begin the evidence collection phase of the investigation,” the bureau said.
A report is also being prepared for the coroner.
MORE: Three homes destroyed on South Coast
Premier Gladys Berejiklian this afternoon tweeted her sorrow at the news.
“I am deeply saddened by the death of a helicopter pilot while fighting fires near Ulladulla today,” she wrote.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the pilot’s family and our brave emergency service personnel.”
Emergency services commission Troy Grant echoed her thoughts as he paid tribute to the pilot this afternoon.
“This a tragic event and my deepest sympathies are with the pilot’s family and friends,” Mr Grant said.
“My thoughts and prayers are also with the emergency services community, especially the many brigades and units working to contain the Kingiman Fire.”
Fire and Rescue NSW head out to the scene of where a helicopter has crashed into the fireground at Kingiman off Plott Road. pic.twitter.com/XNyOHNLCf8
— Emily Barton (@emilybarton1211) 17 August 2018
South Coast MP Shelley Hancock extended “the thoughts and prayers of the entire South Coast community” to the family and colleagues of the helicopter pilot.
“This is truly a sad day,” she said. “The pilot put his life on the line to protect and keep our community safe and he has paid the ultimate price.
“It is a reminder to the entire community of the danger of bushfires, how quickly a situation can turn and the risks so many volunteers and professional personnel face as they put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
“Again I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the pilot.”
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The 1994 Kawasaki BK117, which has been registered to Sydney Helicopters since May 2015, had been contracted by the NSW Rural Fire Service to fight fires.
“The NSW Rural Fire Service can confirm a serious incident involving one of its contracted waterbombing helicopters working on a bush fire in the Shoalhaven area,” a RFS statement said.
“The incident occurred a short time ago on the Kingiman fire, burning west of Ulladulla.”
“Significant resources” from emergency services including a rescue helicopter have been dispatched to the area, a NSW Police spokesman said.
It’s understood nearby naval base HMAS Albatross is also providing assistance.
A Sydney Helicopters spokesman said the company was gathering information about the crash and could not confirm any details about it.
The company’s website notes the it’s helicopters have provided “many hundreds of hours” of aerial waterbombing.
“Every year we supply aircraft to the NSW and ACT Fire Agencies as well as the National Aerial Firefighting Centre to assist with the combat of bushfires in NSW and interstate when required,” it states.
Residents in Hobbs Lane and nearby Evans Lane had been evacuated in recent days by fire crews working to control the fire at Kingiman.
Residents in dairy farming region of Woodstock and Milton said waterbombing aircraft had been flying over the area.
At the height of the fire danger on Wednesday, Woodstock residents were told to seek shelter in solid structures as it was too late for them to safely evacuate.
And it’s happened before
A firefighting pilot crashed in similar circumstances five years ago when his waterbombing plane went down while battling a blaze not far from the scene of Friday’s crash.
David Black, 43, was killed when his Dromader plane crashed in the Budawang National Park, 40km west of Ulladulla, in October 2013.
Four months ago, helicopter pilot Phil O’Driscoll, 45, narrowly survived the second major crash of his career just days after helping save homes from a raging bushfire southwest of Sydney.
His helicopter went down in the Kosciuszko National Park in April.
Miraculously he walked away with only a busted knee, cuts and bruises.
His shocked partner told The Daily Telegraph it was only luck that had seen him survive.
She also said at the time that Mr O’Driscoll believed his 53-year-old UH-1H helicopter had suffered engine failure.
Mr O’Driscoll had previously escaped death after crashing in the Canadian wilderness in 2005, which left him with severe burn scars on his face.