Black smoke probed into cause of firefighting chopper’s dam crash in remote Gippsland

Investigators will look at whether thick smoke was partly to blame for a firefighting helicopter crash in remote Gippsland, which temporarily grounded similar aircraft across Australia.

Investigators will look at whether thick smoke was partly to blame for a firefighting helicopter crash in remote Gippsland. Picture: Nine News Melbourne.

Australia’s fleet of ­Erickson Aircrane firefighting helicopters was temporarily grounded on Tuesday, as authorities began an investigation into the crash of one of them into a Gippsland dam.

The helicopter — nicknamed “Christine” and capable of dumping 6000 litres of water at a time — was one of 10 aircraft being used to battle bushfires in the hills near the Thomson Dam.

The three-man crew, two pilots and an engineer from the US and Canada, were ­refilling the Aircrane when it crashed into the dam near Mt Gregory about 7pm on Monday. The trio suffered minor injuries but have since been ­released from hospital.

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The chopper that crashed into a dam in Gippsland. Picture: Nine News Melbourne.

After Tuesday’s safety ­inspections, Victoria’s second Aircrane was cleared to keep operating, along with two ­others in New South Wales and one in South Australia.

Severe fire conditions are predicted today and a total fire ban has been declared in the Mallee, Wimmera and South West regions.

The fire danger rating is listed as very high in Central, North Central and Northern Country districts.

Temperatures in the northwest of the state are tipped to push as high as 40C on Wednesday, with Melbourne forecast to reach a maximum of 37C.

Three crew members of an American water bomber have miraculously escaped after it plunged into a dam while fighting fires in Gippsland. @LanaMurphy #9News pic.twitter.com/Yl4RXJS2fd

— Nine News Melbourne (@9NewsMelb) January 29, 2019

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp said Wednesday was a “spike day” for fire danger before some respite before temperatures rose again on Sunday.

“On the western side … It’s going to be dry and really hot,” he said.

“The fire that is causing us some concern at the moment, and that is a bit of a challenge, is in the Thomson water catchment area.”

That fire was last night burning near Glenfalloch and Aberfeldy.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Darrin McKenzie, of Forest Fire Management Victoria, confirmed that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, WorkSafe and Victoria Police were all probing the Aircrane crash into the dam.

“There’s a number of ­hazards, obviously smoke and visibility and operating in a smoky environment,” he said.

Mr McKenzie said the highly-trained crew were spending the summer in Australia.,

“It would have been a significant shock, as you would expect, but their training stood them in good stead.

“That kicked in straight away and they were able to swim to the shore where they were able to receive medical attention,” Mr McKenzie said

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