Serious Injuries, as Load Gets Away From Them...

New Zealand ANN Reader Bernie Arnel, told us, "A local sunday newspaper (Sunday Star Times) had a report of two persons flown from McMurdo Base in Antarctica [ca 2000 miles away] on Friday 17th [times local NZ time] to Christchurch after a helicopter crash... One person described as having spinal injuries. A Base spokesman is reported to have refused to comment."

We couldn't get any more than this preliminary report. We hope the heli-men are recovering OK --ed.

**   Report created 1/21/2003   Record 3   **
IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 1079U        Make/Model: B12      Description: 212, 412, TWIN TWO-TWELVE, GRI
  Date: 01/16/2003     Time: 2100
  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Serious     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
  City: FRYXELL, ANTARTICA   State:    Country: US
DESCRIPTION
  ACFT DURING HOVER FLIGHT WITH AN EXTERNAL LOAD ATTACHMENT, STARTED A RAPID DESCENT, IMPACTING SURFACE, RESULTING WITH A HARD LANDING, FRYXELL, ANTARTICA
INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:  1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   1     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
WEATHER: VFR
OTHER DATA
  Activity: Business      Phase: Maneuver      Operation: General Aviation
  Departed: LAKE FRYXELL, ANTART        Dep Date: 01/16/2003   Dep. Time: 2100
  Destination: LAKE FRYXELL,ANT.        Flt Plan: NONE         Wx Briefing: U
  Last Radio Cont: NONE
  Last Clearance: NONE
  FAA FSDO: BATON ROUGE, LA  (SW03)               Entry date: 01/21/2003