Gyrocopter pilot killed, northern SA

[Gnarly Gnu]

This is sad...

 

"THE pilot of a gyrocopter mustering stock on an Outback station has been killed in a crash in the state’s Far North.

 

Emergency services were notified of the accident on New Crown Station, about 200km north east of Marla, about 1pm.

 

The pilot — who was the sole occupant of the gyrocopter — died at the scene.

 

Major Crash investigators have been notified of the incident Northern Territory and South Australia police have been dispatched to the scene."

 

 

[Roundsounds]

Reported elsewhere as a Cessna 150?

 

 

[red750]

This article identifies the pilot.

 

No Cookies | Perth Now

 

 

[Roundsounds]

Man killed in light plane crash near SA-NT border - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[red750]

Man killed in light plane crash near SA-NT border - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

That's the report which incorrectly stated that it was a Cessna 150. There are a number of other reports (see Google) which report it as a gyrocopter.

 

 

[kaz3g]

It also geographically misplaced the accident location which was reported to be south of the border and is actually north of it.

 

Kaz

 

 

[kaz3g]

Well...ABC got it right for once. Perth Now has issued a correction and it was a C150.

 

Very sad in either case.

 

Kaz

 

 

[nong]

The C150 stall/spin has been a standard mustering accident over the years.

 

I have often thought lives would be saved if there was a way to mechanically limit rearward elevator travel during flight. Possibly a two-position travel stop.

 

The same might apply to the pedals.

 

C150s have nose-up elevator travel/authority that is excess to that required for normal ops. It is only useful for deliberate spin entry or max effort, short, "bang the tie down loop on the deck" type landings, or boggy strip ops.

 

Imagine if the pilot could select the extra travel, only when required. For the bulk of operations the travel limited, stall/spin protection, would be in place.

 

Anyway, food for thought in a new design.

 

In comparison,

 

I admire the way Jabiru have provided "only just enough" elevator authority on the J160. In other words, sufficient nose-down to cover full flap and full throttle go-around with rear limit C of G, and sufficient nose-up to cover a glide approach round-out at forward limit C of G.

 

This has a lot to do with the scarcity of J160 stall/spin accidents.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

The C150 stall/spin...I have often thought lives would be saved if there was a way to mechanically limit rearward elevator travel during flight. Possibly a two-position travel stop.

... Anyway, food for thought in a new design...

Good thoughts Nong. I've often been fascinated by the tiny range of movement of a Jab elevator.

Certification rules make change very difficult. Like one crazy medieval religion I could name, orthodoxy sets the first version in stone. There's almost no hope of progress and evolution of the design.

 

 

[facthunter]

Limited elevator authority will make a plane less likely to stall. The pilot can always limit it if he/she understands the concept of stall stick position also. The washout on the Cessna's wings makes them quite docile and you can still use the ailerons (but you shouldn't use too much and it's not a good habit either) The plane won't stall without the pilot doing it (unless it's damaged or loaded wrong).. Nev

 

 

[ave8rr]

ATSB...

 

Investigation: AO-2016-074 - Collision with terrain involving Cessna 150G, VH-RXU, 185 km NNW Oodnadatta, SA, on 12 July 2016

 

 

[gibby]

 

Tatts Finke Desert Race

 

[/url]July 14 at 5:32pm[/url] · · Sports

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statement from the Finke Desert Race Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Tuesday we received the devastating news that Billy Hayes of Deep Well Station had been killed in a light plane accident whilst mustering cattle on New Crown Station. Billy was doing what he loved; working on the land with cattle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He was a father, an esteemed cattleman, a character and a talented bike rider, but most of all he was our friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...

 

 

 

 

Billy was a great supporter of motorcycle racing and he revelled in the Deep Well Enduro and the Finke Desert Race; both of which were on his door step. He loved Finke and along with supporting many riders he was a keen competitor. An accomplished but unassuming rider, he finished Finke in outright third position in 1998 on a CR500 alongside his mates Rick Hall and Stephen Greenfield. This was a hugely popular result with three local fella’s doing what they loved in Billy’s back yard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Throughout the 2000’s the camping crowds along the Finke track began to surge and despite Deep Well bearing the brunt of campers, Billy wanted to work with the Finke Committee. He recognised how much the event meant to so many others and didn’t want to restrict camping, but it was reaching a stage where the amount of rubbish left by campers was having an impact on his livelihood of running Deep Well as a cattle station. Together we worked to educate people around responsible camping - taking your rubbish home and being careful with fire. This year was in his words the best he had seen post event and he was a happy man. This year also saw eldest son Luke (pictured with Billy) finish 6th outright in Finke. Billy was a mighty proud father.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is an old saying - you never know how much you miss a place until you leave. The same can be said about friends - you often don’t realise how much they mean to you until they are gone. Shock has now turned to sorrow and a sense of great sadness with many people affected by Bill’s passing. Along with grieving, be mindful that we all handle these events differently. Some will want space, others will need comfort. Don’t be too proud to seek out your mates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To mother Jan Hayes, we offer our deepest condolences. Both your husband Billy Snr and son Billy are two men that so many of us were proud to call our friends. They are now just that little bit too far away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To Billy’s boys and extended family, we were so lucky to know Billy and share a part of our lives with him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will all hold on to those memories.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vale Billy Hayes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[facthunter]

That's a terrific tribute, gibby. Without people like you we would never know these things. Behind every event there is the human side. Nev