Pilot keeps cool to make great escape
Helicopter pilot Rick Lucas has spoken of his survival after his chopper when down in the Pauatahanui Inlet, north of Wellington, describing how he ended up trapped underwater with a stuck seatbelt.
Lucas emerged unharmed after the twin-engine BK117 chopper he was flying crashed into the water near Porirua about 11.30am yesterday.
Afterwards, he said he immediately knew he was in trouble. ‘‘I thought ‘this was it’ ... I feel a bit lucky.’’
Heliforce director Dave Borlase confirmed Lucas was flying for the company. It was not yet known what caused the crash, but as far as he was aware Lucas’ flight had started out normally.
Lucas said he had been using the helicopter to lift power poles.
’’I felt quite an intense vibration that got worse and worse and the machine started to rotate so I just carried out what I considered to be the normal emergency procedures – and got away with it.’’
He closed the throttles and lowered the lever to try to stop the rotation.
‘‘But it was still a significant impact and I ended up under the water. I couldn’t get the seatbelt off,’’ he said.
’’[I] got my seatbelt off and couldn’t tell up from down until I saw some light and I was able to head towards the light and emerge in the cockpit – so I was pretty happy.’’
Lucas said he was able to keep his cool.
‘‘I didn’t panic. I almost went into some sort of state that allows you to think logically and consciously.
‘‘I looked for the seatbelt, found it and, yeah, thought my leg was trapped, which was my biggest concern.’’
Lucas has been flying for 35 years and said this was the second tail rotor failure in his lifetime – but this incident was his worst.
His only injury was a cut to his mouth. The blow to his helmet had also been quite hard, but he considered himself very lucky.
‘‘I’m thankful there was nobody else involved and thankful that when it all goes bad you don’t forget your basics and your training ... I think that’s what saved me.’’
Lucas said he had ‘‘absolute faith’’ in helicopters and planned to fly again.
He was pleased that two kayakers had paddled out to check on him.
’’Andy and Rick, great guys, thanks very much. I think they were expecting the worst, they were pretty happy to see me sitting on top of the helicopter.’’
Precision Helicopters manager Matt Newton said he saw the chopper go down. ’’I just burst into tears when I saw the pilot climb up out of it.’’
Transport Accident Investigation Commission air investigations manager Peter Williams confirmed an investigation was under way.
Lucas was the owner of failed helicopter company Helipro, which was put into receivership in late 2014 owing an estimated $25-$30 million. The company closed five of its bases, including one at Wellington’s Queens Wharf, in November that year.