Helicopter down in the Jungle

[BOD]

Sadly, a non-survival story.

Not much you can do with an engine cut out and a 70 degree mountain slope below you. These Sikorskys apparently have a history of fuel pump failure some one told me.

Just 10 minutes flying time from their capital city base and they were over rugged mountains and were not found for several days.

Some of the rescuers got lost too. The video was shot from the road as the crew did not go into the jungle


http://videos.thestar.com.my/default.aspx?vid=157

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/18/nation/18336050&sec=nation&focus=1

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/18/nation/18338170&sec=nation

 

[Fin]

Sadly, a non-survival story.

Not much you can do with an engine cut out and a 70 degree mountain slope below you. These Sikorskys apparently have a history of fuel pump failure some one told me.

Just 10 minutes flying time from their capital city base and they were over rugged mountains and were not found for several days.

Some of the rescuers got lost too. The video was shot from the road as the crew did not go into the jungle


http://videos.thestar.com.my/default.aspx?vid=157

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/18/nation/18336050&sec=nation&focus=1

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/18/nation/18338170&sec=nation

Sad story. As a military pilot I always show an intense interest in accidents such as these - as do all pilots (what went wrong, what were the conditions, what remedial action was carried out, what would I have done, would I have survived it etc etc). The board of inquiry will establish all and make the necessary recommendations.

Incidentally, having also done a jungle survival course, I can say that getting lost in primary rainforest is the easiest thing in the world! I once left our camp, at night, to go on a "shovel recce" and completely lost my bearings. I couldn't have been more than 20 - 30 yds away from the camp but had no idea which direction. I ended up having to sit it out (and getting eaten alive by every crawler you can think of) until morning when the noise of the camp waking led me to them! Lesson? A compass never leaves your body in the jungle even if you have to sleep with it!

 

[BOD]

I've been turned around and disoriented 10 metres from a trail I know well. Only by looking at a small stream's direction was I able to orientate myself again.

Any one can pound a trail once you are off it is when the fun begins.

I know of an instance of a group of survival intructors who had a similar tale as you Fin, though they were a bit further away from camp than you.