Helicopter crashes at Waiouru

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 24, 15 November 1983, Page 14

Helicopter crashes at Waiouru

A Sioux helicopter of No. 3 Squadron RNZAF crashed near Waiouru last Friday morning injuring all three occupants, one of them seriously. Wreckage was spread over a 50m x 200m area on a ridge above a deep gully. Major David Roseveare, Staff Officer Grade 2 Operationsat the ATG, said that the accident happened at 10.10am during a routine reconnaissance flight as part of a training exercise for Army officers. The crash occurred in full view of the 20 or so other officers on the course who would have just taken their turn or were about to take their turn in the helicopter. It was through their radios that Waiouru emergency services were summoned. Those injured were the pilot, Army Captain Peter John Speedy, 29, married of

Auckland, Major Phillip Blundell, 31, married of Waiouru and Captain Gary Lough, 29, married of Auckland. Major Blundell is believed to be seriously ill with back injuries and is in the spinal unit of Auckland's Middlemore Hospital. He and the other two less seriously injured officers were lifted from the accident site — on the Harding property west of S.H.l and about 1 '/2 miles south of the Waiouru township by another RNZAF Iroquois helicopter which, just fortuitously, happened to be on a similar exercise in the area. The presence of the second helicopter meant that all three accident victims could be moved out by air instead of running the risk of sustaining further injury had they been evacuated by 4WD Army ambulances. Major Blundell and Captain Speedy were flown to Palmerston North Hospital for emergency treatment. Because of his spinal injuries, Major Blundell was transferred by helicopter to Middlemore. Captain Lough werit first to Waiouru Hospital but was then taken to Palmerston North by the

same Iroquois helicopter when it returned. A court of inquiry was convened in Waiouru on Friday afternoon to investigate the cause of the accident. Major Blundell will be . well known locally ... he was the organiser of this year's Desert Fair in Waiouru.