Helicopter Accidents

Year 1977 accidents

Westland Wessex Accidents

Year	Version	C/N
1977	has.31	wa213	N7-213 : Westland Wessex Mk.31A, c/n WA213, f/f:18/02/63; del RAN as N7-213, 823, 01Mar63; On board HMAS Melbourne, Spithead Deployment, 28/04/77, until ditched with HS817, unk; noted at RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset, UK, 22-28Jun77, to participate in mass flypast for Queens Silver Jubilee celebration, (only RAN helo to take part).; Ditched 13/07/77, North Sea, Europe. The aircraft was performing plane guard duties from HMAS Melbourne on Exercise Highwood in the Irish Sea with Lt(P) Phil Pinniger RAN. The carrier was in the process of launching A-4G Skyhawks at the time. The Wessex ditched and Lt Pinniger, Aircrewman Bob Cousins and ships diver, Abata Richard Stanford exited the aircraft. The aircraft was then cut in half by the destroyer HMAS Brisbane that had steamed into position to pick up the aircrew. Divers from Melbourne attached crane cables and airframe less its tail section was raised onto the deck. Portion of fuselage now in private ownership at Auburn, NSW as of 1998.