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Tragic read; two Brit's lost in plane crash.

8K views 42 replies 27 participants last post by  fredaevans 
#1 ·
Two British fly fishermen killed in helicopter accident in Russian Arctic


By Tom Parfitt, Moscow

4:23PM BST 21 Jul 2013

The anglers, both believed to be in their late 60s, were killed in the crash along with their local guide at a tourist camp on the Rynda river about 90 miles east of Murmansk, on the Kola Peninsula.

The area is well-known for high-end fly-fishing tours for Atlantic salmon, and TV celebrity Chris Tarrant has been among past guests catching fish of 40lbs and more.

There were conflicting reports about the circumstances of the accident.

Some sources told news agencies a Eurocopter-120 had been hit by a freak gust of wind as it tried to take off and fell on the three men, who were standing nearby after just arriving on the helicopter.

Russia's Investigative Committee, however, indicated the aircraft had already landed.


"After the helicopter landed on the ground it tilted on its side and hit its passengers with its rotor blades," it said. "The pilot was also injured."

A spokesman for the British embassy in Moscow confirmed the death of two British citizens but said he could not reveal the identities of the men or the circumstances of the crash while relatives were being informed.

A company called Atlantic Salmon Reserve runs an isolated fishing camp with comfortable cabins called Rynda Lodge on the river of the same name.

The company could not be contacted for comment on Sunday.

Justin Maxwell Stuart, who runs UK-based travel agency Where Wise Men Fish, has organised tours to the camp in the past. He said: "It's awful news. As far as I know this is the first such incident with a helicopter since fishing began on the Kola Peninsula."

Ally Gowans, a fly fishing instructor from Pitlochry in Scotland who visited Rynda Lodge last month, said: "They have a resident Eurocopter at the camp which the pilot uses to ferry guests – usually two anglers and a guide – to their fishing beat for the day.

"The camp is tremendously well run. I was very impressed with how careful they were about safety and the pilot was exceptionally good.

"I'm lost for words."
 
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#2 ·
Most tragic indeed.

I have fished the Rynda 3 times, the last a few years ago, and the choppers used for transport to your daily 'beat' was via an ex-military Mi2 (Russian), and always with Russian pilots. The same choppers were used on Kharlovka/E Litza, as the same company (ASR) ran the operations at the 2 different base-camp sites.

Some of the drop-off/pick-up points were actually within the canyon walls of some parts of the rivers, but most were way up away from the river on flatter ground 'high spots' which had to be hiked up to at the end of your day's fishing.

Gusting winds along the river canyons could be a problem for touch-downs & take-offs.

The relatively recent change of 'ownership'/controlling CEO of the ASR operations may have been accompanied by a change from the older Mi2 machines to the Eurocopters, and then, flown by non-Russians, as the ex-military Russian pilots would not be familiar with these newer machines.

I really feel for the families of the men killed, which did apparently include the accompanying Russian guide. It must be also a massive shock to those other 12+ fishermen at the same camp at the very start of their fishing week.


Mike
 
#7 ·
You 'OK?'

I meant nothing disrespectful, Old Men have History, and I don't know these.

Monied? Probably, given the nature of the trip. But how many of 'us' have done the same? A week in Alaska, the Descutes River, the Rogue, South America, New Zealand, pick a place. It's the young men who do the above who become " Old Men" and sit in a chair looking at photos.

Some day, you may well be there, and understand.

fae
 
#9 ·
No, I am not "OK" Fred.

Probably this is the reason why I usually get close to no support from people like you. Only notes on my windshield and then half of the "brotherhood" chiming in in support of the offender.

You want me to express my grief and offer my condolences? Because this is what is expected?

I am sick and tired of mean-nothing how-are-you's. Take what I offer at face value.

People die all over the world. Some died under bombs dropped by the Brits in Iraq. Why were the bombs dropped? To make someone richer. So that someone can go after 40 pounders on the Kola.

I did not know the people. With the scarcity of information there is nothing I can offer.

klickrolf,I am not pleased at anything in this situation.
You guys can add replies under my positive additions to the forum, but you chose to pick on what you perceived as a callous one. Your choice.

This thread got hijacked. Please comment on post #1, not my posts!

P.S. Fred, drop a PM to sinktip, he may ban me and this will save me time, and help the brotherhood (or what has remained) coexist peacefully. I am not going to get my ideas across. It has been a useless battle. :)
 
#11 ·
Rynda tragedy

I know the camp, the river, the staff for many years and love the place!

My thought's are with the victims , family and friends. Sasha was a very nice person and it was fun to fish with him...

My father is in the camp this week and i'm absoutly shocked about cougars comments- what a poor person....

rynda
 
#14 ·
My condolences to the families involved.

My understanding of the accident is that the pilot went to take off while the anglers and guide were still under the rotor footprint. Something (possibly a strong gust of wind) caused the helicopter to list and tip over - the men were apparently shredded by the the 'copter's main blades while standing outside the fuselage. If true, it's a terrible way to die, and quite senseless.

I've flown on a lot of bush planes, not too many helicopters for fishing. However, in my experience, the pilot should not be attempting landings or take-offs with people underneath or close by for exactly the possible accident scenario described. Anyways, hopefully an investigation will determine the cause of the accident.

Anyone who uses bush flying (planes and helicopters) unfortunately takes a significantly higher risk than commercial aviation. Over the years I've been in a few 'tight pucker' situations, which fortunately turned out ok. Sadly, accidents do happen.

As for Cougar's comments - totally out of line and classless, and I'll leave it at that.
 
#16 ·
Helicopter safety

One of my worst fears is what happened to these fisherman. In my work in the forest often I am dropped off by helicopter and the position we are asked to take is crouched down beside the strut where the pilot can see you while he takes off.
Sometimes there is no place to land so the pilot will position a strut on the top of a log or the edge or a rock bluff then tell you to exit the chopper carefully. Often there is no place to go other than crouched down beside the strut.

The reasoning as I understand it is that it is the safest place to be incase of a catastrophic failure of the rotor.
It made sense to me until now.

At least they passed doing what the loved.
 
#18 ·
I was not going to comment but was compelled after reading Cougar's response. Next time Cougar just don't comment you have proved Mark Twain's comment on fools "it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." These guys were probably someone's father, brother, etc and no inheritance will replace them. My dad and fishing partner passed away last year and no money or inheritance can ever replace him. On another note you are certainly quite bitter and it seems jealous of anyone better off than you. You come from a communist country and it seems still believe in the communist doctrine of no ownership, etc. If things are so good in this respect than move back to a communist country. I'm always amazed at the people who move to the USA or Canada and then complain about the system or how better it is elsewhere, if so then move back to where you came from!!!
 
#19 ·
Cougar,

I am not going to ban you yet because I do believe in you being able to express your opinion. The Speypages is not a place where you are pressured to think the same as everyone else. It is also though not a place where you can choose to be a dick and incite others. In my opinion, you are choosing the latter path. So your continued membership here is up to you. Be respectful or go elsewhere.

Duggan
 
#26 ·
Agree



Sinktip,
Thank goodness you have stepped in and said your piece and tried to keep this thread on track and not let it get high jacked by a fool..
Condolences to the families,not sure who they are but a friend of mine who is not so well off saved up for a couple of years to make that trip this year,hope he was not involved?.
Chris.
 
#21 ·
Mi2

Actually, I do know a bit about those copters.

Leftovers from wwII, and these days they do get in regular incidents/crashes these days. No wonder, they are years after their mechanical prime.

They were sold off to lots of folks who acquired them for various purposes.



(As for cougars comments, I may not agree with what he says ---but I will defend his right to say it.

Let consequences fall where they may; for good or for bad. We are all adults .)
 
#24 ·
Actually, I do know a bit about those copters.

Leftovers from wwII, and these days they do get in regular incidents/crashes these days. No wonder, they are years after their mechanical prime.

They were sold off to lots of folks who acquired them for various purposes.



(As for cougars comments, I may not agree with what he says ---but I will defend his right to say it.

Let consequences fall where they may; for good or for bad. We are all adults .)
The mi2s were retired last year and replaced with brand new eurocopters... Having fished here before this is very sad news and condolences go out to all family's involved.....
 
#25 ·
loss

I feel real bad for these guys and their families. I am sure their grandchildren will be remembering how they passed and what they were doing. It is my hope they don't do too much thinking about how it happened.

We take risks doing what we love to do and bad things can happen. Sending my prayers and thoughts to their families as thoughtful and respectful others on this forum do.

Had a fair amount of experience on and off choppers about 44 years ago and always couldn't wait to clear the shadow.

Every day above ground is a good one.
Loren
 
#27 ·
The tolerance of rivers and fish

Rivers and fish are very tolerant. They don't care how far you've travelled to get there or how much you are spending to wade into them and fish for them. I've never seen a fish looking up to see if I'm wearing Simms waders or fishing a Hardy reel. Some of us have more money or gear than others of us. Some of us have worked hard or not so hard to get wear we are. Some of us are young bucks, others old heads. Rivers and fish are the great levelers of men. When I meet another fisherman on the water he's my brother till proven otherwise. I assume he or she has come there to plug into the same source of peace and energy that I am there for. I come to Speypages to tap into conversations related to fishing when I can't get out on the river. I don't think it's unreasonable to me to expect tolerance and acceptance here. Cougar, step up to the plate or stay home. Gene Brenowitz.
 
#29 ·
Rivers and fish are very tolerant. They don't care how far you've travelled to get there or how much you are spending to wade into them and fish for them. I've never seen a fish looking up to see if I'm wearing Simms waders or fishing a Hardy reel. Some of us have more money or gear than others of us. Some of us have worked hard or not so hard to get wear we are. Some of us are young bucks, others old heads. Rivers and fish are the great levelers of men. When I meet another fisherman on the water he's my brother till proven otherwise. I assume he or she has come there to plug into the same source of peace and energy that I am there for. I come to Speypages to tap into conversations related to fishing when I can't get out on the river. I don't think it's unreasonable to me to expect tolerance and acceptance here. Cougar, step up to the plate or stay home. Gene Brenowitz.[/QUOTE

Hear hear.....I second your comments whole heartedly...There are lots of people who work very hard and choose to spend their hard earnt cash on whatever they like...some have saved for years for a trip of a lifetime..No one has the right to make disrespectful comments....
Condolences to the families of the 3 poor souls who lost their lives in what seems like a tragic accident. R.I.P

Shirl
 
#31 ·
Tragic Loss for many families...

It certainly strikes home to all of us who fish in far distant places.

They were just at their beat experiencing all of the excitement of that moment and then it was gone in a flashing instant.

Tip of the cap to them and wish we could have fished together and shared a dram or two at the end of the day.

Condolences to all of their families and friends.

Taft
 
#33 ·
My Thought on Why It Happened

By the introduction of the Eurocopter, a wonderful modern bird, the passengers forgot the lesson learned over the years from riding on the Russian flying trucks...

Upon landing quickly move way away from the helicopter and turn away, crouch down, hold onto your cap and protect your eyes since the down blast is incredible as the MI-8 or whatever, flies away.

The pic in the thread shows a really easy and wide open landing zone.

No good answers...

8 (
 
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