Thread: FIRE FIGHTING PILOT DIES- NSW BUSHFIRES

Tragic lost of a person that risked his life for the safety of others.
A true hero in my book.
R.I.P.

Rest In Peace David

There is a second fatal accident in Victoria were the pilot, who died at the scene, had been delivering parts for helicopters used in the fire-fighting efforts in New South Wales.

A very sad day indeed

Originally Posted by Chucaro

There is a second fatal accident in Victoria were the pilot, who died at the scene, had been delivering parts for helicopters used in the fire-fighting efforts in New South Wales.

A very sad day indeed

Yes, we had the report yesterday afternoon. I was ready to head out there if the search planes found anything

AS PILOT David Black headed to the state's South Coast to help the Rural Fire Service with firefighting efforts, his wife Julie posted a message "safe flying today, everyone" on Facebook.

But tragically, the Trangie father-of-three was killed yesterday, becoming the second victim of the Red October bushfires when the fixed-wing aircraft he was using to help with waterbombing crashed in rugged bushland west of Ulladulla.


A wing is believed to have snapped off the M-18 Dromader aircraft, causing it to plunge into a remote section of the Budawang National Park about 10am.

Mr Black, 43, was the owner of Rebel Agricultural in Trangie, from where the aircraft had been hired on behalf of the RFS. It was one of Rebel's two aircraft helping with the fires in the Wirrittin Mountain area.

Paramedics were winched into the crash site and confirmed the pilot, the only person on board, was deceased.

The pilot was a long way from his home in Trangie.Source: DailyTelegraph

Other waterbombing aircraft were called in to the crash site in an attempt to douse the fire there.

The M18A Dromader has previously been investigated for an in-flight wing collapse after a crop sprayer involved in a 2008 fatal crash in rural NSW had lost part of its right wing. The outcome was inconclusive.

Mr Black's body was due to be retrieved from the wreckage overnight.

RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons last night paid tribute to Mr Black, a true hero of the bushfires.

''It's a tragedy for the fire-fighting community but first and foremost it's a tragedy for this man's family,'' he said.

''He's a husband with young children and we're all acutely aware there's a family suffering today because their dad didn't come home.''


The waterbomber was hitting fires in the Budawang National Park when the plane went down.Source: Supplied


On his Facebook page, Mr Black recently posted a phrase about the fragility of life. "Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile," Mr Black wrote.

Air Safety Transport Bureau inspectors were on their way to the crash site last night to investigate.

NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell said the pilot's death highlighted the danger all emergency service personnel faced every day while protecting the community.

"They put themselves in danger on our behalf and we are all truly grateful. This loss will be a particular blow to the brave men and women who have worked so hard saving property and protecting lives during this crisis," Mr O'Farrell said.

"Can an angel die?"

“Safe flying today everyone”
Dave’s wife sent out the call
Best wishes to pilots to get the job done
As once more they answered the call

They fly alone but as part of our group
Like us they are dads, husbands & fire fighters
Down onto fires the repeatedly swoop
Making our task down here lighter

Providing a mantle of safety and coverage
They drop water and foam from the sky
admired by firefighters is their aerial courage
Every time they fly by.

They’re with us firies, younger and older,
They are along side us, over us
With a friendly hand over our shoulder
We know they watch over us

The amount of fire they can contain
the speed at which they return
each day they fly is certain
to hugely reduce and limit the burn

They’re with us day and night,
Along side us, and over us
Always over our shoulder
In their “water bombing bus”

they come in ‘copters
they come in planes
in they come again another tree hopper
with a hero at the reins

We call him in for another drop
And as always in he comes
Another load put in from the top
And we move in and clean up the crumbs

With a happy wave as he pulls the stick back
And the sound of the motor increasing
Little did we know a wing would crack
His time with us was soon ceasing.

This time the plane was still in sight
As a wing seemed to slowly came away
After such a low run, he didn’t have the height
And we lost an air angel today.

We lost a colleague, we lost a mate
And that hurt is felt so very deep
But a family now broken due to this cruel fate
And a wife and three kids left to weep

We stand now as a group, a thin line but we stand bravely
We will face whatever comes our way
And we pray to make it back again safely
But today is so sad for today a hero’s journey ends

Spare a thought today for David BLACK,
43 years on this earth but this day he didn’t come back
For his family and mates, and his fire fighting brethren
We know he is another Fire Fighting Angel, watching over us from heaven.

We are with him now, but it’s not the same
We stand, alongside him, crying, as he watches over us
We lift him, in his casket, onto our shoulders
He is again where he always was, he is an angel above us.


I leave you with something David said, and maybe it makes some of this worthwhile:

Life is short, break the rules, forgive quickly, kiss slowly, love truly, laugh uncontrollably, and never regret anything that made you smile"

Rest In Peace David,
Your work is done
Thank you for your service
God bless you and everyone.

The Late David Black 25 October 2013
The Black family and Directors and Staff of Rebel Ag regret to advise the tragic loss of Managing Director and
Chief Pilot, David Black on Thursday morning, 24 October 2013.
At the time of the accident, David was engaged in aerial fire-fighting west of Ulladulla in southern NSW.
The circumstances of the accident will be the subject of an extensive investigation by Air Transport Safety
Bureau, Rural Fire Services NSW and Rebel Ag.
More precise details of the cause of the accident will be released following these investigations.
David completed year 12 at St Peters College in Adelaide. After studying Mechanical Engineering in South
Australia, he pursued a career in aerial application, where from an early stage he demonstrated a high degree of
natural skill, commitment and professionalism.
He was one of the youngest pilots to graduate to turbine aircraft when they were introduced into Australia
during the early 1990s.
David was well regarded throughout the industry and had served in a leadership role as a Director of the Aerial
Agricultural Association of Australia.
At the time of his death aged 43, David had logged around 10,000 flying hours, predominantly in aerial
application.
David was a great believer in continual professional development as evidenced by him gaining an Airline
Transport Pilot Licence, Command Instrument Rating as well as a Masters in Aviation studies from Newcastle
University.
He was a popular and respected figure throughout the tight-knit aerial application industry and had operated in
Malaysia, South Australia, and NSW.
Rebel Ag was established in 1982 and in 2011 David and his wife Julie bought the business and relocated to
Trangie from their family farm at Forbes. Rebel Ag owns and operates a fleet of nine application and
agricultural aircraft servicing the cereal and cotton growing areas of upper and central western NSW as well as
contracting firebombing aircraft and pilots to the Rural Fire Services.
David was a committed and loving husband and father and is survived by his wife Julie and three children.
The family respectfully requests privacy during this difficult time.
The family is not available for interview nor will be making any further comment.

Interim report from ATSB

Investigation: AO-2013-187 - In-flight breakup involving PZL Mielec M18A Dromader aircraft, VH-TZJ, 37 km west of Ulladulla, NSW on 24 October 2013

Martyn