AN IRISH Coast Guard helicopter crew had to issue an emergency alert when it ran into a severe snowstorm off the south coast yesterday.
The Shannon-based Sikorsky helicopter encountered a “white out” which iced up the windscreen and rotor blades, while flying to the aid of an injured Egyptian fisherman on an Irish fishing vessel off the Cork coast.
Winch operator Éamonn Ó Broin told The Irish Times: “It was thanks to our pilot, Capt Rob Goodbody, that we arrived back safely in Cork.” The helicopter had been tasked yesterday morning by Valentia Coast Guard, along with the naval patrol ship LE Orla, after the fisherman was struck by a steel hawser on the deck of the Corona Gloria and sustained head, arm and leg injuries. The fishing vessel was about 70 miles south of Youghal, Co Cork.
“We were about 65 miles out, and within seven miles of the casualty, and were talking to the vessel, when we ran into the white out,” Mr Ó Broin said.
“It had not shown up to this extent on the radar, but within seconds we had about four inches of ice on the windscreen, and the aircraft started acting strangely.” “Capt Goodbody turned around for Cork and issued a “Pan pan” alert, which is next down from a “Mayday” alert,” he said.
Valentia Coast Guard tasked the Waterford-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter and put all RNLI lifeboats in the area on standby, along with LE Orla. Mr Ó Broin said that he and his colleague Davitt Ward prepared the liferaft for ditching, while Capt Goodbody and co-pilot Seán Murphy continued to try and control the situation.
The 40-year old Sikorsky S-61s are not equipped with rotor ice protection systems, and rotor blades are at risk of “over-torquing” or overworking the engine if frozen up.
After about seven minutes, the aircraft windscreen began to clear in improving weather and Capt Goodbody landed at Cork airport.
“The casualty was still in a critical condition, so when we were sure the helicopter was de-iced and safe to fly we took off again,” Mr Ó Broin said.
“The vessel reported that it was out of the snowstorm, and so we were able to locate it and winch the casualty off, flying him to hospital.” Cork University Hospital described the man’s condition as “comfortable” yesterday.