• Short Summary

    A helicopter crashes while lifting cement to mend a Welsh dam.

  • Description

    Full title reads: "Welsh Airlift Ends In Crash (Exclusive)".

    Croesor Valley, Ffestiniog, Wales. A helicopter crashes while lifting cement to mend a Welsh dam.

    MV Sikorsky S-51 helicopter flying in mountains with cement load swinging. MV mountains showing the Croesor dam and helicopter in distance.

    CU Man looking through telescope.

    LV Helicopter with load slung beneath flying through mountains. LV helicopter hovering over depositing site.

    SV Shepherd and two dogs looking on.

    LV Mountains.

    MV Men loading cement bags onto sling in the Croesor Valley. CU Men placing cement on drag.

    CU Helicopter rotor revolving. CU Nose of helicopter as it rises.

    SV Shepherd looking on. CU Drag being lifted from ground. SV Helicopter on way to dam. LV helicopter flying over mountains towards dam.

    CU Man looking on. MV Helicopter descends rapidly and crashes. SV Crashed aircraft.

    SV Pilot, Dennis Bryan, explaining to two other men what happened.

  • Tags

  • Data

    Film ID:
    1413.36
    Media URN:
    46039
    Group:
    Pathe newsreels
    Archive:
    British Pathé
    Issue Date:
    30/05/1949
    Sound:
    sound
    HD Format:
    Available on request
    Stock:
    Black & White
    Duration:
    00:01:24:00
    Time in/Out:
    01:51:09:00 / 01:52:33:00
    Canister:
    49/43

Comments (6)

  1. Unknown user says

    The helicopter's Reg. No. was G-AKCU.

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  2. Unknown user says

    The craft was being operated by British European Airways (BEA). Aviation records record this helicopter as "Crashed 24/5/49. Written Off".

    "Festiniog" should read "Ffestiniog".

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  3. Unknown user says

    This helicopter also appears, (under happier circumstances!), in clip 1424.28.

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  4. Unknown user says

    More footage for this story can be seen in clip 2489.10.

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  5. Unknown user says

    Thanks. Some interesting information!

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  6. TimWelch says

    I am Denys Bryon's grandson, please note the spelling of his name. I have a copy of the original report of the crash from the British European Airways Air Safety Committee, published 10 August 1949. This was an experimental Helicopter Unit of the BEA and their findings were that down gusts around the landing area caused the crash. This was Denys' 14th trip up from the valley, and the aircraft had lost power in the previous flight but recovered. The flight started at 12:28pm and the report states at 200ft a "violent up-gust" followed by a "down-gust on final approach" resulted in a high rate of descent and falling rotor RPM. We are very lucky he survived to have two children, 5 grandchildren and live a long life, moving to Canada after the war and working for the RCAF, and subsequently Supply and Services Canada before happily retiring. He passed away in 1990.

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