Helicopter Down - Putting up Auckland Xmas tree

[brettw]

Pilot is ok from the TVNZ website. These a live stream

http://www.tvnz.co.nz/

[AgRattler]

Helisika B2 , not good hope everyone ok .

[Pegs]

jesus, glad he is OK.

[Heli]

[youtube]GLB3TD_vSEk[/youtube]

[youtube]lPF6eL-wvYg[/youtube]

Greg appears to be nearly thrown out of the Squirrel, the seat seems to have seriously deficient strength, and why, oh why, wasn't he wearing a helmet!!!

[bladepitch]

Jeez. That was painful to watch. Glad he survived. Poor bloke looked like he was knocked out cold by airframe upon initial impact.

Good luck to your recovery.

[jetty]

Those on the ground were lucky not to be hit by something. Have a listen to the turbine. didn't like it much.

[Bedouin Prince]

Poor bugger. That is a frightening video. Very glad the pilot is "doing ok". Hope he get back in the seat soon.

[Pegs]

It looks like he hit the wire on the left side the machine with the MR blades, and the shock of that severed the tail boom? And thus rotated the machine clockwise, its a bit hard to tell it happens so quickly. Likewise it was very lucky noone on the ground was injured. I hope the pilot Greg? makes a full recovery, the neck and back would have taken a pounding in that accident, had a mate hit the deck shortly after take off with a mag drop only about 20 feet off the floor, he suffered a very badly compressed spine and serious neck injuries, it pretty finished his career as a commercial pilot, and it was three years before he could fly again at all, but he did get back there in time, just not commercially. HE was an experienced pilot with thousands of hours rotary wing. I hope this pilot has a better outcome, it looks like he was walking assisted by two others from the wreckage? That has to be a good sign.

[SuperF]

my 2c

looks like he hit the line he was lifting the load with... still conected to the top of the load, and the helicopter, you can see a line waving around in the wind, and connected to the hook. That would have been grabbed by the blade, flicked around the machine and tried to cut the tail off...... tail failed once it had taken a big enough wack to the side.

then again, could be the metal fairies ripping the helicopter to bits.

[Tactical71]

Initially on seeing the footage without and audio this morning, I though it was a mock up of a helicopter that was dropped. Simply by looking at the guy in the pilots seat, who didnt appear to be wearing any protective clothing or helemt. Then after hearing the audio I realised it was real. All very lucky not be more seriously injured.

[S.H.A.T]

First of all glad Greg and his crew are all ok! A very nasty accident!

my 2c

looks like he hit the line he was lifting the load with... still conected to the top of the load, and the helicopter, you can see a line waving around in the wind, and connected to the hook. That would have been grabbed by the blade, flicked around the machine and tried to cut the tail off...... tail failed once it had taken a big enough wack to the side.

then again, could be the metal fairies ripping the helicopter to bits.

Think you could be spot on SuperF - would explain the erratic movement on the cargo hook the second before the tail separates...

[Nawty]

If you freeze frame it....you see him hanging out the side......helmets are a very very good idea as you can see from the violance of that footage......how did he get in the back seat but ??

[Heli-Ops]

Went for a wander down there soon after. Here is the end result.

http://www.heliopsforum.com/index.php?t ... land.1293/

[Pegs]

looking at all those wires around it makes me feel sick.

[Trailing edge]

Have a close look at the rotor head, it looks like he struck a wire with a blade, putting the disc seriously out of balance before the tail couldn't take it anymore. In any event we will eventually find out. Hopefully the pilot is okay.

TE

[Thumpa]

From what I could see in the video he was initially wearing a helmet which was thrown of from the severity of the crash.

[Guvnor]

looks like the PIC seat came away very easily and that's why he ended up in the back. very lucky the machine ended up the way it did. may have been a different outcome if it landed on its lid or RHS down

[NZHelo]

From what I could see in the video he was initially wearing a helmet which was thrown of from the severity of the crash.

Looks more like a cap to me

[Tactical71]

Yep agreed. Upon closer inspection of the video I can see what appears to be a helmet and his reflective vest over the top of overalls. And yes, the pilots seat does appear to become dislodged fairly early in the accident. Glad to hear he's been discharged so soon.

[Gypsykid]

Very lucky & a sobering reminder of just what it is we do.

All the best to Greg, Jaz & the boys at Helisika.


(.. off to get a helmet. )