Heli Crash in Fiji

[TimTooWindy]

Fiji News reported on a helicopter crashing into the sea on the 12th April near Suva. The Kiwi pilot was alone and escaped injury.Apparently the cause of the crash was weather related?.

[Diatryma]

http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

http://flickr.com/photos/dsheehy/585516834/

Happier days!

Di :(http://l.yimg.com/www.flickr.com/images/spaceball.gif

[wrior]

Tropical downpours have caught out more pilots lacking proper experience than we realise. This being the second incident in Fiji reported as a result of an extreme weather occurance. Almost 100% humidity where clouds are forming at treetop height at sea level combined with heavy tropical downpour, visibility can reduce from a couple of thousand meters down to hundreds in less than a minute. Loss of situational awareness in these conditions at flight altitudes of less than 200' and low airspeed can occur very quickly and subtley often resulting in the aircraft contacting the surface or water. Think carefully before you enter this type of flight regime with excessive airspeed as well as this could result in a similar situation requiring extreme manouvers not recomended in these low altitude and low visibility conditions.
Keep safe!

[ems300]

hmmm, wonder if the pilot will stay clear off the water now as well as the wind!!:ok:

[Heli-phile]

Apparently the flight was a 2 ship deadleg flight. Upon landing, lead aircraft realised 2nd was missing and retraced route and found 1 x pilot bobbing in the ocean and picked him up.

Well done that man!!:ok:

[Helipolarbear]

Must have been on 'radio silence' just in case, so that they could hear the clouds forming!!!:}

[ems300]

hmm i wonder if it was like trying to pick up a bobbing apple in your mouth with your hands tied behind your back? :p
You have to watch those clouds, they do tell you when there are going to form appparently, he must be like a cloud whisperer or something? does he really have magical powers?:D

[TimTooWindy]

Yeh i was thinking about heading back down to the glaciers. Thats my real calling in life. I feel at home in the mountains and i'm sure any of the operators will be lining up to employ me.

[Rotorhead412]

Hmm.. I'd employ you... But im in serious debt with flying hourse at the moment so unfortunately i can't even afford a sandwich at the mo!

Ah well, could well be weather related but all the same, there isn't really any terrain to come into contact with out there is there? And considering it was a squirrel!? After all, they can take a reasonable amount of bashin! If that be the appropriate word?