helicopter down Dakar Rallye 2009

[Spunk]

Dakar 2009 (http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=666_1231400740)

What happened?

[VEMD]

I just heard in the news, 2 helicopters down in 2 days!!!!!:eek:???I watched a 350 ENG hitting on the ground during the rally Dakar between Argentina & Chile...
Any update?

[206Fan]

Another video on youtube of it hitting the sand.

YouTube - Accidente Helicóptero - Helicopter Accident - Dakar 2009 (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=XYROgMqJJcM)

YouTube - ¡¡Helicopter Crash!! Dakar 2009 Amazing!! Cayo un Helicoptero Dakar Argentina Chile Increible (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=p6LtxKqGUvM&eurl=http://video.aol.com/video-detail/dakar-2009-helicopter-crash-amazing-cayo-un-helicoptero-dakar-argentina-chile-increible/3549)


Dave

[RVDT]

Hmmm............... let me see. Which way does all the dust and smoke go after the impact. I reckon as much as 15-20 by the wind noise in the audio.

Better videos in the other post of the actual impact from 2 different angles.

Not entirely accurate but one of the Tube comments gives the position of the accident and from information available I would put the DA somewhere around ~7000'.

[BigMike]

Looking at the videos, 10-15+ tailwind, fast, close to ground... always going to end in tears. Lucky neither rolled over.

[kevin_mayes]

That will be an interesting recovery job, bet its miles from anywhere....
K

[206Fan]

They will have to get the camels in to tow it out..:E

[nigelh]

what is the problem with low and fast with 10 -15 downwind ?? The helicopter doesnt know its downwind :confused: Low and SLOW may be more likely.

[flopter]

.....here's a different view (http://www.break.com/index/racing-copter-crashes-in-desert.html)

[deeper]

davyo7, llamas maybe, no camels in South America,:E

[Ned-Air2Air]

That sucks, the guys doing the helo ops on the rally this year is EcoCopter from Chile and thats one of their newest B3s that it shows on the ground.

Just heard from Francisco the other day as they were ferrying the helos across the Andes mountains for the start of the race.

Ned

[Hilico]

Low and slow downwind - no, the a/c doesn't know. However, if for whatever reason it needs to auto, it's effectively doing it in still air, which is tougher than having wind across the disk. But please shoot me down...

[Rotorhead412]

Does anyone know of a worldwide database of helicopter accidents?

Like i know the Irish Database for example, but for all CAA accidents, where does one go to find these accident reports/ pre-limary findings etc?:confused:

[eivissa]

There are quite a few, you will find a big database at
Griffin Helicopters | Home Page (http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/)

cheers eivissa.

[Rotorhead412]

Yea ive seen that site alright! Watched all their vids like a million times!

Note to self: never try and teach yourself to fly! :D