National Grid UK

[KiwiNedNZ]

Just thought I would share a couple of the pics from todays shoot with the National Grid guys and the new 429.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/AAA%20Helo%20images/Grid0411_zpsbc99599d.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/AAA%20Helo%20images/Grid0858_zps2945ef2a.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/AAA%20Helo%20images/Grid0797_zpsce18f368.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/AAA%20Helo%20images/Grid0305_zps945c862b.jpg

[nomorehelosforme]

Great pictures, what's the risk assessment, and who took the pictures?

[KiwiNedNZ]

I shot them. All the shoot was planned, briefed and gone over more than once.

Also what they are doing in the photos is exactly what they do every other day as part of their normal tasks.

[nomorehelosforme]

Sorry I didn't want to be critical re risk assessment, merely curious I'm in the demolition industry so you can imagine what we have to go through!

[jhiles]

Great pics - thanks for posting :)

Does anyone know.... would wire-strike protection on the aircraft not be a requirement for the work the National Grid do? Or are the high-voltage cables so thick that it would be ineffective and therefore unnecessary?

[SilsoeSid]

I don't think that the speeds flown would enable the WPS to be effective.

[handysnaks]

would wire-strike protection on the aircraft not be a requirement for the work the National Grid do? Or are the high-voltage cables so thick that it would be ineffective and therefore unnecessary?

It's the national grid helicopter. It's job is to ensure the integrity of the supply network, not go out of its way to destroy it!!!:p;)

[500guy]

The WSPS would be ineffective against large transmission wires like the ones pictured in the photos.

I imagine they do low voltage patrols as well in remote areas where subtransmission wires or other distribution wires may be crossing over the top. Thats where they may come in handy.

[500guy]

Looking at the pictures, The FLIR and the lower WSPS may have been a conflict as well. and they are apprived as a kit, you cant install just the upper.

[SilsoeSid]

http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/477396-wire-strike-protection-good.html

[Ye Olde Pilot]

duplicate removed

[Ye Olde Pilot]

Great pics and I admire the Aussie/NZ/Canadian pilots who really have the experience to do this sort of work.
http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/201101/r708642_5516993.jpg

More NZ hot wire antics
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/story/2011/10/helicopters_otago_pilot_brendan_wilson_left_and_el_4e9807e10 1.JPG

http://www.davidbuzzard.com/blogphotos/helicopter_0084BW_800px.jpg

[nomorehelosforme]

Cable stringing pictures are really good but HV inspections is a different ball game!

[[email protected]]

Usually, people hit wires because they don't know they are there and that is where WSP is useful - the National Grid guys on the other hand know exactly where the wires are since they are surveying them - why add WSP for that?

[RVDT]

Usually, people hit wires because they don't know they are there and that is where WSP is useful - the National Grid guys on the other hand know exactly where the wires are since they are surveying them - why add WSP for that?

A fair assumption you would think. But apparently not so. :=

One thing is certain: wire strikes are not a rookie mistake. Information drawn from Civil Wire Strike Assessments by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) indicate that the average wire strike pilot is 40 years old with 2,300 hours of flight experience. 86% of wire strikes happen in clear weather with good visibility, and 40% of the pilots who hit wires knew before the accident that they were there.

Source (http://www.helicoptersmagazine.com/content/view/125/59/)

I know of at least 3 serious accidents in just this same role. The HV ones are easy. Its the Network Provider ones that the National Grid doesn't own that can be a problem.

All LV crossings of HV are now marked on the tower in Australia for example.
While concentrating on the HV you run into the LV.

For me WSPS is a must have. Weight is the only penalty. Money is not the issue.

PS - The pic of the AS350 doing the "sock" line job is a fairly good example of possibly how NOT to do it. A "headache" ball and a long line is the better way.

[500guy]

RVDT - Spot on.
side pulling off the belly hook! :=
Firstly, that looks like the onboard systems swing hook, Which has had no side load testing and is not certified for class C loads.

Futherthrmore, in that configuration if the brake operator stopps suddenly or the wire gets on the axle it would try and roll the helicopter inverted.

Use a heavy weight and the belly hook or a side pull, dont combine the two.

[Rotor Work]

How could this happen?
5th August 2013

MARTIN COUNTY - Two workers were killed in an accident in Martin County.
Officials were called out to the accident around 10:30 a.m. Monday morning.
We're told by Federal Aviation Administration officials that the accident occurred about 36 miles northeast of Midland in Martin County.
According to officials, there were two workers that were suspended by cables from a helicopter, they hit a power line and the cables snapped.
We're told that the workers were inspecting power lines when the cables snapped. Officials say the men fell 200 feet.
The helicopter, owned by Haverfield Aviation, landed safely after the accident.
The Martin County Sheriff's Office, along with OSHA and the FAA are investigating the accident.
The names of the workers have not yet been released.


Two Men Fall to Their Death While Inspecting Power Lines in Mart - KWES NewsWest 9 / Midland, Odessa, Big Spring, TX: newswest9.com | (http://www.newswest9.com/story/23048093/two-workers-killed-in)

[[email protected]]

RVDT - your stats may be valid for Canada but this was the UK National Grid we were talking about - don't know of any such incidents here.

[OvertHawk]

There was a UK incident in the early nineties where the helicopter was patrolling the LV wires (visual inspection rather than camera so they were in pretty close) and struck an HV pylon-line from underneath where it crossed over the LV wires.

WSPS not fitted but unlikely to have made a difference in that case - low speed & big wire plus the point of impact was such that WSPS would have missed it anyway IIRC (which perhaps i don't).

All three occupants survived without serious injury thanks largely to four-point harnesses, helmets and luck!

OH

[RVDT]

Crab,

Noted. But I have to admire your optimism.

Just because it has not happened yet is no justification.

The old adage "Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make them all yourself".

[500guy]

Rotorwork.
It was a Wire Strike. he didnt know the wire was there and he hit it with the line, apparently at a brisk speed. There are still way more questions than answers.

Why wasn't he crossing over the structure ?
how fast was he going ?
etc.

[RedhillPhil]

Was blatting up the M40 last year and where the pylons are quite near the motorway just past the big curve north of J8 there was the grid helicopter working. First inkling was the display of brake lights from the numptys who thought it was a police chopper.

[Max Takeoff]

There was a UK incident in the early nineties where the helicopter was patrolling the LV wires (visual inspection rather than camera so they were in pretty close) and struck an HV pylon-line from underneath where it crossed over the LV wires.

WSPS not fitted but unlikely to have made a difference in that case - low speed & big wire plus the point of impact was such that WSPS would have missed it anyway IIRC (which perhaps i don't).

All three occupants survived without serious injury thanks largely to four-point harnesses, helmets and luck!

OH

Does anyone have any more info on this or AAIB report? company etc, would be very interested to read it.

thank you

[Brilliant Stuff]

500guy National Grid only patrol the big stuff.

The LV stuff is done by two other companies. One uses the 135 the other 355s.

They fly to slow to for the wire protection system.