heloguy412

So tell me why wire strike protection isn't on all helos?

handysnaks

Because we don't all wazz around at low level!

before landing check list

You stay airborne forever? Of course you low level, at least 2X/flight.

handysnaks

That is correct but I do try to take-off and land in non-wazz mode!

170'

It's a good question but complicated answer,

Mostly additional weight and expense if you question honest management. (if you can find any)

They are a good proposition in certain applications, for an example where you have pilots flying somewhat standard tasks such as charter in flatlands, corporate/VIP where you're not landing anywhere very challenging but might land in a yard where someone just installed a SWER since last time you were there, and forgot to mention it etc

But: Many transmission conductors are too large to cut (18-29mm) steel reinforced (most small gage are aluminum) and we don't have the mass or speed for the cutter to work correctly.

Landing in moraines or toe-ins to steep terrain etc, the bottom cutter can be a real danger. (I swapped ships one time back in the early 90's and forgot it had the cutters installed and nearly flipped the 212 over when it caught on a rock sticking out of moraine debris). We then removed the bottom cutter blade, but our PMI (principle maintenance inspector) said the STC was all or nothing, so we pulled the system out...

Personally I don't like them for utility ops, where logic would suggest they're most needed. But I can see the merits for other types of work...

Naturally, if I'd survived a wire strike because of a WSPS I might feel differently...

170

SilsoeSid

Safety Study of Wire Strike Devices Installed on Civil and Military Helicopters
http://www.tc.faa.gov/its/worldpac/techrpt/ar0825.pdf


Page 25, Table 8. Helicopters Involved in Wire Strikes

eddie1

Hi,
the funniest reason for not installing wsp:
Pilots fly more aggressive!
Thats the reason why we should remove all airbags in cars and install nails on the stearing wheels. People would drive more defensively!

Its all about money and funny explanationa. Wires are one of the main reasons for fatal accidents in helicopters.

I heard(!) about Austrian army aviation. The installed it for a test. After few weeks a farmer told that a helicopter has cut his wires. When the exam of the WSP was completed, decision was made to install WSP whereever is possible. Pilots didn't realised but the did.

206 jock

Can I be really shallow and say that I had a set fitted on my 206 because they look really cool

Shall I get my own coat or does someone want to fetch it for me?

g-mady

Im with you - Half of everything is looks!

Manchester

Eddie1 - may we have your source data for "Wires are one of the main reasons for fatal accidents in helicopters" please?

EN48

Put WSPS on my 407 because my insurance company thought was a good idea (even though I dont fly in a wire environment). Not so much in love with the looks.

mickjoebill

The bottom one can get in the way of nose mounted cameras.


Mickjoebill

eddie1

Manchester - If you take a look at IHST breakdown of the accidents involving fatalities and serious injuries 1997-2001

Disorientation 32%
Mishandling 20%
Mech Fail 20%
Pwr Fail 16%
Wire Strike 8%
Unknown 4%


Eddie1

I am aware that there are many different statistics!

TRC

The outboard 4 feet of the main rotor blades sometimes get in shot using a side mount too - maybe we should get them all shortened.

I can think of quite a few nose mounts that avoid the lower cutter, but maybe you brief your pilots to fly under the wires so the top cutter can get them.

Gordy

They are good for catching birds too.....I got this one at night back in 97:

mickjoebill

Whilst the single pole brackets can be fitted the cutter can get into shot and is compromised because the camera sits well in front of it.

Incorporating a cutter into nose mount hard point (the so called sharks fin on AS 350 single pole mounts) would be a help, because the area between camera pole and nose of the chopper is a natural trap for wires that slide down the windscreen.


Any stats on the number of occurrences, without wire strike kit of where the wire bites, is it mast or skids/crosstubes?


Mickjoebill

TRC

Two instances spring to mind that affected me quite closely - in your line of business too....

An Alouette II, wire strike - three wires. One around the mast and rotating controls, the second through the cabin - you can guess the outcome and the third hit the skid posts.

A 350 with a side mount, hit a single wire with the forward crosstube - went under the camera operator's feet by inches - would have taken his legs off if they had been flying a foot lower.

It's quite arbitrary which part of the helicopter is hit by the wires.

The answer is a good recce before you fly the shot.