Fire Fighting Helo Crash in NZ
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Fire Fighting Helo Crash in NZ
An AS350 has crashed killing the pilot while fighting the fires on Christchurch's Port Hills.
Thoughts are with everyone there.
One person dead in helicopter crash during Port Hills fires | Stuff.co.nz
Thoughts are with everyone there.
One person dead in helicopter crash during Port Hills fires | Stuff.co.nz
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It appears that the registration is shown in the news photograph. ZK-HKW.
Flight aware are reporting that registration also.
Pictured here in better days
Flight aware are reporting that registration also.
Pictured here in better days
Update on the accident - Port Hills helicopter crash caused by a cable striking the tail rotor
Strangely the local NZ CAA Vector "safety" magazine Jan/Feb issue carried an article about exactly this potential problem in the month prior to the accident.
Even worse - nowhere in the article does it say that the pictures in the article depict an incorrectly rigged/operated Bambi bucket!!! Who knew?
Vector Magazine Jan/Feb 2017 - Page 7 - External Loads – How Much Do You Really Know?
In the case of quite a few operators and the NZ CAA apparently - not enough?
From the Bambi Operators Manual -
If all else fails - RTFM. 
Strangely the local NZ CAA Vector "safety" magazine Jan/Feb issue carried an article about exactly this potential problem in the month prior to the accident.
Even worse - nowhere in the article does it say that the pictures in the article depict an incorrectly rigged/operated Bambi bucket!!! Who knew?
Vector Magazine Jan/Feb 2017 - Page 7 - External Loads – How Much Do You Really Know?
In the case of quite a few operators and the NZ CAA apparently - not enough?
From the Bambi Operators Manual -
WARNING
Using a Bambi bucket with a greater overall length than the distance from the cargo hook to the front tip of the tail rotor on your helicopter could result in a tail rotor strike and possible loss of control of the helicopter which could result in injury or death.
Using a Bambi bucket with a greater overall length than the distance from the cargo hook to the front tip of the tail rotor on your helicopter could result in a tail rotor strike and possible loss of control of the helicopter which could result in injury or death.
Important Note
It is recommended that operators, who choose to use the Bambi bucket with a longline, ensure that the longline is at least 50’ long.
It is recommended that operators, who choose to use the Bambi bucket with a longline, ensure that the longline is at least 50’ long.
i.e. slightly longer than the distance between the cargo hook and the tail rotor, which that OM warning warns about.
It's not the first time a bucket has ended up in a tail rotor by attaching it with a short strop rather than either direct belly hook or longline hence why the OEM manual requires at least a 50' strop or longer if not belly hooking directly to the hook.
Last edited by havick; 14th May 2017 at 03:55.
Slightly!?? The distance between the hook and t/r tips is about 5 meter on the 350, and the manual calls for a clearance of 6 inches when the dump valve is fully extended between the t/r tip's and the dump valve. Procedures for checking this is all very well described in the manual.
Yep. Nose to tail the AS350 is 10m long. So 10m of strop and empty bambi bucket hardware hanging off the hook exposes the tail rotor to impact, which regrettably, brought about the demise here. Had it been 50' of line, the empty bucket would just fly below and aft of the tail rotor zone. Or belly hooked and it's not long enough to reach the tail rotor.
Yep. Nose to tail the AS350 is 10m long.
If your displayed understanding is reflecting the common knowledge of the matter in your neck of the woods, it is unfortunately not surprising that this accident occurred...
Read the previous posts again and see if you understand my point.
Of course it's relevant. If you've got a load hanging off the hook that is about as long as the helicopter is, if it goes aerodynamic and swings back it's about the right length to put it in the tail rotor. 10m long AS350, 10m long load = danger, it can swing back and hit the tail rotor. Which is what happened in this instance. If you don't understand that I don't know of a simpler way to explain it.
Well you will have to explain that to me then ! If distance from hook to tail rotor is 6 m then doesn't really matter how long the helicopter is nose to tail. If load less than 6 m then doesn't hit tail rotor anything else is capable of hitting so I don't quite see what the total length of the machine has to do with it ????
Of course it's relevant. If you've got a load hanging off the hook that is about as long as the helicopter is, if it goes aerodynamic and swings back it's about the right length to put it in the tail rotor. 10m long AS350, 10m long load = danger, it can swing back and hit the tail rotor. Which is what happened in this instance. If you don't understand that I don't know of a simpler way to explain it.
I think the only time the overall length of helicopter is relevant is when the hook is on the nose !!
Obviously the only important length is hook to t/r tip when pointing at the hook ......
Obviously the only important length is hook to t/r tip when pointing at the hook ......
Perhaps the important thing is what speed you choose to fly with an empty bucket and how you handle the aircraft in that configuration.
