Scrawny,
Yes and yes. I have and know quite a few guys that have. Nature of the beast in this part of the world, as lots of single engine longline ops.They all say the same.... um didn't see that coming, and most were banged up with varying wounds, some even did walk away. Again, the guys I know admit purely by luck as opposed to "I beat the curve because I went right, punched the load and put er down". that they walked or crawled out the wreck.In the real operational world, movng drills, pinning towers, hydro etc, at 200ft AGL zero airspeed concentrating on pinning a tower, head out the window, your hopefully going to be able to catch it at the bottom and pull for all your worth, thats about it, in my one and hopefully the last real experience.
I am with Thomas and Shawn on this, and we do practice regularly due to the nature of our work, not because we want to, but as a requirement to keep it as current as we can. We can all put the nose down or aft cyclic, whatever it takes, while training and ready for it (I hope). Anyone playing in there to see if "they can beat the curve", are asking for a nasty suprise one day. For real, the suprise and initial denial, is to say the least, suprising in itself. I for one am now always expecting it, but catching it before taking the fast elevator ride down is another thing.It is survivable, even walkaway doable, as is testament to the guys I know.Not because we are super pilots and practice, practice.We just were lucky to do something right at the time/luck was on our side.....whatever. I get paid good coin to be in the curve all day, for a reason... it can be bloody dangerous. But I minimise the risk, situational awareness at all times subconciously it just may save your life, even if you didn't realise it.
Happy flying Longline Brothers, be safe.Newfie.