Bristow mating exercise : fail
From The Stuart News:
STUART, FL — During what was to be a helicopter routine shutdown after landing at Witham Field, a pilot-in-training unexpectedly lifted off and began rotating just above the ground at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, according to reports released Tuesday.
The helicopter moved south and the tail rotor swung toward the instructor pilot who had just exited the aircraft — leaving a 24-year-old pilot to shut down the helicopter. But the ground crew shoved the instructor pilot out of harms way, according to a Martin County Sheriff's report.
Then the aircraft hit the ground, turned left and clipped the fuel tank of another training helicopter — causing fuel to spill out. Finally the first helicopter rolled on its right side. The pilot-in-training, Adeniyi Akinuli, of Titusville, was treated and released from Martin Memorial North, according to the report.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
Both helicopters are from the Bristow Flight Academy in Brevard County and were on cross-country flight trainings when they landed for refueling at Galaxy aviation service company at Witham Field, according to the sheriff's report.
No further details were released Tuesday. Akinuli or a flight academy spokesman couldn't be reached for comment.