PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Squirrel helicopter crash in Bergen, Norway May 2017
Old 11th May 2017, 15:02
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Fareastdriver
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
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Unprofessionally or unmanned helidecks are always a hazard for which a pilot has to look out for. That is a normal hazard in GAT flying. I, one instance in the North Sea, landed on the 36/22 which had been shut down and unmanned for years and as we were about to touch down a fire extinguisher cover unleashed itself and speared upwards with the sole intention of become entangled with my S76 main rotor.

Peripheral vision, honed for years in both military and civil flying enabled me to pick my helicopter up and I bolt off to the side thereby thwarting the cover in its aims. This also, for which I received no recompense whatsoever, saved Philips Petroleum and Bristow Helicopters from embarrassing insurance claims.

Sometimes it cannot be avoided. Don't knock the driver if it does.
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