View Full Version : Third time unlucky!
Cyclic Hotline
20th Oct 1999, 10:09
This is an unfortunate chain of events, but like all items of this nature, one you can be jolly glad you are only reading about!
These three reports are only preliminary at this juncture. http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/ANC/99A139.htm http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/ANC/99A140.htm http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/ANC/99A141.htm
Bet none of the aircraft had a RadAlt - I know its VFR and all that in most light helicopters but whenever I have a say in equipment fits that is one bit of kit I like to have. Overwater, snow, duskers - at least a decent RadAlt will keep your Ass out of the weeds.
George Semel
6th Nov 1999, 08:51
As Gilda Radner use to say its "always something". Its like the Keystone Kops meeting Wrong way Coragan. I don't think a Rad/Alt. would have helped much if at all. It was just one of those things, I think that what ever profit Temsco Made for the season will has been spent on some new,used A-stars. You can bet that one of those pilots was the DO or the Chief Pilot or both. As for FAA action, I don't think much will come of it. There Insurance rates will go up. As for all those involved, think of all the mileage they are going to get out of this at there favorite watering hole. They will most likly have to do some more training with regard to white out. This will be nothing more that some 180 turns to better Vis, Under the simulated instrument conditions. New hire pilots will have to be instrument rated, just like the guys need to be in the Gulf, even tho all most all the flying is VFR and in VFR only certified ships. What this will do is reduce the number of pilots that will be qualified some what. Of course I could be all wet on this and it will be business as usual next season.
Cyclic Hotline
7th Nov 1999, 05:20
These accidents were preceded by one earlier in the season, in almost the same location. Sadly this one suffered a tragic outcome. The similarities between these accidents is striking.
http://www.ntsb.gov/Aviation/ANC/99A073.htm
Hydraulic Palm Tree
7th Nov 1999, 13:50
George, of course a rad alt would have helped!! Flying over snow covered terrain makes it notoriously difficult to judge height, with a rad alt you're 90% there if you've can scan the instruments and combine this with a visual scan as well.
That will be the wheel being re-invented on your side of the pond, sad to say we did it first in Norway many years ago, the end result was a Puma and a couple of Gazelles left parked on their side in the snow. Any of our readers involved in that one care to tell of their fate...?
On the subject of Radar Altimeters - even the cheap ones have an adjustable audio height bug these days. You barely need a scan for these to wake you up if you are drifting below the height of your choice. For $5000 or so it seems silly not to fit in a snowy environment. I know Greenlandair's singles were all so fitted and they know a bit about snow!
Skycop
8th Nov 1999, 03:32
PVR, I recall that the Puma was slightly damaged during landing, the Gazelles arrived to assist and were more badly damaged. The Puma flew out. Another case from around the same era was the tale of two Gazelles suffering a "shunt" when one landed in a Norway carpark. Shortly after landing it slid down the icy slope into a snowbank. The second arrived to assist, landed on...and slid into the first. OOPS!
MightyGem
8th Nov 1999, 08:38
And then there was the gaggle of Gazelles going in to refuel, again in Norway, with most of them ending up in various states of disrepair when the dust (or should I say snow) finally cleared.