Helicopter crashes in field (Glastonbury)

[nimby]

Clipped fron Avon and Somerset Website

Helicopter crashes in field (Glastonbury)
ADDED: Today 16:38
Police have responded to an incident in which a helicopter crashed near Glastonbury this afternoon (Sunday June 19, 2011).

At around 2.20pm police received a report of a small helicopter crashing in south-east Glastonbury in an area near Cinnamon Lane. The helicopter came down in an open area and no one on the ground was injured. The helicopter pilot, the only person on board, has been airlifted to Frenchay Hospital with a serious head injury.

The scene has been preserved and the Air Accident Investigation Branch have been informed and are sending an investigation team to the scene. They will lead the investigation into the incident with support from Avon and Somerset Police.

[jeepys]

Looks like a 500 to me.

Maybe wrong.

[md 600 driver]

It was gkswi 500
Steve

[500e]

It is 500e, hull appears to have stood up well.
Hope pilot on the mend, looking at damage, think I will have another look at helmet

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/53518000/jpg/_53518427_jex_16439_de27-1.jpg

[Elledan]

Looks like it landed heavily on its left side/landing gear? Right side looks fairly intact.

[nouseforaname]

If the helicopter landed on it's skids (which it looks like) and the skid has broken it means that the impact was more than 10g hope the pilot is ok.

[chopjock]

Pilot is not ok yet, he has broken bones, he will be a long time mending, but he is out of immediate danger.

[OvertHawk]

Very pleased to hear he's out of immediate danger - fingers crossed for a full recovery.
OH

[Hughes500]

Kevin has broken ribs, pelvis, spine and had blood clot removed from brain early this morning. He is induced coma but responding very well to all tests, thank God

[Elledan]

Definitely a high-speed impact. Not good. I wonder what happened... I assume this kind of helicopter doesn't have a black box of some kind?

[stringfellow]

poor guy thoughts are with him.. what an end to a lovely machine too.... i guess its designed to roll not withstand a high impact. wonder what happened??? lets hope the pilot soon will tell us all.

[Swiss Cheese]

AAIB report has been out for a few months on this, with some interesting safety recommendations.

EW/C2011/06/03 in the 2/2012 Bulletin, with a correction again in 3/2012.

Required reading for all MD pilots!

[AnFI]

Throttle closing to diminish torque reaction is bad news - and crops up frequently in accidents we see here - the lever should be used to diminish the torque reaction until at a height where loosing RRPM is safe.