AS350 Crash caught live on TV, Auckland, NZ

[tiger9999187]

Video here

Helicopter Crash On Auckland Viaduct Basin | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6017775/Chopper-crashes-on-Auckland-waterfront)

LATEST: The pilot of a helicopter which crashed in central Auckland while installing the Telecom Christmas tree has miraculously escaped without serious injuries.

Pilot Greg Gribble, of Auckland firm Helisika Helicopters, assured his son he was OK on the way to hospital.

The crew and pilot are OK, Telecom said. A St John ambulance spokesman said it was taking one person to Auckland City Hospital with minor to moderate injuries.

Telecom wrote on Twitter: "Can confirm the helicopter that crashed was putting up our Xmas tree. We're really happy to confirm pilot and ground crew all OK."

The accident around 10.30am was seen live on the TVNZ website as it was streaming the event.

The seven-storey-high tree was being put up near the Te Wero Island bridge connecting the Viaduct and Wynyard Quarter on the waterfront.

Fire communciations spokesman Tony McDonald said the pilot was the only person in the aircraft during the accident.



"All it's basically done to him is spun him around like a car crash so he'll still have his wits about him."

McDonald said they were bombarded with 111 calls as a result of the accident occuring in such a populated area.

Five trucks and two specialist fire engines were at the scene including one equipped to deal with any fuel leaks though it did not appear the fuel had leaked at this stage.

Civil Aviation had been informed, he said.

The helicopter appeared to be hovering just above the ground when the accident happened.

Witness Steve Hall said the helicopter appeared to be trying to lift a tower near the drawbridge.

It then hovered below the tip of the tower where the blades clipped the connecting wire, threw the wire into the air and sent the helicopter into a spin before it crashed into the ground, with the cockpit pointing up into the air.

Hall and several others, including Grant Cantlay were watching from a boat moored in the viaduct and said they remarked that the blades were getting close to the wire before they struck.

They had seen one person get out of the crashed helicopter on to Te Wero Island in the viaduct, near where a number of superyachts are moored.

The helicopter remains tangled in a tower.

Fire, ambulance and police are at the scene.

The Telecom Christmas tree has been an Auckland institution. Once erected, it was expected that more than 100,000 people would visit. It was scheduled to open on December 2.

[sengle]

Gents;

Happened just a few minutes ago:

Helicopter Crash On Auckland Viaduct Basin | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6017775/Chopper-crashes-on-Auckland-waterfront)

Cheers,

Steve Engle

[John Eacott]

I hope that Greg is OK: to see him out of the helicopter as it goes down, he is a lucky, lucky man to have survived :eek:

Helicopter Crash at Viaduct Harbour Auckland ONE NEWS awesome footage! 23 Nov 2011 - YouTube

Auckland Chopper Crash - YouTube

[315B]

Miraculous escape of both the pilot and crew on the ground:eek:
Sounds like the engine is chewing up all the gears inside the transmission!

[Aser]

I hope he is ok.
I'd start thinking about buying a helmet... :eek:

[Semi Rigid]

Sounds like he going to be okay.
C'mon you utility pilots - put your bloody helmets/bone domes whatever you want to call them - ON!
And your shoulder harness - (RH drive)put left one over left shoulder and right one underneath your right armpit. Takes about an hour to get used to it but look at this video - he was nearly thrown clear out the right door at one stage!

[helidan30]

That is the best ad for wearing a helmet and your shoulder harness if ever i saw one.....

[wokkaboy]

Never mind the seat issues, with all the cables and masts around, what was he doing there in the first place??!!

20 years experience has clearly taught him nothing.

:ugh:

[Arnie Madsen]

Glad he will be ok. Amazing video. Anyone else notice the pilot's seat fail right at the very start and he falls backwards in the cockpit , and then almost fell completely out of the machine. ?

[JimBall]

Why is the pilot wearing bloody hi-vis? The reflection of these garments from windows and instruments makes for dangerous flying - and rather undermines the hi-vis reasons for existence.....

[hillberg]

That seat like the helicopter Is poorly designed. Do that in a sikorsky or bell the seat stays put. clipped a tip & that was it. Poor pilot looked like a pimg pong ball.

[deeper]

helidan,

he has a full harness,that is mandatory, and ends up on the back floor and is not wearing a helmet and is ok, so why is this a good add for either????:uhoh:

[Epiphany]

I would suggest it is a good advert for harness and helmet because he is very lucky to be alive - despite appearing to wear neither.

[EMS R22]

Deeper ,

What he is trying to say is he had only his lap belt on and no helmet , look how much he got knocked about THEREFORE wearing a helmet and shoulder harness is probably a good idea.

[Charles Marlow]

Never mind the seat belts. Unbelievable how quickly the seat itself fails.

[hillberg]

Not the first time I've seen the seats fail, Poor design like the helicopter. No rollover protection either. Cool to fly just don't ball it up. Glad the pilots on the mend.

[Granny]

Was it a seat back failure? or did the front floor lugs let go and the seat roll back and over. Either way he was very lucky and as others have said a great reason for wearing a helmet. Don't forget it was on a wharf so if it had gone in the drink-I don't think it would have been a good outcome.

[gulliBell]

I've never worn a helmet in 20 years of helicopter flying, but after seeing a prang like that puts the issue into clearer perspective.

[BestoftheWest]

Here are some pics HeliOps shot showing the helo afterwards, very lucky guy.

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/IMG_0010.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/IMG_0015.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/IMG_0016.jpg

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g100/KiwiNed/IMG_0017.jpg

[tiger9999187]

Alternate footage has just been released by tv3 news and is at the end of this video. It confirms that one of the cables struck the rotor

Auckland helicopter crash: new footage - National - Video - 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland-helicopter-crash-new-footage/tabid/309/articleID/233796/Default.aspx)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pghA1XUaxxU)

[Nigel Osborn]

That'll take some panel beating!! Surprised how quickly the boom dropped off. Very very lucky.

[helidan30]

Deeper, yes your right shoulder straps are mandatory but was just saying that not everyone wears there shoulder straps when lifting (which used to include me) but now I personally find it more comfortable wearing them whilst long lining especially in the AS350....but its a personal choice for everyone to decide for themselves.
As far as the helmet goes I stand by my statement he was lucky he didn't whack his head on the door pillar.....I know helmets wont prevent all deaths or injuries but they might prevent some???
Dan

[SASless]

Hero to Dog Poo in 2.3 seconds!:E

[havick]

I wonder if a remote hook would have helped? ie no hook up man on the ground holding the strop/line that's still attached to the top of the structure above the aircraft as it is landing?

[Reafidy]

There were a number of factors in this accident but unfortunately the loader driver pulled the cable into the blades which appears to be the main cause. Poor guy, a momentary lapse in concentration.

[havick]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I'm glad that everyone walked away in this accident.

[Reafidy]

This clip contains new footage at the end. You can see the loader driver jump up and pull down on the cable for whatever reason. It could be that Greg notified him of the hook failing to release or something. I really feel for this guy, its a loader drivers worst nightmare. So lucky no one was hurt. From what I know these guys run a very professional operation. I wish them all the best.

Chopper pilot had 20 years experience - National - Video - 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/Chopper-pilot-had-20-years-experience/tabid/309/articleID/233796/Default.aspx)

[mickjoebill]

At what point do we demand a DA on these poxy as350 seats!
As a rear seat passenger I value my knees.



Good demo of why cameramen shooting from side doors usually get a bump on the head.

Did the tail boom fail due to shock induced by the main rotor strike... the main rotor does not appear to strike it??


Mickjoebill

[[email protected]]

500E. Yes the old AS350 seats and attaching rails are a significant weakness imho. I often will check them, as on occasion the attachments appear loose (not bolted/adjusted to the deck correctly) - you might first notice it when a crew member or passenger is adjusting their position in the back and grabs hold of your handy seat, only to feel the seat tip slightly or shuffle :ooh:

I have often had visions of someone inadvertently dislodging my seat which needless to say would leave us in a somewhat precarious situation. Watching that video and reading that report, really brings it home - not pleasant. It's a wonder that the modification - albeit a horrendous exercise and one which as a past owner would have caused me tremendous heartburn - hasn't been mandated as often shear forces are involved in incidents which look like they will make easy work of dislodging the seat.

6 weeks for that mod :hmm: What's that stuff - gorilla glue :)

[chutedragger]

Scary scene. Glad everyone is ok. A thought for others in the future...we sling all day long moving drills on a 120 foot line, with a helmet, shoulder harnesses and the door on (or off), because, we have vertical reference windows in our machines as an industry standard. I have only ever seen 2 in australia, but never been to NZ. They are not that expensive...and dont take long to get proficient.
Really consider it guys...it really is the way to go
Just tightened up my chin strap!

[John Eacott]

A still from the recently released video: the crewie was tugging on the strop just before it all turned to worms, indicating a jammed hook release?

http://wa2.www.3news.co.nz/Portals/0-Articles/233796/6n_chopper_231111.jpg?width=800

Edit: this photo shows the crewie, how it all landed around him is amazing. If he hasn't used up all his luck for the month, maybe the winning Tatts ticket is on the cards :p

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1322017927/003/6021003.jpg

[JulieAndrews]

Cameraman who took the opportunity to re-position must be delighted that he escaped injury........but gutted that he missed the shot of a lifetime?

[Thunderbirdsix]

Another good video from a different angle

Lucky to come away unscathed - Campbell Live - Video - 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/Lucky-to-come-away-unscathed/tabid/367/articleID/233786/Default.aspx)

[Trinity 09L]

Top marks to the guys that went in to release him :ok:, no time for a UK "elf" & safety risk assessment:ugh:

[500e]

Interesting report in view of this accident Thanks ichris
Accident Report:
AS350B2, G-OROZ; 21 January 2001 at approximately 1521hrs

Front Seats

Both front seats had detached from the floor in the impact. Rescuers found the pilot still in his seat, lying across the rear seat occupants. It was evident that both front occupants had been thrown forward and to the right when their seats became detached. There was evidence that the pilot had been thrown against the cyclic stick and the instrument panel and his head had struck the door frame.

The front seats were the standard, original fit AS350 high-backed seat which is entirely of a mounded fiberglass construction. The seats were identified with part number 77125805 on the seat back. The shoulder harness inertia reel unit is attached at the bottom of the seat back. Longitudinal steel strips located on either side of the base of the seat pan allow the seat to be bolted to the 'C' section seat rails. The seat rails are locked in place in the cabin floor by turnbuckles which locate in slots in the bottom flange of the seat rails.

Both front seats had failed in a different manner on each side of the seat. The seat rails had torn out of the base of the pilot's seat, leaving the seat rails still attached to the cabin floor. The right side of the seat base had failed extensively due to vertical compression loading. The left side of the seat base was largely undamaged, except where the fiberglass had sheared around the periphery of the seat rail attachment due to tension loading.

The right side of the front passenger's seat base had failed the same manner as the right side of the pilot's seat base. On the left side, the entire seat rail had pulled out of the cabin floor due to the slots in the seat rail having been distorted sufficiently to allow the seat rail to become released from the turnbuckles. The outer section of the rear slot had failed in overloading and was missing. The seat rails were fitted with 'L' shaped brackets which overlapped the outer edges of the slots and were designed to limit the extent to which the slots could open up, but this proved ineffective due to the slots having experienced significant vertical as well as lateral distortion.

The failure of the front seat bases was inconsistent with the relative lack of damage to the cabin and in particular the cabin floor. Similar failures of the seat rail attachments at the seat base and the cabin floor attachment were seen in a previous fatal accident to an AS350 helicopter with the same type of seats (AAIB Accident Report 4/96 refers). The seats have also been known to fail even under fairly gentle impact loads, as reported in AAIB Bulletin 1/2001 in which an AS355 helicopter made a forced landing on the roof of a house and in which the occupants sustained no injuries.

Although the AS350 fiberglass front seats met the crash worthiness testing requirements applicable at the time that the helicopter was certificated in 1978, subsequent experience proved these requirements to be inadequate. Accordingly in 1989 the FAR Amendment 25 regulations revised the certification loading requirements upwards considerably. The same requirements are reflected in JAR 27.561:

Seats designed to the latest specifications which are installed on the current generation of new helicopters by necessity have a substantial metal frame to enable them to meet the new design criteria. These seats are available as a customer-specified option on the AS350B3 which is the latest variant of the AS350.

Eurocopter Letter Service No. 1424-25-99 was issued in November 1999 to advise operators that the new crash worthy seats could be retrofitted to earlier variants of the AS350 under an optional Service Bulletin (SB No. 25.00.57) issued in May 1999. In view of the cost and time involved (6 man-weeks) to perform this modification, it is unlikely that many operators would have opted for the improvement, particularly if they had been unaware of the deficiencies of the fiberglass seats.

LetterService No. 1424-25-99 also recommended that operators who opted not to install the new crash worthy seats should modify their fiberglass seats in accordance with Eurocopter SB No. 25.00.63. issued in 1999. This SB was issued in response to the Safety Recommendations made in previously mentioned AAIB Formal Report 4/96. The SB adds 4 additional plies of fibreglass to the lower seat pan and introduces new 'T' section seat rails. The SB is recommended by Eurocopter but has not been made mandatory by the DGAC or CAA.

EASA Safety Information Bulletin - Eurocopter AS350 and AS355 helicopters - Improvement of Pilot’s and Co-pilot’s Seats (http://askbob.aero/sites/default/files/EASA_SIB_2010-05_1C.pdf)

[Soave_Pilot]

My VW seat and seat belts would've done a better job... Geez:eek::eek:

[Helinut]

tiger,

that last video seems pretty definitive as to the cause.....

[NRDK]

Lucky escape!:eek: Would not have needed that brown trouser moment if the operator had taken the time to have the mast guide wires de-rigged prior to the whole evolution. Since it was a pre-planned load job, 20 years of experience should have told him about wires?:confused:

Helmets save lives, when the rest of the flying experience fails. That seat.....well that's another story.:mad:

[[email protected]]

500E. Yes the old AS350 seats and attaching rails are a significant weakness imho. I often will check them, as on occasion the attachments appear loose (not bolted/adjusted to the deck correctly) - you might first notice it when a crew member or passenger is adjusting their position in the back and grabs hold of your handy seat, only to feel the seat tip slightly or shuffle :ooh:

I have often had visions of someone inadvertently dislodging my seat which needless to say would leave us in a somewhat precarious situation. Watching that video and reading that report, really brings it home - not pleasant. It's a wonder that the modification - albeit a horrendous exercise and one which as a past owner would have caused me tremendous heartburn - hasn't been mandated as often shear forces are involved in incidents which look like they will make easy work of dislodging the seat.

6 weeks for that mod :hmm: What's that stuff - gorilla glue :) Seriously though I'm surprised that mod hasn't received more attention.

[MSAW_CFIT]

Would have been better to use a rig like this for that job.

A lot of hazards in the work zone.

http://www.vertikal.net/typo3temp/pics/5c2d8d712d.jpg

[John Eacott]

Would have been better to use a rig like this for that job.

Since the Telecom Christmas 'tree' is an alloy frame structure beyond the height of local cranes, maybe not?

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4012/4180262672_a77b4858cd_z.jpg?zz=1

http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4044/4179501549_492534ae7e_z.jpg?zz=1

[John Eacott]

A compilation of two videos from the quayside:

Viaduct Helicopter Crash in Auckland, New Zealand - YouTube

The first video shows clearly the line from the top of the tower to the hook, getting closer as the 350 descends. Both videos show a cameraman relocating away from the shot of a lifetime: I bet he won't live that one down!

The second video has the accident from about 3:40 onwards, but watch the crewman. Having had the scare of a lifetime, he is then first one into the cockpit apparently shutting down the engine, then looking to the pilot.

I'd be buying him more than one drink :D

[tiger9999187]

This is video from the camera man who changed positions, but the video clearly shows how the cable was about to hit the rotor and then he has the immediate aftermath

je1s2AyjmZs

[newfieboy]

Wow, lucky guy.....:ok:As a Utility pilot, I spend most days with head down looking through the vert ref window in a B2/FX on a 100ft line. I can see how this happened.....:eek: As for the helmet, never even do a ground run without it myself. Saved my life many moons ago in the Artic.Shoulder harness a pain when longlining, but I live with it. Just trying to even the odds......:ok: But hey, just got home today after a 4 week tour, all longline, man I got a bad back.....:ugh:Oh yeah, had an engine failure in a B2 early this last summer. Put it down and we all walked, nobody hurt. But ya should see my seat......don't even get me started on that...:{

[Brian Abraham]

Talking seats, there is little (nothing?) new under the sun. I'm presuming in this case the belt anchorages are on the seat. The Huey in the early days had issues with pilots still strapped in seat being found some distance from the wreckage, having exited the airframe through the windscreen. The simple expedient to fix the problem was to make the seat belt anchorages on the airframe, and not the seat.

Seeing what the pilot had been through very surprised to see him interviewed later and getting about without any apparent injury, as if he had just been for a walk to the corner shop.

[John Eacott]

Brian,

No, the seat belt anchorages are on the airframe: but the seat rails are always a nightmare to install the seat and have it adjust properly. But don't expect any response from Eurocopter, it's bound to be someone else's fault :rolleyes:

[wallism]

Earlier I was going to leap to the defence of the AS350 for being a 'poor design'. Then I read the G-OROZ report that 500e mentioned and now I won't get into one, front or back, unless I know at least that the seat SB has been complied with. Having said that the cabin was tough and the MRGB and blades somehow managed to remain attached which is more than can be said for the early exit of the tailcone.

[newfieboy]

John,

Yep, my seatbelt was anchored to airframe....seat still trashed though, and response from Eurocopter.......:ugh:

[SE-WAL]

Have you spoken to the guy pulling the cable?
I've tried to get hold of him, but...

"He will be back flying on monday in the companys other helicopter, but first he will spend the weekend fishing and buying a lotto ticket..

RESPECT!



Chopper pilot keen to finish Viaduct job - National - Video - 3 News (http://www.3news.co.nz/Chopper-pilot-keen-to-finish-Viaduct-job/tabid/309/articleID/233966/Default.aspx)

[500N]

"The first video shows clearly the line from the top of the tower to the hook, getting closer as the 350 descends. Both videos show a cameraman relocating away from the shot of a lifetime: I bet he won't live that one down!"

On the other hand, the helicopter only needed to not spin quite as much and come forward 10 - 15 feet and he might have got the shot of a lifetime but might not have been around to see it.


Glad all are OK though.
.

[Savoia]

I am actually still trying to 'see' exactly just what happened as the videos posted on page 2 did not play for me. John's video above was however somewhat revealing.

Am I correct in assuming that the poor chap descended into his own line while it was still affixed to the mast - or am I not seeing things clearly?

Either way, I am relieved that no one was injured - perhaps the first miracle of Christmas.

[Heliport]

BBC Video (Close-up)


BBC News - Helicopter crash pilot escapes without serious injury (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-15848886)

[mickjoebill]

Seems like by yanking the cable downwards it also pulled the end attached to the tower into the disk?


Full marks to all those who after the thrashing ceased, but while there was still the most horrendous noise, didn't hesitate to run into harms way

:ok:

And the tower wasn't pulled over in the mayhem either.....

Mickjoebill

[SuperF]

Savoia, try going to 3news.co.nz has an interview tonight and real slow motion of the moment that the ground crew grab the cable and bring the whole show down.

Greg says on the TV interview that was always the plan for the guy to yank the cable, but i just can't see how that would ever work with the length of line he had on.

[John Eacott]

3 News: (http://www.3news.co.nz/Chopper-pilot-keen-to-finish-Viaduct-job/tabid/423/articleID/233966/Default.aspx)

Chopper pilot keen to finish Viaduct job
By Amanda Gillies

The Auckland pilot who walked away from a helicopter crash at the Viaduct does not remember a thing, saying he blacked out.
Greg Gribble was saved by his seatbelt, which dragged him back into the aircraft seconds before it plunged into the ground.
His million dollar helicopter has been written off yet he has just a tiny scratch on his finger.
He is now keen to go back and finish the job and says he is feeling “alive”.
“Very grateful. And very grateful nobody else got hurt. That's the main thing,” says Mr Girbble.
How nobody got hurt is difficult to fathom.
He does not remember being half-flung out of his chopper or the moment it slammed into the ground but he has watched footage many times.
He is too terrified to think how close he came to the rotor blades.
“If I had gone out and stayed out here, I’d have been cut to shreds.”
Trouble started a moment after Mr Gribble released a light cable hooked on to the bottom of the aircraft. A grounds man pulled the cable, which was the plan, but somehow something went haywire. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the grounds man.
“I've tried to get hold of him. But I think he's in a bit of shell shock as well.”
They were half way through what should have been a “relatively easy job'”, lifting a Christmas tree into place at Auckland’s Viaduct. He's prepared to go back to finish the job.
“They might not want me back. I don't have a problem going back there but they probably won't have me back.”
Mr Gribble has been flying choppers for 20 years. He bought his Squirrel about eight years ago. It has always been his baby and always had a clean bill of health. But now it has been written off. It costs about $1.5 million dollars and thankfully he is insured.
He will be back flying on Monday in the company's other chopper. But first he will spend the weekend fishing and will buy a lotto ticket.


I know I was praising the crewie before, but it is looking increasingly more like his 'little pull' on the line may have been a 'little mistake' :ooh:

Mind you the clearances shouldn't have been that tight, in a perfect world ;)

[OafOrfUxAche]

Clearly a case of Divine Retribution for putting up the Christmas Tree too early - lesson learned but miraculously noone gets hurt.

[SuperF]

yeah but the "little pull" was part of the plan. therefore might need to look at his planning.

lucky it was his machine, imagine trying to explain to your boss why his lovely helicopter he let you take to work today is looking a bit tired and on TV around the world!!!

[Arkroyal]

A very lucky pilot and ground crew.

Good job it wasn't a 355. They almost always burn.

[krypton_john]

Yeah, he was thrown around like a rag-doll. A few inches more in certain directions and he'd be in far worse shape though. Lucky man.

[heliduck]

Looking at the heli-ops photos, if that pesky tail wasn't in the way he might have ended up back on his skids. That would have been impressive!

[heli-cal]

I don't doubt that the insurance company will be looking into their 'Ground Handling Techniques' and saving copies of the video tapes...

[ReverseFlight]

It's fairly clear from the 3news.co.nz video what happened and I'm glad the media probably got it right this time.

The AS350 has a relatively short MR disc overhang ahead of the cockpit due to the positioning of the MR shaft a bit further back (great for forward view in utility work) but the same cannot be said for lateral clearance due to the unavoidable radius of the disc swept by the MR blades. Lateral clearance thus could be deceptive and a wider berth is certainly the more prudent course.

It's a huge relief that, although everyone was visibly shaken, none was hurt. I bet the lucky pilot is going to feel a few aches and pains waking up the next morning though, after the initial rush of adrenalin has passed through.

[squib66]

How do you 'tighten up' judgement?

Its easy to bandy words about but difficult to actually increase safety.

[Duchess_Driver]

From a fixed wing pilot, a quick question.

The tail boom seems to seperate very quickly without apparent contact with anything...

Is that usual in these kind of accidents?

Thanks

DD

[hillberg]

Shock loads of a violent nature will remove tails in most helicopters. After viewing a number of videos at several angles & speeds, A ground crewman "helped" unhook the long line with a pull and the line got into the rotors. What is disturbing is the pilot seat failing as quickly as it did.

[blackdog7]

Shock loads may have been involved but more attention should be paid to the main rotor contacting and rotating the fixed cable, which was attatched above and below, through the tailboom....kinda like a cheese slicer...

[hillberg]

The Crewman pulled the cable free of the hook-the hook & cable wound in the rotors ,If you look at the failure, The boom still had its bulkhead that bolts to the Airframe, If the cable was still attached the boom as you said it would have been sliced.

[SuperF]

Mayb the line didn't slice the boom, mayb as it swung around, the line pulled past the boom and pulled down on the end of the boom. That would have made the tail fold I would think.

[blackdog7]

There must be a different vid showing the line releasing from the hook because I could not see that on the 4 clips reviewed. I'll stick with the cheese slicer theory. I'm sure something close to the truth will come out in the accident report.
Glad everyone is ok

[John Eacott]

There must be a different vid showing the line releasing from the hook because I could not see that on the 4 clips reviewed. I'll stick with the cheese slicer theory. I'm sure something close to the truth will come out in the accident report.
Glad everyone is ok

Look very carefully at 3:37 in the last video I posted: the line is tugged and the cargo swing moves, but the hook doesn't release. In a split second there is the noise of a blade hitting a wire, the left door flies open and the tail boom starts to separate.

In this photo, there appears to be a line still attached to the hook:

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1322017927/003/6021003.jpg

[22clipper]

I've watched multiple videos of this episode taken from a couple of different vantage points. Seeing that airframe flex & warp after that first blade comes off is some of the most impressive chopper related footage I've ever seen. Great instructional material. As a humble R22 pilot I never realised the big rodent could move so quickly, very sobering.

[hillberg]

???? I that His head set hanging below the helicopter????

[IntheTin]

I think that's the hook

[BestoftheWest]

Its his headset hanging out the door and below the helicopter. Pics on the news showed it hanging there broken as well. It WAS a Bose :)

[alouette]

He was extremely fortunate. I looked at the video footage a few times, and every time I watch it my hair stands up straight. :}

[Devil 49]

A main rotor blade strike does a lot of very bad things to the aircraft in flight. First, the initial impact, significant enough to cause structural failure of that blade, stresses everything from the point of impact to the power plant. There's typically something like 20 times the amount of useful lift in centrifugal force in the MR blades. the event would create an imbalance that could affect the aircraft dramatically. Off the top of my head, the last issue would be a difference in lift by the airfoil involved when it's "inadvertently de-optimized" by the event. That difference in lift also creates it's own imbalance as the blades doesn't flex as before and is now further out of phase.
Catastrophic structural failures, like the tail boom separating in this video, is pretty typical of this kind of event.

[SASless]

The old fella should be buying Lottery Tickets in my view....except he has used up a lot of luck all in one go.:uhoh:

[Savoia]

Greg back in the driver's seat


The helicopter pilot who survived a dramatic crash at Auckland Viaduct has returned to the air, one week after the flight that almost ended his life.

http://static2.stuff.co.nz/1322626904/595/6063595.jpg
Greg Gibble back in the seat today

Greg Gribble was back in pilot's seat for the first time today, and he was particularly safety conscious.

Last Wednesday he walked away virtually unscathed from a crash while installing part of the Telecom Christmas Tree in downtown Auckland.

Gribble was thrown halfway out of the B2 Squirrel helicopter which also missed several people standing below.

This morning he was back in the seat for the first time since the crash, accompanied by ONE News reporter Jack Tame.

"You guys are pretty game coming up with me, you realise that, especially today," said Gribble. And after 20 years piloting helicopters, he admitted he had never felt so nervous. "It definitely shatters your confidence...a lot of mixed emotions," he said.

The footage has wracked up more than 100,000 online views and Gribble said "it's a humbling thing to have the world watch your own near death experience".

It took a few days after he had been cleared of injuries for the adrenalin and shock to wear off.

"For those first 15 minutes where you're trying to go to sleep, you just relive it over and over and over again."

Civil Aviation is still investigating and Gribble's family business will get by over summer with its other helicopter.

A replacement helicopter costs about $1.5 million but it is not a simple process to get a new one and it will be several months before the business is back to its full complement.

"Getting over the emotional side of things is probably the main thing," said Gribble who also admitted that going out flying today had "helped a lot".

Check this link (http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/helicopter-crash-pilot-back-in-air-4583331) for a video of Greg being interviewed while flying his other Ecureuil.

[P1DRIVER]

Nice to see him back in the air.

Right at the end of the video when he is landing on the dolly - Does his Door fly OPEN ????

[EMS R22]

He would have opened the door to see better when landing on trolly.

[manamale]

Looks like he has a mirror on that ship, should be no need to open his door..

[John Eacott]

Looks like he has a mirror on that ship, should be no need to open his door..

I don't think the mirror would be much of an aid for a trolley landing?

Popping the door isn't unusual for a trolley landing, especially if the pad is a bit narrow. It gives the ability to spot the skids more easily, plus he has the seat mod to put him further toward the door for lift work.

[Nigel Osborn]

Spent 6 years landing Surfs 350 on a trolley & always used the mirrors as we had about a 6" margin for error.

[John Eacott]

Fairy snuff: I did check in the BK mirror to make sure the skid was on the trolley line, but don't recall actually checking before/during the event.

But I guess a six inch clearance would concentrate the mind :p

[ROTOR BLAST]

Nothing like the old forklift as a tow-motor for your trolley either.
Pure Kiwi ingenuity!

[Shell Management]

six inch clearance would concentrate the mind

One would opine that careful well constructed safety case would prohibit using such a high risk trolley.

[P1DRIVER]

Let me get this right - So at 1:42 / 1:43 the door opening and something falling out is normal then !!!!

[Phoinix]

Check again, its only stuff blown by downwash, nothing fell from the helicopter.

[P1DRIVER]

Ok I believe you NOT

[Phoinix]

Well, that's your problem.

Anyway, he obviously screwed up everything with flying debris... go there, grab him by the balls and tell him that he lost some stuff, and then go practice some traffic patterns to lay off some steam.

[rotorrookie]

Chopper crash pilot wants answers - national | Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6167341/Cable-caused-chopper-crash-report-finds)

The pilot in last month's central Auckland helicopter crash says he doesn't understand the actions of a rigger involved in the spectacular accident.

The Civil Aviation Authority today released its preliminary findings which showed the November 23 accident happened when a rigging supervisor jumped up to grab a cable from the bottom of the helicopter, causing it to tighten and touch the aircraft's rotor blade.

Pilot Greg Gribble walked away from the accident, which happened as he was helping erect the Telecom Christmas tree on Auckland's waterfront. The crash was seen live on the internet and footage went around the world.

The CAA report said "massive out of balance forces" tore through the helicopter after it struck the lifting line, which was attached to the bottom of the helicopter and the top of a nearby tower.

"After raising the tower, the helicopter descended to hover at about 5m so the lifting line could be detached from its hook by the rigging supervisor on the ground," it said.

"When the rigging supervisor jumped up to grab the line, it instantly tightened and touched the helicopter's main rotor blades. The force of the impact caused major structural damage and the aircraft hit the ground."

Gribble, who had not seen the preliminary report, said he'd had no explanation from the rigger, calling his actions a "massive rush of blood to the head".

They knew what caused the accident but wanted to know why the man had acted that way.

"Nobody knows [why], he's the only guy that can actually tell anyone the reason why he jumped up and grabbed that rope and I'm still gobsmacked."

Gribble, who was interviewed by CAA last week, said the man had refused to speak with him since but he believed the man had told CAA he didn't know why he had done it "which is a pretty **** answer".

He said they had put together a detailed plan with the ground crew from Henderson company Uni-Rigg about how to release the line and were communicating via radio.

Gribble said he could not get the helicopter low enough to the ground to unclip the rope and decided to instead hover above the tower for someone to unclip him from there.

He was pulling up to do that when the accident happened, he said.

Gribble expected the full report would detail exactly what happened and said he would release his own findings once it was all over.

CAA spokeswoman Emma Peel said the reason for the rigger's actions would form part of the investigation along with the suitability of the plans formulated between Gribble and the ground crew.

"It's possible that we may find the rigger was told to do precisely that in which case the actual cause of the event shifts and it becomes about whether or not the actual plan was a good one," she said.
"We know from experience with aircraft accidents that what might appear very obvious right in the early stages can sort of recede in importance as the investigation continues.

"We see that actually, no, although that physically caused the accident, that wasn't the real problem - the real problem was something else and that's why we have a longer, drawn out process to actually get to the real [reason] why this has happened rather than just the initial thought of what happened."

The investigation is continuing with a focus on the pre-flight safety briefings, the pilot's experience and training, health and safety aspects, potential preventative measures that could have been used, and the identification of human factors that apply to this accident.

The full findings could take up to 12 months.

Uni-Rigg could not be reached for comment.



interesting to read

was there really no other way to do this?
would you decent like that next to 80ft tower with the sling cable still attached to the top of it?
and put you in situation with very limited options.

[krypton_john]

Why wouldn't the hook release anyway? Was it faulty? How much load should it need to release?

[SuperF]

Hooks can take 10-20lbs to release, depending on make and aircraft.

Synthetic lines can also wrap up on the hook tongue, and then not release at all, even with an open hook.

[SuperF]

six inch clearance would concentrate the mind
One would opine that careful well constructed safety case would prohibit using such a high risk trolley.

SM, one could also opine that a careful well constructed safety case would prohibit using a pilot who couldn't land on such a trolley.

[topendtorque]

would you decent like that next to 80ft tower with the sling cable still attached to the top of it?

If you don't want to hang yourself make sure the rope is long enough to only give you a sore bum when you hit the ground after the horse bolts -old jungle saying! :ugh:

[SASless]

Me thinks the crash has knocked him silly!

The guy stays hooked to the tower....descends all that way to just off the ground...and despite all the radio gear...the preflight brief on Emergency Procedures...and what appears to be a stabliized hover....he thinks the Rigger is at fault and did something weird and in contradiction to the preagreed plan?

Yeah right! The Insurance Company is probably telliing him they intend not to pay the claim due to his negligent operation of the aircraft and he is casting around looking for someone to blame!

His account of the event just doesn't square with the video...so I guess we should ignore our lying eyes just like a Wife confronting her cheating Husband with a video of his dalliance.

I see this as a case of a guy doing something he knows not enough about.

If the briefed plan for a hung hook was for two Riggers to climb the tower and release the line at the Tower End....why did he descend all that way? Did he not realize the line had not released? Was he going to shout in the Rigger's ear? He could not land because the line was too short...did he not realize that before the operation?

This guy is not the "hero" he is being made out to be....more like a standard issue "Dumbass" it appears to me!

What is amazing is how the seat in the aircraft failed...or the seat belt restraint system as he flailed about outside the aircraft before coming to rest against the aft bulkhead laying on the aircraft floor.

Did the seat fail or did he become separated from the seat?

[squib66]

The NZCAA report is below. Clearly they are looking into some of the planning, coordination and personnel issues.

Preliminary Report
ZK-HIG Accident, Auckland Viaduct Harbour
23 November 2011

Abstract
At approximately 0935 hours New Zealand Daylight Time on 23 November 2011, the pilot of ZK-HIG, an Aerospatiale AS350B2 helicopter, was engaged in a lifting operation at the Auckland Viaduct Harbour. The objective of the operation was to raise the tower of the Auckland Christmas tree from the ground into a vertical position, to allow ground personnel to secure the base of the tower.

After the tower was secured the helicopter descended slowly toward the ground. The helicopter then hovered approximately five metres above the ground, adjacent to the tower.

While the helicopter was hovering a loud bang was heard and the helicopter fell to the ground with the engine still running. Once the helicopter came to rest the pilot was extracted from the wreckage almost immediately, by ground personnel standing close by.

Factual Information

The helicopter operator was engaged by the rigging contractor for the purpose of erecting the 25 metre tall tower for the Auckland Christmas tree located at Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour.

The plan was for two lifts to be conducted. The first lift was to raise the tower from the horizontal into the vertical position using the Kevlar lifting line, the tower pivoting on two bolts in the base. Then, once in the vertical position, two more bolts were to be inserted into the base corners and three temporary cable stays would be applied to hold the tower in place. The lifting line would then be released from the helicopter’s hook and removed from the
tower by a rigger. The second lift would follow to position the ‘star’ ornament onto the top of the tower

The first lift proceeded well, until it came time to release the lifting line from the helicopters hook. The pilot then descended the helicopter toward the ground. The pilot was in radio communication with the rigging supervisor who was standing underneath the helicopter.

When the helicopter hovered at approximately five metres above the ground, the rigging supervisor was seen to jump up and grab the lifting line which was sagging below the helicopter.

The act of pulling downwards on the lifting line to release it from the helicopter’s hook instantly tightened the lifting line, which was still attached to the top of the adjacent tower, and the strop came into contact with the main rotor blades. The force of the impact of the main rotor blades on the lifting line caused massive out of balance forces within the helicopter’s rotating components, which resulted in the loss of the structural integrity of the helicopter whilst in flight. The helicopter then fell to the ground. All parties managed to escape without injury.

Injuries to persons

The accident did not result in any appreciable physical injury to any person.

Weather conditions

On the day, the wind was predominantly 10 to 15 knots from the North with good visibility.

Wreckage and impact information

The main rotor blades exhibited signs of significant impact with the hard surface of the pavement. The three arms on the main rotor ‘starflex’ were sheared by the impact forces.

The main rotor transmission and the tail boom had separated from the helicopter. The fuselage of the helicopter had come to rest close to the Christmas tree tower, facing in the opposite direction to that which it was facing at the time of the main rotor blade impact with the lifting line. The pilot’s seat had separated from the helicopter during the accident sequence.

Ongoing investigation activities

The safety investigation is continuing and will include:
• Further interviews with personnel.
• Understanding of the particulars of the pre flight safety briefings.
• Consideration of any preventative measures that could have been used.
• Consideration of the pilot’s experience and training.
• Identification of possible human factors that might be relevant to the accident.
• Consideration of health and safety aspects of the helicopter lifting operation.

http://www.caa.govt.nz/public_and_media_info/images/HIG_prelim.jpg

An average male could reach a wire 3m off the ground, 3.4-4m if they jumped. Pulling the wire to head height would pull it down to 2m. For a cable already sagging below the helicopter, that would not give that much lateral movement in the plane of the rotor and implies there was very little rotor to cable clearance in the first place.

The CAA drawing suggests a 25m tower and a 30m wire. The maths suggests a blade strike was inevitable if a low altitude de-hook was planned.

[r1gg3rs]

The plan was for two lifts 1. mast 2. crown.
Line was Spectra SK75 12mm MBL 17900kgs
Length 30m (as selected by pilot)

Mast lifted to vertical then crew pin base and rig 3 temporary cables and tension. call clear to pilot.
Pilot to release line from top. if failure to release.
1. pull up chopper and load the line. the mast was secure so no problem
2. Two riggers had to go to top of mast to receive second lift anyway so they were to release manually.
3. bring helicopter down to a hover and ground release.

once clear called pilot descended. radio comms between pilot and his spotter no call to rigger( guy under chopper).
As per plan this was condition 3, no radio calls made to indicate a change to this.
Pilot appears to have released the hook as the rigger had hold of it. Should require 5kgs force to release.
rigger under machine had worst location for judging clearance. Relying on pilot and spotter for call on that.
Rigger experience approx 1500 sling loads various machines. approx 2000hrs working with helicopters as loader driver and rigging installations. 47hrs flight training 12hrs pilot in command. lots of hours ferry flights.

CAA preliminary report.
time of accident wrong
line used wrong
height of mast wrong
no mention of spotter
no mention of agreed plan
never interviewed rigger, or any of the 8 crew in the zone that day

hope this helps with the conversation

[Peter3127]

Rigger experience approx 1500 sling loads various machines. approx 2000hrs working with helicopters as loader driver and rigging installations. 47hrs flight training 12hrs pilot in command. lots of hours ferry flights.


This gets more interesting.

[topendtorque]

goodness gracious, or something like that.

[RMK]

I have no training in sling-loading, but isn’t a 30m line too short for lifting/landing something 25m high?

I’m a PPL and have never even read an article on how to sling load, but the diagram would tell me to use at least 50-60m of line. Is there a procedure or rule of thumb for line length (metal cable or synthetic line)?

[tistisnot]

Don't quibble with Gribble.

Gribble's quibble with Squirrel.

Always wanted to be a journo! OK, I know, don't give up the day job ..... :rolleyes:

[SilsoeSid]

Rigger experience approx 1500 sling loads various machines. approx 2000hrs working with helicopters as loader driver and rigging installations.

...and an earthing strop nowhere to be seen !
:eek:

[ShyTorque]

If both the load and the strop were made of metal, an earthing strop might have been unnecessary once the load touched the ground.

[SASless]

Riggers make wonderful grounding straps....might make their hair stand up sometimes...but it is an electrifying experience!:E

[SilsoeSid]

If both the load and the strop were made of metal, an earthing strop might have been unnecessary once the load touched the ground.

Just 2 things;
1. Were you on the same course or his instructor?
2. Have you seen the video? (see post 70)

Viaduct Helicopter Crash in Auckland, New Zealand - YouTube

See the rigger jump up grabbing the wire at 3:36.

[ShyTorque]

Of course I've seen the video, a number of them from different angles. The pilot was extremely lucky to escape. Seems to me that the main strop ended up in the main rotor after the load was probably already earthed by ground contact. It also appears that a longer strop might have prevented the problem.

I don't actually understand your point about the earthing strop or why you're asking about my personal USL experience.

No I wasn't on the same USL course as this pilot. My instruction predates the pilot's experience by about fifteen years and was given by the RAF. We flew quite a lot of varied USLs on the squadrons in days gone by. I latterly also used to instruct USLs on an RAF SH OCU and flew JATE USL trials on a number of occasions.

And you? ;)

[SilsoeSid]

Mmmm, I think you missed the point of this one ShyT.

I am referring to the visual evidence on the video that shows the experienced rigger jumping up to grab hold of the wire, just before he yanks it into the blades. Now then, by virtue of the fact that he has to jump up to catch the wire and then gravity taking over returning him to Earth, his body is the 'earthing' which the aircraft/load would need.

I can see what you mean if you are saying that there would be no earthing problem as the ac is attached to the line which is attached to the mast, which is bolted to the ground. However I would ask, how electrically earthed are all those 'joints'. I would say that even with modern ac static dischargers, the potential for a substantial static build up in all those elements of the job is fairly large.

All I am saying is that for a very experienced rigger in this field not to be using an earthing strop/lead/hook may not have been 'best practise'.

And you? ;)
As for experience, there was no personal element to my post, but if you're going that way, and as you ask, my experience with USLs began in 1981 and varies from ground handling to piloting experiences with a variety of aircraft such Scout/Gazelle/Lynx/Wessex/Puma/Sea King and Chinook, in a variety of theatres including Germany to the Falklands and NI to Hong Kong/Brunei.

Oh, and then there was the time not too long ago when the downlink aerial wouldn't raise on our return to base one day...that could have been funny if we kept quiet :E

[ShyTorque]

As for experience, there was no personal element to my post

Eh? But you just asked me if I was on the same course as the pilot involved, or if I was his instructor! Seeing as he just rolled it completely into a ball, I took it as fairly personal.

Obviously crossed purposes here, Sid? I dunno.

USLs in my experience were earthed by an earthing "crook" kept by the ground handler himself, for use as he saw fit. All metal loads on steel strops generally earth themselves as they touch the ground, which was the point of my initial response. I can't, for the life of me, understand why the ground handler in this incident did what he did there, though!

[SASless]

Dollar to a Dog Dropping...and you can hold the stakes in your mouth.....the Rigger thought the cable had hung up after being released and he was just going to pull the thing off the hook. :ouch:

He probably never tweaked to the ramifications of his actions....that being the pulling the once slack line taut (and still hooked firmly to the cargo hook) and into the rotor blades.:uhoh:

The rest as they say....is history!:oh:

No one got hurt....some great video was had....and PPrune got a great thread for our enjoyment....tis an ill wind that blows no good!;)

[EBCAU]

No point squabbling about earth straps really. As previously posted, it was a Spectra line so no conducting capability that I am aware of.
However, risk of thread creep aside, I started my career under helicopters attaching loads. Static electricity was just something that you took as part of the job, and the same for the countless loadies that have worked under me since. Never have I used, or seen any other pilot use, an earthing strap.
Does that make me some sort of dangerous operator? Is the static electricity so great under some machines, large ones I'm guessing, as to be a hazard rather than just a discomfort? My personal experience only goes up as far as 3500kg AUW.

[SilsoeSid]

Seems crossed purposes ShyTq :O



Anyway, each to their own practises, cue the Benny Hill music :ok:

Helicopter static discharge HAHAHA!

Helicopter Static Electricity - @ 8 seconds

[hillberg]

No grounding wond required with this accident the load was on the ground (tower frame):ok:, If wire rope is used and a path for static electricty is the rigger let the new guy go first.:}
If the line is spectra or kevlar no shock.:eek:
belly hook ,longline to a strop, or a sling with a load.
A grounding wond for static control.:D
Spent a few years at it. lots of fun:ugh:

[mickjoebill]

Anyone have a bright idea to improve the crashworthiness of the front seats?

Im told strengthening floor is required to replace the fiberglass tubs with the new design. Combined cost of strengthening and the new seat is prohibitive for most operators. US$30k?

So, is there an intermediate measure where the existing seat can be more securely fixed to the airframe?

I've heard reports that either the seat itself snaps or that the fixings can fail.

Perhaps both can be strengthened as lower cost minor mods without the need for reinforcing the floor?

Mickjoebill

[SilsoeSid]

How about;
Guy jumps up to guide wire, Earths himself when he lands, arm goes into spasm due to static shock, flicking cable into blades. :ok:

[hillberg]

The rigger suffered no shock:=,The Tower was on the ground, The cable was attached to the tower,The helicopter was attached to the cable:ie Grounded-The rigger suffered from a brain fert-not an electrical static shock.:ok:

[ShyTorque]

I would think he suffered slightly delayed shock, and not of the static electric type.

[topendtorque]

How about;
Guy jumps up to guide wire, Earths himself when he lands, arm goes into spasm due to static shock, flicking cable into blades. http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/src:www.pprune.org/get/images/smilies/thumbs.gif


I'm with you Sid, especially when one takes into consideration the size of the boots that those rigger blokes wear. The lightweight arm would have to swing much more wildly than the heavyweight foot.

[SilsoeSid]

The rigger suffered no shock,:=The Tower was on the ground, The cable was attached to the tower,The helicopter was attached to the cable:ie Grounded-The rigger suffered from a brain fert-not an electrical static shock. :ok:

So as long as the tower is on the ground, it is earthed? :ugh:


The rigger suffered no shock:=
I would think he suffered slightly delayed shock, and not of the static electric type.
Love it ShTq :D



Have a good New Year folks, and for those of us on duty tomorrow night, sodas all round :)

[AnFI]

... an ironic aspect of the (inadequate) seat structure failing is that the latteral accelerations were not transmitted to the pilot - which might have broken his neck. (Although the gearbox mounts breaking might also have achieved the same)

[aegir]

Here the final report.
https://www.caa.govt.nz/assets/legacy/Accidents_and_Incidents/Accident_Reports/zk-hig_final_rep.pdf

[HeliRich]

Thank you for the link