Not only in Un Zud....'remarkably common'??

[NRDK]

:ok:

Was it the thickness of his head or the flimsy Tail of the Robbie?

Unattended chopper takes off without pilot | Otago Daily Times Online News : Otago, South Island, New Zealand & International News (http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes/256956/unattended-chopper-takes-without-pilot)

The Civil Aviation Authority has called for a report from the pilot of a helicopter that took off without him, at Tarras.

CAA spokesman Matthew Shore told the Otago Daily Times the Robinson R22 helicopter had been ''left unattended'' with the engine running on April 10.

''It became airborne, spun around and struck the ground.''

In the process, the helicopter's tail clipped the pilot on the back of the head.

The pilot was shocked but not injured, Mr Shore said.

The ODT understands the pilot was Dan Perriam, of Wanaka. Mr Shore said the matter was regarded as a ''relatively routine incident''. Most likely once the authority had seen the report and all questions had been answered, no further investigation would be required.

''We will get a full report from the operator and we will review it from there and see if we need to take any more action.''

He would not provide the name of the pilot and could not say how much damage was done to the helicopter although it ''nosed down and overturned''.

Mr Shore said there had been ''a couple'' of similar incidents recently and it was ''remarkably common''.

:D

[Weheka]

But wait....there's more.

CAA spokesman Mr Shore (what is his position I wonder?) reportedly said:


"Helicopters could be taken out of gear, but if they vibrated a lot they could slip back into gear, Mr Shore said.

"The throttle automatically powers up and away they go."

Mr Perriam has filed a report about the crash to the authority, which will decide if it needs further investigation."


Seriously...out of gear?? throttle auto powers up??

This would have to be just the reporter making things up surely? or just a bit of a joke on the spokesman's part?

[John R81]

That flight was illegal; the minimum flight crew is 1!!!

It's a good job that the machine decided to stop breaking the law and cease flying. Heaven knows what might have happened if it had continued flying and (say) hopped over to a Hotel for a short weekend break.

[RVDT]

the minimum flight crew is 1

Only if actually stated in the RFM which it isn't in some cases!

Where some countries allow the pilot out of the cab whilst running on the ground under approval - Oz, NZ etc. The "minimum flight crew" in the RFM is a deal breaker.
Most Euro aircraft have the statement.

[Agaricus bisporus]

If the flight was illegal there was no one in it so there's no pilot to prosecute.

Easy!

[Peter3127]

I think you will find that RFM for R22, R44 and R66 all say ‘never leave helicopter flight controls unattended while engine is running.’ Certainly in Oz that is a "deal" if not an aircraft/head/licence breaker.

[Mushroom_2]

In the process, the helicopter's tail clipped the pilot on the back of the head.

Quite right too! he deserved it.

[John Eacott]

I think you will find that RFM for R22, R44 and R66 all say ‘never leave helicopter flight controls unattended while engine is running.’ Certainly in Oz that is a "deal" if not an aircraft/head/licence breaker.

Peter,

There is certainly a Safety Notice, but that is not a limitation. You will also be aware of CASA Regs which allow a pilot to leave a running helicopter under certain parameters, such as skids and lockable controls.

After an accident, of course, the interpretation of the Safety Notice then enters the domain of the legal profession ;)

[601]

There is certainly a Safety Notice, but that is not a limitation. You will also be aware of CASA Regs which allow a pilot to leave a running helicopter under certain parameters, such as skids and lockable controls.

Better re-read Page 4-13 of the R44 POH/RFM, Page 4-12 of the R22 POH/RFM and Page 4-12 of the R66 PH/RFM.

Never leave the helicopter flight controls unattended while the engine is running.

[John Eacott]

Yes, that's a caution and is quite ambiguous since it is in the normal procedures after Approach and Landing.

It can easily be construed as a caution not to take your hands off the controls at any time, clearly a 'get out of jail' card for Robinson as it would preclude changing frequencies on the radio, adjusting the carby heat, or scratching your nose :p

If you are standing outside the door, are the controls 'unattended'?

[601]

Never leave the helicopter flight controls unattended while the engine is running.

I don't think that I would be willing to pay $thousands for a QC to argue that "caution" in court.

I guess that is why the CASRs are getting as thick as they are. We try to interpret a simple sentence to be something else when plain common sense dictates otherwise.