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View Full Version : Air show fail: Mayo One helicopter started by spectator


John Eacott
29th Jun 2015, 14:58
DBvtW8ngLbg

Mayo One Helicopter accidentally started by spectator at Minnesota Air Spectacular (http://mankatotimes.com/2015/06/28/mayo-one-helicopter-accidently-started-by-spectator-at-minnesota-air-spectacular/)

The Mayo One helicopter is always a big draw at events in the area. They are looking into how the plane was started by a spectator.
By Joe Steck – Mankato Times
MANKATO, MINN. — In a rather frightening incident at the Minnesota Air Spectacular in Mankato, the Mayo One helicopter was started by a member of the public, knocking over a tent at around 2:00 pm on Saturday.
“I was sitting near the helicopter when the blades started to turn and I wondered what was going on,” said a stunned Dave Kruse who was a member of the public watching the air show “a tent near the tail of the helicopter tipped over before someone turned it off. Luckily it looked like no one was injured.”
The Mayo One aircraft was removed from the air show on Sunday and is being inspected by aircraft maintenance according to the Mayo Clinic.
While incidents at air shows do occur; it is rare to see them happen on a static display air craft.
In a video by Argo Gushwa captured the incident.
The Mayo Clinic released a press release on the incident for the public.
Yesterday, June 27, 2015, at approximately 1:45pm, a Mayo One helicopter was inadvertently powered up by a member of the public while the aircraft was parked on static display at the Minnesota Air Spectacular in Mankato.
The Mayo One team quickly initiated shutdown procedures.
Two individuals suffered minor injuries when a nearby sun shade tipped over.
The Mayo One aircraft involved in the incident has been removed from service for inspection and maintenance, which is routine.
The safety of our patients, our team members and the general public is Mayo Clinic’s highest priority.
Mayo Clinic is conducting a thorough review and has proactively reported the incident to the Federal Aviation Administration.
No further information or statements are available at this time.

Well, that could have been a lot worse :hmm:

Fortyodd2
29th Jun 2015, 15:10
"Well, that could have been a lot worse :hmm:"

Understatement!!

Is that a parachutist at around 55 secs in??

Where were the crew FFS?

Ian Corrigible
29th Jun 2015, 16:51
Supposedly a 6-year-old. So something interesting to share during 'show & tell' at school this week.

And, since the rotors were turning, they can stick a minute or so of PIC time in the book... :E

I/C

wallism
29th Jun 2015, 17:49
Video removed already but turning, not burning, one would hope.

John Eacott
29th Jun 2015, 21:31
Video removed already but turning, not burning, one would hope.

The quick and the ?????

ksSCQzi5kI0

twinstar_ca
29th Jun 2015, 21:36
where was the flight crew and when did they muster on station?? :eek:

krypton_john
29th Jun 2015, 21:37
How many switches did that kid have to flick before he hit the jackpot?

TWT
29th Jun 2015, 22:01
That kid might have some tips on how to start a B206 as well :)

ShyTorque
29th Jun 2015, 22:10
Tut, tut! Why did the pilot leave the ignition key in the lock? 😳

TWT
29th Jun 2015, 22:16
Young boy starts up helicopter at Mankato air show; 2 hurt - StarTribune.com (http://www.startribune.com/boy-about-6-cranks-up-mayo-helicopter-at-mankato-air-show-2-people-nearby-hurt/310680611/)

Hadley Rille
30th Jun 2015, 11:26
Say no to vertical video

aa777888
1st Jul 2015, 00:54
How many switches did that kid have to flick before he hit the jackpot?

I'm not an EC145 pilot, but I suspect it's probably two: master battery and engine run/start.

OvertHawk
1st Jul 2015, 08:17
I thought the EC145 was non FADEC with a traditional modulated start. Or do some have FADEC?

Gomer Pylot
1st Jul 2015, 20:53
This kind of thing is why my policy was to disconnect the battery when at any public event like this. We did a lot of PR visits in EMS, and there were always kids around, as well as adults (at least in number of birthdays) who would do all sorts of silly things. You can't be everywhere all the time, so I would just disconnect the battery, close the door back, and not have to worry about anything except doing a thorough check of all the switches before getting ready to crank.

crunchingnumbers
1st Jul 2015, 21:31
You've got to assume that little johnny is going to press all the buttons, so all and any safe guard is required, including watching them or just keeping them out. If not, it may be expensive.


http://air-ems.com/images/ec145.png

aa777888
1st Jul 2015, 21:48
And there you go: master and start switch. Got lucky on the throttle position.

Helilog56
1st Jul 2015, 22:30
Ah yes....more Darwin Award candidates.:D

whoknows idont
2nd Jul 2015, 02:56
Maybe they left it on to show off those pretty and colourful little screens? Should make for an interesting incident report...

TorqueOfTheDevil
2nd Jul 2015, 10:19
Ah yes....more Darwin Award candidates


The crew, not the child

HeliHenri
2nd Jul 2015, 12:14
Where were the chief pilot and the director of operations of the pilot ? ( I mean the parents ....)

onetrack
2nd Jul 2015, 12:25
Gee, this kid is a top helo pilot in the making. Brags - "Yep, been driving 'em since I was 6 yrs old!" ... :cool: :ooh: :D

Lonewolf_50
2nd Jul 2015, 15:09
Back in the day, when we used to support various air shows as part of the PR effort of the Navy, we had an SOP that required us to disconnect the battery before the public showed up. Seems like a prudent move for anyone, SOP or not.

As noted previous, if there's a key required to start that aircraft, wouldn't that be in possession of the pilot?

ShyTorque
2nd Jul 2015, 18:41
As noted previous, if there's a key required to start that aircraft, wouldn't that be in possession of the pilot?

Er... that wasn't a serious comment!

Only the U.S. military helis have "ignition" keys, after someone stole one and landed it on the White House lawn, iirc!

Point is, it is a very well-known mistake to leave a functional helicopter in the hands of the general public!

SilsoeSid
2nd Jul 2015, 19:35
Hasn't the 902 a 'key'?

http://www.helitorque.com/albums/md_cockpits/aab.sized.jpg

whoknows idont
2nd Jul 2015, 20:36
Not surprising due to its overall superb awesomeness.

Sloppy Link
2nd Jul 2015, 20:57
Aside from the key, only 7 actions and you are at flight idle. Designed by Americans for Americans.

Lonewolf_50
6th Jul 2015, 14:38
Er... that wasn't a serious comment!

Only the U.S. military helis have "ignition" keys, after someone stole one and landed it on the White House lawn, iirc!
Indeed. Heard the same story when I saw a key in a Blackhawk (hadn't had one in our Seahawks). Since I had seen on there, I was unsure if other helicopter manufacturers offered such a feature as an option for private helicopter owners. The idea is not that far out of the box ... :}

whoknows idont
6th Jul 2015, 22:36
I don't know if it's standard but the 269's I've flown so far all had proper ignition keys. The other types usually had locks on the doors.
I like how all Bell mediums seem to have the same key, makes ordering a spare lock that much easier.