View Full Version : Helicopter makes emergency landing after bird strike
nomorehelosforme
29th Dec 2018, 18:18
https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2018/12/28/helicopter-makes-emergency-landing-at-hayward-golf-course-after-hitting-bird/
HAYWARD (CBS SF) — A helicopter pilot was forced to make a crash landing at the Skywest Golf Course in Hayward after the helicopter collided with a large bird Friday morning, according to authorities
Robbiee
29th Dec 2018, 18:45
Yeah, just heard. According to an NBC video it looks like a turkey vulture ripped the tail rotor off.
RIP 19T
MightyGem
29th Dec 2018, 21:02
According to an NBC video it looks like a turkey vulture ripped the tail rotor off.
More likely it came after striking the ground behind the aircraft, as it's visible just alongside.
Robbiee
29th Dec 2018, 22:31
https://abc7news.com/helicopter-makes-emergency-landing-on-hayward-golf-course/4981671/
Here's more
nomorehelosforme
29th Dec 2018, 23:23
Looking at those videos the pilot did a great job to get that down avoiding the trees. That is an expensive looking repair if economically repairable at all.....that would no doubt please the Robbie bashers on here!
It seems that the damage to the front right screen was caused by the birdstrike but the TR damage and skid-splaying were the result of the landing..............If the bird only hit the windshield, why was it such a poor landing???
switch_on_lofty
31st Dec 2018, 08:03
Airport manager says in the video that the TR was "impaired". Eye witness states helicopter spinning which correlates.
No apparent rotational witness marks on fairway but given both above I wouldn't rule out some kind of TR damage from the bird.
Just goes to show how dangerous golf can be.
Not easy to see clearly but most of the TR assembly appears to be on the ground in very close proximity to the rest of the helicopter.
The bird hit the starboard windscreen but the TR is on the port side - a very determined bird to damage both - and the word 'impaired' means very little in this context
Robbo Jock
31st Dec 2018, 13:04
Looks like quite a slope at the touchdown point, maybe the tail hit in the flare.
Looks like quite a slope at the touchdown point, maybe the tail hit in the flare. Yes, a much more likely sequence of events as MightyGem mentioned earlier:ok:
LOON-RAT
1st Jan 2019, 09:21
In my book any landing you Walk Away From is a good one.
You can always replace an aircraft.
Happy New Year and safe flying to all for 2019.
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