Landing in fields with animals

[RMK]

I’m looking at some UK get-aways with the family in more unique accommodation and inquiring about landing permissions.

Odd query, but what animals are safe around a helicopters? I’ve found a great place in Wales, but the large open field just adjacent to the bungalow has sheep – are sheep OK around helicopters?

Surely goats are a no-go as they like to chew on stuff. My knowledge of the habits of farmyard animals is scant, so open to any advice.

[ShyTorque]

A helicopter can cause panic in any farm (or other) animal not used to them, especially if it appears suddenly and acts like a predator. Sheep will probably run away and then not be too fussed once you’ve shut down. Cows will come back and try to eat things or scratch themselves against the airframe.....not good! Horses are likely to run through fences if they feel trapped in a corner, so give them an easy escape route and time to find it. I once had my parked Puma damaged by a bolting horse....nothing to do with us, the aircraft had been parked in an Army barracks for some time. A couple of horses got out of their stables and ran through the barracks. One of them snapped our HF radio aerial cable off the side of the tail boom in passing.

[Flying Foxhunter]

Beware of sheep, they will have a nice rub on the helicopter when you are not looking, to the front, to the sides and underneath the helicopter. In the process they will dislodge and break things off. Cattle will lick the helicopter and abraid the paintwork, and if they have a rub you are well and truly finished. Horses will be inquisitive and come over and start to scratch the paintwork and perspex with their teeth. I had an insurance claim on a vehicle because the horse actually reached over the gate and scoured the bodywork and the glass windscreen with its teeth. If you leave a helicopter in a field with any livestock you really must fence it off to stop them getting anywhere near it when you are not there. Farm electric sheep netting is good, but make sure it is properly taken down and moved away before you depart. .... I speak from experience!!

[sycamore]

Be prepared to have guards around the aircraft ,day and night....

[Cornish Jack]

Back in the 60s CFS (H) had regular tasks winching cadets in the Peak District. We went up as a pair, from memory, GK flying and our USAF exchange Major Ed in the other. Just after arrival a high speed 'front' came through. We were just ahead of it and escaped down the valley. Major Ed got caught in it and put down close to a house, in a heavy snow storm. He was about to get out and noticed they had been surrounded by sheep - he reckoned they were not friendly natives and decided to stay on board until the storm passed!

[alicopter]

Hi. I do a lot of horse trekking and walk trekking with my donkey and I use this kit... to keep my friends safely grazing and resting for the night. If ground very dry, use a second wire for return....
https://www.agriloisirs33.com/kit-cloture-randonnee-equestre.html
It weighs very little and should do the job to keep any farm animals away from the helicopter... apart may be chickens.
If I may give you my advice, get in touch with the breeder (sheeps, goats, horses, pigs as, a few years ago, I had about 12 abortions in my herd of 130 goats close to kidding and it took me two months to get back to my normal daily milk yield... after a Puma (of the noisy, smelly and blowy type, not the big cat!....) landed in the field next to the woods they were grazing in. Five hours to get them back to the shed!

[nomorehelosforme]

The answer is really simple, land as far away from any animals as possible, the least of your worries might be what they do your helicopter....

Even in the UK someone will want to sue your arse off for sending their animals into a stampede....

[Bell_ringer]

Landed in an empty field, only for the farmhands to later release the cattle.
A young calf took a shine to the tennis ball that was tying down the blades, wrapped around the stinger.
Returned to find it thoroughly chewed.
Shooing them off to get airborne was more difficult than it looked - they're not particularly bright and seem bemused by all the waving.

At least it didn't try to chew something important.

Monkeys and baboons, on the otherhand, far more destructive, but possibly less common in Blighty.

[paco]

As mentioned, they're more of a problem when the rotors are not turning, but based on my own experience with power lines, if it's any help:

With horses, go up, without banking or causing blade slap. Once you are at 200 ft, they shouldn’t move. Cows generally don’t bother, but when they do, prefer you to be as low as possible, because they can’t get their head high enough to see what’s going on. If you have to go around animals, make sure they run towards open ground.

The University of Bristol carried out trials in 1963 and 1964 on their own farm, using a Bell 47 against horses, cows-in-calf, heifers, in-lamb ewes, and chickens and cows inside buildings. Experienced stockmen were used, and observations were also made on the production of milk or eggs. Passes were made by the helicopter at 60 and 35 feet, at speeds up to 25 mph. It was concluded that completely housed farm stock is not affected at all (although you would still be advised to avoid such buildings wherever possible). When out of doors, reactions are very temporary, after a fleeting period of bewilderment when the animals could injure themselves by hitting fences or falling into ditches. Poultry (and ostriches!) out of doors, however, present the most problems, and will react even to the helicopter’s shadow.

But, risk management wise it's best to avoid them anyway.

[Ascend Charlie]

Horses is stoopid people. They will bolt when they see a fluttering piece of paper, or totally ignore an S76 overhead. Cannot predict them.

Emus are curious and will poke their heads into the cockpit during shutdown if the window is open.

Once left a B-model Huey in a field overnight (nose-mounted pitot) and next day the tube was bent 90 degrees and a cow had a big smile on its face.

[skadi]

About 30 years ago my then company left a 206 overnight on a grass strip, next morning a hole was discovered at the top of windscreen. The remaining pieces of fur ( were added to the incident report :) ) indicated that a sheep climbed on the helicopter.

skadi

[AQUAPLANE1]

I have just sent you a private message since I may have something which appeals to you..

[ericferret]

I’m looking at some UK get-aways with the family in more unique accommodation and inquiring about landing permissions.

Odd query, but what animals are safe around a helicopters? I’ve found a great place in Wales, but the large open field just adjacent to the bungalow has sheep – are sheep OK around helicopters?

Surely goats are a no-go as they like to chew on stuff. My knowledge of the habits of farmyard animals is scant, so open to any advice.

Sheep love to nibble R22 HT leads, had to change a set in the field literally due to a rather large mag drop!!!

[ShyTorque]

The answer is really simple, land as far away from any animals as possible, the least of your worries might be what they do your helicopter....

Even in the UK someone will want to sue your arse off for sending there animals into a stampede....

Yes, I agree and when it comes to “no win no fee” lawyers, every old nag is a potential Derby winner!

[RVF750]

May I respectively suggest you drive instead. You know it makes sense.

[thechopper]

Buy your own unique property and get rid of any animals on your 50 acres. If you can't do that leave your chopper at home and drive instead. Take a 4x4 to add some excitement.;)

[Devil 49]

There's a very good reason barbed wire was invented: cows are big, strong animals that will push to get what they want. Even if they don't nibble expensive bits of your helicopter, they like to rub themselves against foxed objects or may merely bump your helicopter- the opposite of hangar rash, like the source of damage makes a difference....

[rotorfan]

Horses is stoopid people.

Wot Charlie said. Wife has horse disease (I prefer to squander my funds on flying machines). Their defense mechanism is to bolt, and a bit of rubbish in the wind is plenty to set them off. No predictability. With a gross weight more than an R22, they can do some damage. (Heh, just look at the wife’s hospital bills.)

[Bell_ringer]

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1680x1050/78bd6404_a3a0_4d7f_b577_66fbce3eeff7_1201f929760de8c3f0671b0 595bec85ca3e938fd.jpeg
Mooo-ve along, nothing to see here.

[JOSHUA]

The answer is really simple, land as far away from any animals as possible, the least of your worries might be what they do your helicopter....

Even in the UK someone will want to sue your arse off for sending their animals into a stampede....

I don’t disagree with landing away from the animals, but given livestock are often a farmers asset and main source of income - I think he’d have every right to sue for lost earnings, if your inconsiderate flying adversely affected their livestock...

[Phil Kemp]

Real Beasts!

https://scontent.fyvr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p843x403/1404488_10202442160081354_1326647557_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=2c4854&_nc_ohc=WvVZZxbA1gkAX-P-btx&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr3-1.fna&tp=6&oh=f210c6cd5b0bd3b3315b95336bf7dfbf&oe=5FEF60AE

[nomorehelosforme]

I don’t disagree with landing away from the animals, but given livestock are often a farmers asset and main source of income - I think he’d have every right to sue for lost earnings, if your inconsiderate flying adversely affected their livestock...

Thank you for basically repeating what I said

[nomorehelosforme]

Real Beasts!

https://scontent.fyvr3-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/p843x403/1404488_10202442160081354_1326647557_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=2&_nc_sid=2c4854&_nc_ohc=WvVZZxbA1gkAX-P-btx&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr3-1.fna&tp=6&oh=f210c6cd5b0bd3b3315b95336bf7dfbf&oe=5FEF60AE

Never mind, it will be one less Robbie, those beasts can digest most things.

[Check Airman]

The topic of this thread piqued my interest and the content has not disappointed. :D

[Fareastdriver]

I have always found the Parachute Regiment very polite every time I have dealt with them in the field.

[finalchecksplease]

I have always found the Parachute Regiment very polite every time I have dealt with them in the field.
:D:D Very good Fareastdriver (needed 10 characters)

[JimEli]

Once landed in an empty pasture and after shutting down, our Blackhawk was closely encircled by cows. It seems we landed adjacent their feed station just before feeding time. We couldn't re-started until the farmer arrived with the feed wagon.

[Flying Bull]

A colleague of mine had to do a little bit of paperwork...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba3gV1zZbI0

[gulfairs]

Sheep only have one ambition in life and that is to escape! No way will a sheep, lamb or ewe challenge Man.
Cattle are just nosey, the only guy you cannot trust is a lonely bull.
Bulls are never to be trusted and the worst of the Bulls is a Jersey bull. He is always Angry!

Ex cattle farmer and Heavy jet pilot,

[Arnie Madsen]

I know of one case where a family dog jumped up and took a playful nip at the tail rotor.
Killed the dog of course but it also cost the operator a lot of money .... new TR blades , gearbox , and driveshaft.

[albatross]

For some reason the TR on Hughes 500s seemed to anger dogs. Probably the noise signature.
On another note cows are really funny. I was doing an inertial nav mapping survey which calls for a landing every 3-4 minutes. We often landed at the same spot 4 times during the day. First landing cows lumber away, Second landing cows stand around looking at the machine, Third landing cows lumber towards the helicopter. Forth landing cows start stampeding towards you. One of our pilots had the happy experience of a young bull goring the machine..left a hole in the skin of the machine.
Caribou are very curious and sometimes wander up to the helicopter after you shut down to wait for the geologist to commune with the local rocks. For fun, put down your book, turn on battery and hit the starter..Caribou does a vertical departure with a pedal turn and departs over the horizon.
Musk oxen will sometimes come for a look but don’t approach too closely.
A barren lands grizzly bear can and has reduced a helicopter to its component parts in a minute. Do not annoy them. A young pilot and a rock doctor spent 15 minutes chasing one once and headed back to camp. Mr bear takes a bearing and sets off across country. That night there was a loud noise from the heliport where 3 identically painted machines were parked. The bear beat up the machine that had buzzed him and departed over the hill. He did not enter the camp area nor touch the other machines..apparently the beasts can read registrations.

[helisdw]

How about a pig encounter at ~6,000ft ASL?

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/480x640/img_3835_b3a3ef9ccab1f683d42b5947741c8438238f2ca2.jpeg

[albatross]

Funny...usually pilots encounter pigs in bars. 6000’! Were you in Hog Heaven?

[hihover]

I had a strange encounter one time, in a 109, doing a recce in a field just outside Liverpool. I had a timed arrival there in a couple of days and wanted to be sure I had my sums right and foolishly made the approach without a thorough recce. I approached into the field and whilst in the hover, I was aware that there were a couple of sheep out in my 3 o"clock, running around. I didn't want to hang around so I did a lockout turn before I departed and to my surprise/horror/amazement, there were no sheep, it was actually two Rhinos and they were now charging. Luckily I was just on the other side of a safari park fence and the Rhinos stopped short. That would have been a difficult explanation to the subsequent BOI.

[Cyclic Hotline]

Of course, you could always irritate anything by shooting it with a dart!

https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/ReportGeneratorFile.ashx?EventID=20070313X00285&AKey=1&RType=Final&IType=LA

On March 3, 2007, about 1610 Alaska standard time, a Hughes 369D helicopter, N5134V, sustained substantial damage while hovering in ground-effect, when its tail rotor was struck by a moose during a game management operation, about 1 mile southwest of the Gustavus Airport, Gustavus, Alaska. The helicopter was being operated by Temsco Helicopters Inc., Ketchikan, Alaska, as a visual flight rules (VFR) on-demand passenger flight under Title 14, CFR Part 135, when the accident occurred. The commercial certificated pilot and sole passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and company flight following procedures were in effect. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on March 5, the chief pilot for the operator said the helicopter was involved in a moose tagging operation for the Alaska State Department of Fish and Game. He said the moose was shot with a tranquilizer dart from the helicopter, and that the helicopter is used to block the moose's path to prevent them from running into water and drowning, or running into an area where the tranquilized animals cannot be handled safely. He said the helicopter was hovering, waiting for the animal to "go down." The chief pilot said that the pilot of an airplane was orbiting above, and saw the moose charge the helicopter. According to the chief pilot, the airplane pilot stated that as the helicopter attempted to evade the moose, the moose reared, or jumped, contacting the helicopter's tail rotor. The airplane pilot said that the helicopter made three complete 360 degree rotations before it landed. The helicopter pilot reported that he was not aware that the moose contacted the tail rotor. He indicated he had a loss of directional control, and said that he made a hovering autorotation to the ground. According to the chief pilot, the flex coupling between the drive shaft and the tail rotor gearbox failed. He said the spinning drive shaft cut through the tail boom adjacent to the gearbox, and separated the tail from the rest of the airframe. On April 2, the chief pilot told the IIC that their past practice had been for the helicopter to hover/maneuver about 10 feet above the ground, and no closer to the darted animal than 10 feet horizontally. He said this past practice had served them well, and the pilot and scientist aboard the helicopter felt the distances were appropriate. He said this was the first incidence of extreme, erratic, behavior on the part of a darted animal. In a written statement to the NTSB dated March 14, the chief pilot reported that due to this incident, the company had revised its procedure, and now requires the pilot to maintain 30 feet of altitude above the ground, and 30 feet horizontally from a darted animal.