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World tour British pilot Colin Hales crashes in Japan

It appears Colin is OK but the aircraft is wrecked.
I understand the accident happened three hours in to the flight when he tried to land on a golf course
in western Japan.

An employee at the Himejiaioi Country Club in Hyogo Prefecture reported the incident to police on Tuesday afternoon.

He walked to the club's guesthouse to seek help and was taken to hospital in a helicopter.

A club official says no other people were injured as golfers had already left the course.

Such a sad end after the Japanese aviation authority relented and granted a permit to continue after seven months grounded.
[IMG]https://preview.ibb.co/gmFcxv/IMG_4192.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]https://preview.ibb.co/cy4LHv/IMG_4189.jpg[/IMG]

Yes, saw this on the evening news here. Glad he made it out OK.

Very sad to hear that, do hope the hospital visit was purely precautionary.

For those like me who thought - who the fleck is Colin Hales. Here's the link: Pilot - Colin Hales | kr2worldtour

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Gosh, what bad luck :-(

After all he has been through, permit wise, this happens.

I hope he is OK and able to continue his adventure, best wishes Sir.

It will be interesting if the investigation finds that the cause of the accident is linked to the aeroplane being kept outside not flying for so long.

He mentioned valves sticking open and no compression in a video on his website some days ago. However after running the engine they appeared to free.

It appears Colin has a broken hip. Engine trouble is quoted below.
[IMG]https://preview.ibb.co/d6hPCv/IMG_4207.jpg img free[/IMG]

Funny he was headed to Konan, an out of the way place not far from here.

Glad to hear he's okay - but something of a killer blow to future permits for similar trips through Japan. I can hear the bureaucrats already "I told you it was a bad idea..."

Great shame all round.

Japanese press reporting that the police and authorities have latched on to it being a kit plane built by the pilot himself.

A day late because of the translation lag:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170711_28/

A small plane has made an emergency landing on a golf course in western Japan. The British pilot was injured.

An employee at the Himejiaioi Country Club in Hyogo Prefecture reported the incident to police on Tuesday afternoon.

Footage taken by NHK shows the severely damaged plane on a grassy area near a building.

Firefighters say the injured man, Colin Hales, walked to the club's guesthouse to seek help and was taken to hospital in a helicopter.

A club official says no other people were injured as golfers had already left the course

Bummer...best of luck with recovery of both you and the aeroplane...time to build a Rv Collin!!

Sticking valves can certainly spoil your day. I remember speaking to a flying instructor at the old Doncaster airport who had flown in with a student. We had several cases of sticking valves and worn guides with the R22 and I was interested in finding out how others were getting on. He replied that they had not had this problem on their fleet. He took off lost power and did a nice quick stop onto the airfield with no aircraft damage.. Inspection revealed a bent push rod and tube with a stuck valve!!!!

It appears Colin was hurt quite badly and is facing some time in hospital.

There is a crowdfunding page for him at the bottom of this update. I will post the link but am not sure if it is against Pprune rules.

Quote:

You will have heard about the tragic fate of Colin's aircraft, Itzy. Very sadly for Colin Itzy suffered engine failure and he had to make a forced landing on a golf course in Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Colin was extremely fortunate to walk away from the accident, but has since discovered he has broken his back in three places. He was air-lifted from the scene and is now in the emergency ward of the hospital. He is not allowed to move from the bed as there is a risk that he could damage his spinal nerve, until he has surgery.
He faces a very large medical bill, and at first was refusing treatment as he doesn't have the money. His friends and family have made sure surgery will go ahead in Japan. There is no price for a life.
The bill will likely be around $30,000, so I am hoping that between us we can raise a little something to help his family with this expense.
I know many of you will have been lucky enough to have met Colin during his round the world trip. He rarely asks for help and is fiercely independent and proud. I know many have wanted to help him before now with the journey and he never accepts, but I think this time he is in need of the help of all those wonderful friends he has made around the world.
Needless to say Colin doesn't know about the Crowd Funding. I know he would not allow me to ask for help, but sometimes you have to do what you believe is the right thing.

Apologies to mods if this is against the rules please remove.
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/colin-hales

Quote:

Needless to say Colin doesn't know about the Crowd Funding. I know he would not allow me to ask for help, but sometimes you have to do what you believe is the right thing.

I would guess this is a genuine request, but there have been cases recently where fraudsters have done something similar.

Can you confirm that the organisers are genuine?

Are you seriously saying he undertook this trip without medical insurance?

I know nothing about the crowd funding however being stuck in a Japanese hospital with a broken back does seem serious.

I hope the aircraft carried insurance.

He is now making the UK newspapers so hopefully some good Samaritans will come to his aid.

British pilot who built his own plane makes miracle escape from horror crash which sliced aircraft in two - Mirror Online