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[Cyclic Hotline]

Helicopter flips when passenger jolts controls


25.08.05 2.00pm


Two men walked away uninjured this morning when a helicopter crashed in Hawke's Bay.

After a flight over Ben Lomond Station near State Highway 50, pilot Bernie Symonds is believed to have landed at Maraekakaho, 28km west of Hastings, and stepped out of his Sikorsky Helicopter, leaving the engine running.

In the process of getting out, his passenger is said to have lifted the dual controls installed for training purposes, prompting the machine to lift off the ground, throwing the passenger clear before toppling over.

Mr Symonds, from Hastings, works under Taranaki-based company Helicopter Services and keeps his helicopter at his home in Pakowhai Road.

Company head Brett Emeny said while both men were uninjured, it was clear some mistake had happened.

"It's more of a disappointment than anything."

Today Mr Symonds' family were breathing a sigh of relief, saying only that he had been "bloody lucky" to walk away.

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY

[MightyGem]

Unbelievable! Not only does the pilot leave the aircraft with the engine running with a passenger in it, but with a set of duals as well!! A receipe for disaster if every there was one.

[Revolutionary]

Maybe the passenger pulled the collective thinking it was the door handle. Has happened before...

[Gerhardt]

Just glad they both were uninjured. That being the case it's comical. (otherwise, it would not be)

[ThomasTheTankEngine]

This would be a difficult one to explain to the boss?

[noooby]

And don't forget, when they mention Sikorsky, they actually mean an old S-55!! How do you casually hop out of one of those while it is running, and leave a passenger in the cockpit!!

noooby

[JAF0]

Was there a video from a few years ago of a white 206b or 206L with a passenger getting in and as there half inside it takes off and comes back down again.

I assumed at the time a pax got it and while gettin comfortable pulled on the collective.

Any one else see this?