Wires - strikes, cutters and detectors
NZ R44 wire strike - lucky escape
On Sunday 12 November, The New Zealand Herald reported on an accident involving an R44 helicopter. It is summarised below in the interests of flight safety. Full acknowledgement (with our thanks) is given to reporter Miles Erwin and The New Zealand Herald.
Bravery of 'speared' pilot
Sunday November 12, 2006
By Miles Erwin
The family of a helicopter pilot last night told how he saved the lives of his three passengers - despite having been speared in the stomach by a steel power line after crashing into power cables.
Paul Sutton, a pilot at Scenicland Helicopters in Greymouth, was flying three police officers on a search mission when he crashed into power lines near Punakaiki. The windscreen smashed as the severed cables sliced through the cabin.
As Sutton fought to control the chopper, a 3cm piece of wire pierced his stomach, lodging in his intestine.
Bleeding heavily, the 30-year-old father of two managed to fly the Robinson 44 aircraft 500m to a beach, where he made an emergency landing and evacuated his passengers. Realising the helicopter could be reached by high tides, he then flew it 50m to high ground and 500m further to a paddock.
Sutton is recovering in Grey Base Hospital after three hours of surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.
His relieved family told the Herald on Sunday they were amazed by his bravery and skill as a pilot, saying he had been working "on adrenalin".
His mother Linda Sutton said: "I think he just went on overdrive. He knew he was hurt but he didn't realise he was so bad. As soon as he landed he made sure his passengers were okay. I can't believe he did all that. I don't think anyone realised he was as badly hurt as all that."
She said all the occupants were incredibly lucky, especially as the power lines had been disconnected for maintenance.
"There were other bits of the wire in the back seat as well as in the passenger seat.
"They were bloody lucky - it's just one of those things."
Linda Sutton said the passengers didn't really know what happened initially and feared they had been shot at. Moments before they struck the cables, they were searching for evidence after the recovery of a naked male body two weeks ago.
"The chopper never vibrated. He knew something had happened but Paul just kept his calm and landed it. His chest was bleeding. It sounds like they thought they had been shot at," she said.
Sutton's wife, Kim, said he told her he was trained to look for power poles. But the pole was obscured by trees and he flew straight into the wires.
The three police officers were unharmed, and the machine was undamaged except for a broken windscreen.
The NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incident.
End:
Bravery of 'speared' pilot
Sunday November 12, 2006
By Miles Erwin
The family of a helicopter pilot last night told how he saved the lives of his three passengers - despite having been speared in the stomach by a steel power line after crashing into power cables.
Paul Sutton, a pilot at Scenicland Helicopters in Greymouth, was flying three police officers on a search mission when he crashed into power lines near Punakaiki. The windscreen smashed as the severed cables sliced through the cabin.
As Sutton fought to control the chopper, a 3cm piece of wire pierced his stomach, lodging in his intestine.
Bleeding heavily, the 30-year-old father of two managed to fly the Robinson 44 aircraft 500m to a beach, where he made an emergency landing and evacuated his passengers. Realising the helicopter could be reached by high tides, he then flew it 50m to high ground and 500m further to a paddock.
Sutton is recovering in Grey Base Hospital after three hours of surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.
His relieved family told the Herald on Sunday they were amazed by his bravery and skill as a pilot, saying he had been working "on adrenalin".
His mother Linda Sutton said: "I think he just went on overdrive. He knew he was hurt but he didn't realise he was so bad. As soon as he landed he made sure his passengers were okay. I can't believe he did all that. I don't think anyone realised he was as badly hurt as all that."
She said all the occupants were incredibly lucky, especially as the power lines had been disconnected for maintenance.
"There were other bits of the wire in the back seat as well as in the passenger seat.
"They were bloody lucky - it's just one of those things."
Linda Sutton said the passengers didn't really know what happened initially and feared they had been shot at. Moments before they struck the cables, they were searching for evidence after the recovery of a naked male body two weeks ago.
"The chopper never vibrated. He knew something had happened but Paul just kept his calm and landed it. His chest was bleeding. It sounds like they thought they had been shot at," she said.
Sutton's wife, Kim, said he told her he was trained to look for power poles. But the pole was obscured by trees and he flew straight into the wires.
The three police officers were unharmed, and the machine was undamaged except for a broken windscreen.
The NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incident.
End:
NZ R44 wire strike - lucky escape
On Sunday 12 November, The New Zealand Herald reported on an accident involving an R44 helicopter. It is summarised below in the interests of flight safety. Full acknowledgement (with our thanks) is given to reporter Miles Erwin and The New Zealand Herald.
Bravery of 'speared' pilot
Sunday November 12, 2006
By Miles Erwin
The family of a helicopter pilot last night told how he saved the lives of his three passengers - despite having been speared in the stomach by a steel power line after crashing into power cables.
Paul Sutton, a pilot at Scenicland Helicopters in Greymouth, was flying three police officers on a search mission when he crashed into power lines near Punakaiki. The windscreen smashed as the severed cables sliced through the cabin.
As Sutton fought to control the chopper, a 3cm piece of wire pierced his stomach, lodging in his intestine.
Bleeding heavily, the 30-year-old father of two managed to fly the Robinson 44 aircraft 500m to a beach, where he made an emergency landing and evacuated his passengers. Realising the helicopter could be reached by high tides, he then flew it 50m to high ground and 500m further to a paddock.
Sutton is recovering in Grey Base Hospital after three hours of surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.
His relieved family told the Herald on Sunday they were amazed by his bravery and skill as a pilot, saying he had been working "on adrenalin".
His mother Linda Sutton said: "I think he just went on overdrive. He knew he was hurt but he didn't realise he was so bad. As soon as he landed he made sure his passengers were okay. I can't believe he did all that. I don't think anyone realised he was as badly hurt as all that."
She said all the occupants were incredibly lucky, especially as the power lines had been disconnected for maintenance.
"There were other bits of the wire in the back seat as well as in the passenger seat.
"They were bloody lucky - it's just one of those things."
Linda Sutton said the passengers didn't really know what happened initially and feared they had been shot at. Moments before they struck the cables, they were searching for evidence after the recovery of a naked male body two weeks ago.
"The chopper never vibrated. He knew something had happened but Paul just kept his calm and landed it. His chest was bleeding. It sounds like they thought they had been shot at," she said.
Sutton's wife, Kim, said he told her he was trained to look for power poles. But the pole was obscured by trees and he flew straight into the wires.
The three police officers were unharmed, and the machine was undamaged except for a broken windscreen.
The NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incident.
End:
Bravery of 'speared' pilot
Sunday November 12, 2006
By Miles Erwin
The family of a helicopter pilot last night told how he saved the lives of his three passengers - despite having been speared in the stomach by a steel power line after crashing into power cables.
Paul Sutton, a pilot at Scenicland Helicopters in Greymouth, was flying three police officers on a search mission when he crashed into power lines near Punakaiki. The windscreen smashed as the severed cables sliced through the cabin.
As Sutton fought to control the chopper, a 3cm piece of wire pierced his stomach, lodging in his intestine.
Bleeding heavily, the 30-year-old father of two managed to fly the Robinson 44 aircraft 500m to a beach, where he made an emergency landing and evacuated his passengers. Realising the helicopter could be reached by high tides, he then flew it 50m to high ground and 500m further to a paddock.
Sutton is recovering in Grey Base Hospital after three hours of surgery. He is expected to make a full recovery.
His relieved family told the Herald on Sunday they were amazed by his bravery and skill as a pilot, saying he had been working "on adrenalin".
His mother Linda Sutton said: "I think he just went on overdrive. He knew he was hurt but he didn't realise he was so bad. As soon as he landed he made sure his passengers were okay. I can't believe he did all that. I don't think anyone realised he was as badly hurt as all that."
She said all the occupants were incredibly lucky, especially as the power lines had been disconnected for maintenance.
"There were other bits of the wire in the back seat as well as in the passenger seat.
"They were bloody lucky - it's just one of those things."
Linda Sutton said the passengers didn't really know what happened initially and feared they had been shot at. Moments before they struck the cables, they were searching for evidence after the recovery of a naked male body two weeks ago.
"The chopper never vibrated. He knew something had happened but Paul just kept his calm and landed it. His chest was bleeding. It sounds like they thought they had been shot at," she said.
Sutton's wife, Kim, said he told her he was trained to look for power poles. But the pole was obscured by trees and he flew straight into the wires.
The three police officers were unharmed, and the machine was undamaged except for a broken windscreen.
The NZ Transport Accident Investigation Commission is investigating the incident.
End:
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Jim,
Recon is the best way to avoid those wires. Plenty of it and all over, there are some nightmare spots out there, SE Queensland springs to mind around all those coal fired power stations. Not just those big buggers, the swer lines are the ones that surprise you.
Every person I know that hit one knew they were there but it was something else that caused the strike. Big fence posts, terrain jumps,livestock, people, vehicles etc. Some of them said nothing would have helped others said a more complete recon might have avoided it.
Check the charts and they should be marked but nothing beats the eyeball. Mark em on your nav so they pop up when you're close.
Good luck
Recon is the best way to avoid those wires. Plenty of it and all over, there are some nightmare spots out there, SE Queensland springs to mind around all those coal fired power stations. Not just those big buggers, the swer lines are the ones that surprise you.
Every person I know that hit one knew they were there but it was something else that caused the strike. Big fence posts, terrain jumps,livestock, people, vehicles etc. Some of them said nothing would have helped others said a more complete recon might have avoided it.
Check the charts and they should be marked but nothing beats the eyeball. Mark em on your nav so they pop up when you're close.
Good luck
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Nothing done
Lots of ag pilots and others are dead, as a result of running into wires. Much could be done, by the power companies,to prevent this. But very little is done. This is probably because the electricity organisations were government run.
It IS possible to make wires and poles much more visible. Sure, it costs money, but lives are worth money.
I guess someone will have to sue them to make something happen.
It IS possible to make wires and poles much more visible. Sure, it costs money, but lives are worth money.
I guess someone will have to sue them to make something happen.
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AB139engineer
I know a pilot back in the late 80's that hit a unmarked power line with a Jet Ranger and he survived thanks to his helmut.The wire cutter kit worked and the machine suffered extensive damage, as it crashed into a lake after impact with the wire.The helicopter was rebuilt and still flys today.
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wire avoidance
What I think would really help is to have all the HT wires added on to the GPS database - they can put them on the quater-mil chart so why not the GPS database. Reading a map in the 44 is difficult at the best of times and when you really need to know where the wires are you can bet that the map is the last thing you want to get out.
It would be really helpful in those situations when you end up hopping over the lowest plyon while trying not to be enveloped in the murk.
Clearly there are lots of other just as dangerous cables out there but the HT ones are usually the highest and would be a good start.
SB
It would be really helpful in those situations when you end up hopping over the lowest plyon while trying not to be enveloped in the murk.
Clearly there are lots of other just as dangerous cables out there but the HT ones are usually the highest and would be a good start.
SB
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Skud running
Scooter Boy, according to your profile, you have an Instrument Rating. As a Doctor, I thought that you would be able to do a better risk assessment and make a better plan.
Don't go skud running to avoid the murk, land or go IFR. There is no middle ground, dragons with long metal teeth (wires) await you there...
That's why there is a lowest safe.
IMHO, wires are not your problem, airmanship is... Fly safe for your family & friends.
Don't go skud running to avoid the murk, land or go IFR. There is no middle ground, dragons with long metal teeth (wires) await you there...
That's why there is a lowest safe.IMHO, wires are not your problem, airmanship is... Fly safe for your family & friends.
I'll save you the barracking that you're probably going to get, CYHeli.
SB does have an instrument rating - but it is an IR(A), not (H). He owns a fixed-wing aircraft as well as an R44.
From what he writes on here, SB seems to be one of the most safety concious (and sensible) PPLs who post on here.
SB does have an instrument rating - but it is an IR(A), not (H). He owns a fixed-wing aircraft as well as an R44.
From what he writes on here, SB seems to be one of the most safety concious (and sensible) PPLs who post on here.
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Wire Strike Protection.
Question for the grizzled rotorheads: At what speeds are helicopter wire strike protection really effective?
The reason I ask is because a fellow helicopter pilot and I had a 'freindly' debate on the need or the effectiveness of wire strike protection in HEMS helicopters. Don't get me wrong, I will take any device that saves me from balling one up.But, given the typical EMS profile,is it (more often than not) required? The only time I would need wire cutters (to use the crude coloquiolism) is going into a scene in poor visibility or at night. Assuming I have done the recce and the folks on the ground have given me the location of the nearest powerlines,but, as it happens, we both missed one. Would the cutters work if I engaged one at almost hover prior to landing?
I seem to remember some data that suggests that they are effective upto 15 knots of forward speed but not below. True or false?If true, where can I find that data ? Coming back to the assumption, I don't ever go charging into an LZ ,day or night at anything like 15 knots. And, on my way to work,I cruise at altitudes where Edison and Bell have not done their dirty work,yet. In fact, the big issue these days is cell phone towers that are burgeoning all over the country.
All input appreciated.
Alt3.
The reason I ask is because a fellow helicopter pilot and I had a 'freindly' debate on the need or the effectiveness of wire strike protection in HEMS helicopters. Don't get me wrong, I will take any device that saves me from balling one up.But, given the typical EMS profile,is it (more often than not) required? The only time I would need wire cutters (to use the crude coloquiolism) is going into a scene in poor visibility or at night. Assuming I have done the recce and the folks on the ground have given me the location of the nearest powerlines,but, as it happens, we both missed one. Would the cutters work if I engaged one at almost hover prior to landing?
I seem to remember some data that suggests that they are effective upto 15 knots of forward speed but not below. True or false?If true, where can I find that data ? Coming back to the assumption, I don't ever go charging into an LZ ,day or night at anything like 15 knots. And, on my way to work,I cruise at altitudes where Edison and Bell have not done their dirty work,yet. In fact, the big issue these days is cell phone towers that are burgeoning all over the country.
All input appreciated.
Alt3.
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I recall talking to one of the engineers at Bristol Aerospace some years ago , the Max certified speed was determined by the maximum speed the truck they used for testing could reach on the runway in Winnipeg , I do not recall a mimimum speed
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True (15 knots and still effective). It has been shown to work in real world conditions at speeds of 15knots. Of course there are a number of factors so its not going to work all the time.
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I reckon if a helicopter can be fitted with a wire strike kit and is predomenantly operated low level you should have one installed.I fitted one to a H 500 when I was using one on Ag work and although I was fortunate to never have to use it, it gave me a feeling of being on the frount foot should I encounter a wire. A chap who did some work with crash investigation's,once told me that the odds for one wire survival was as high as 90%, and an evan 50% when multiple wires involved, thats significant. Another piece of equipment that if you don't have it, its no use to you and if you do have it, it might just save your life.
