Wires - strikes, cutters and detectors
"Hiding" power lines has been a policy in NSW for many years: they made an issue some time back of how environmentally friendly 
they are by painting the pylons matt green, and blasting the power lines to take the shine off them, so they won't upset the greeny's "wilderness experience".
FWIW, there is a statute on the books that prohibits flying in close proximity to power lines, at least here in Victoria. One unfortunate who hit a disused power line (400+ metre span from single poles, all lines to the poles removed many years previous to the accident) tried raising the issue with the power company. End result, he was prosecuted for hitting the power line
they are by painting the pylons matt green, and blasting the power lines to take the shine off them, so they won't upset the greeny's "wilderness experience".FWIW, there is a statute on the books that prohibits flying in close proximity to power lines, at least here in Victoria. One unfortunate who hit a disused power line (400+ metre span from single poles, all lines to the poles removed many years previous to the accident) tried raising the issue with the power company. End result, he was prosecuted for hitting the power line
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The Aerial Ag Association of Australia has been working with regulators and power companies for about 5 years on this issue.
So far:
We have an agreement with the Office of Chief Electrical Inspector in Victoria that the standard 45 metre exclusion zone does not apply to ag as long as certain risk management procedures are in place.
We have run a 3 year trial on markers in cotton country and they are now available in NSW from Country Energy at about $35 each (installed) - they are plastic white reflective markers of about 60cm square that can be applied to a live line as part of routine maintenance. Early days but we hope to have these nationally available.
We have initiated a rewrite of the National Standard on the marking of powerlines as the orange balls are too expensive etc. The committee is yet to meet but will hopefully also address not only the type of marker, but where they should be fitted (eg. long spans across valleys)
We run safety training programs focusing on human factors and powerlines etc - about two thirds of Aust. ag pilots have attended one.
There is progress, but it is slow...
www.aerialag.com.au
So far:
We have an agreement with the Office of Chief Electrical Inspector in Victoria that the standard 45 metre exclusion zone does not apply to ag as long as certain risk management procedures are in place.
We have run a 3 year trial on markers in cotton country and they are now available in NSW from Country Energy at about $35 each (installed) - they are plastic white reflective markers of about 60cm square that can be applied to a live line as part of routine maintenance. Early days but we hope to have these nationally available.
We have initiated a rewrite of the National Standard on the marking of powerlines as the orange balls are too expensive etc. The committee is yet to meet but will hopefully also address not only the type of marker, but where they should be fitted (eg. long spans across valleys)
We run safety training programs focusing on human factors and powerlines etc - about two thirds of Aust. ag pilots have attended one.
There is progress, but it is slow...
www.aerialag.com.au
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Photos of EC130 Wirestrike in Drakensberg
Got these via email from a couple of friends in Sth Africa. This is the EC130 that had the wirestrike last week. As you can see was very very lucky.
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Pheonix-
Do you know any details as to how they hit the wires (angle etc) can't work out how they pranged the tail boom and the rotor head - unless it was the landing.
The picture of the rotor head- does that really show a broken starflex???!!!!
if that happened in flight it'd bring tears to your eyes...
Then again if you ask eurocrapter they don't break ever.......
Again, the pilot was a bit of a guru to get it onto the deck safely and/or very lucky.
Do you know any details as to how they hit the wires (angle etc) can't work out how they pranged the tail boom and the rotor head - unless it was the landing.
The picture of the rotor head- does that really show a broken starflex???!!!!
if that happened in flight it'd bring tears to your eyes...Then again if you ask eurocrapter they don't break ever.......
Again, the pilot was a bit of a guru to get it onto the deck safely and/or very lucky.
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Not sure but will see if I can find out. I understand that the wires broke and wrapped themselves around the aircraft, not sure how. And yes that is a Starflex with heaps of damage on it, see they do break
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I would take a wild guess and say that the sudden stoppage of the head (the act that broke the hub plate) and the large vibrations could have created torque spikes that caused the tail cone to fold. The damage on the tail looks lateral, and might be a buckling from that awful yaw/lateral spike that the wire caused.
Recall that film of the two Pumas involved in a midair, where the tail cone folded laterally from the vibration?
Wild ride coming down 'll bet. Hats off to the pilot to keep it all right and get it landed.
Recall that film of the two Pumas involved in a midair, where the tail cone folded laterally from the vibration?
Wild ride coming down 'll bet. Hats off to the pilot to keep it all right and get it landed.
Not wanting to take anything away from the pilot I think also a hats off for the helicopter makers (not just Eurocopter like in this case but all of them) for developing and designing helicopters that can take loads of “battle “ damage and still enabling the pilot to get her down!
Thanks for sharing those pictures Phoenix Rising.
Thanks for sharing those pictures Phoenix Rising.
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Perhaps a bit of a silly question - why no Wire Strike Protection System?
It would have cut the cables from all accounts.
Do we have any pix of successful use of the WSPS anywhere?
It would have cut the cables from all accounts.
Do we have any pix of successful use of the WSPS anywhere?
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Okay, this post'll probably stir the s**t, but I see everyone praising the pilot for his sterling efforts getting safely to the ground, but isn't it strange that no-one has mentioned the fact that the wires didn't jump up and hit the helicopter, the pilot flew into them!! 
Make of it what you will.
Anyway, nice to see that the aircraft could have such an incident and be landed reasonably safely.
Make of it what you will.
Anyway, nice to see that the aircraft could have such an incident and be landed reasonably safely.
kissmysquirrell
I'll bet he didn't fly into them deliberately! No one is immune to error. I dunno about you, but I reckon it's bad juju to say stuff like that.
Those that have and those that will.....
Well done to the pilot.
I'll bet he didn't fly into them deliberately! No one is immune to error. I dunno about you, but I reckon it's bad juju to say stuff like that.
Those that have and those that will.....
Well done to the pilot.
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The Coyote,
He didn't fly into them deliberately. He flew into them negligently.
Everybody makes mistakes but he and his passengers were very lucky that this one didn't kill them all. Them that has and them that will?...... thats Bull! Most wire strikes kill the occupants. Wires are the number one killers of helicopter pilots...period!
Professional helicopter pilots don't hit wires. Those pilots that do have not prioritised their risks.
Is it bad juju to discuss frankly an issue as serious as this?
Worse I think to heap praise on a guy who put himself in the position of having to use his superior pilotting skills to extract himself from a situation which could have been avoided by using his superior pilotting judgment.
He didn't fly into them deliberately. He flew into them negligently.
Everybody makes mistakes but he and his passengers were very lucky that this one didn't kill them all. Them that has and them that will?...... thats Bull! Most wire strikes kill the occupants. Wires are the number one killers of helicopter pilots...period!
Professional helicopter pilots don't hit wires. Those pilots that do have not prioritised their risks.
Is it bad juju to discuss frankly an issue as serious as this?
Worse I think to heap praise on a guy who put himself in the position of having to use his superior pilotting skills to extract himself from a situation which could have been avoided by using his superior pilotting judgment.
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ABC Australia report
Helicopter groundings hamper locust fight
About 30 helicopters which were being used for locust control work in country New South Wales continue to be grounded in the wake of a fatal accident this week.
Other methods are being used to keep up the fight against the insects.
Two men died and a woman was injured in the helicopter crash near Dunedoo in the state's west this week which occurred during locust control operations.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has grounded all helicopters while a review takes place.
The DPI has contracted an independent risk assessor to see if extra safety measures should be introduced.
It says while helicopters have been grounded, planes will continue to be used.
There have been nearly 650 new reports of locust hatchings in the past week which continues a downward trend.
About 30 helicopters which were being used for locust control work in country New South Wales continue to be grounded in the wake of a fatal accident this week.
Other methods are being used to keep up the fight against the insects.
Two men died and a woman was injured in the helicopter crash near Dunedoo in the state's west this week which occurred during locust control operations.
The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has grounded all helicopters while a review takes place.
The DPI has contracted an independent risk assessor to see if extra safety measures should be introduced.
It says while helicopters have been grounded, planes will continue to be used.
There have been nearly 650 new reports of locust hatchings in the past week which continues a downward trend.
A degree of luck
These were passed on to me recently, from a film job in Utah where the wire strike spoilt everyone's day
How lucky was this chap, to pull off a 150 yard slide sans blades, tail and then spin 180 to face back the way he came, without rolling over. No luck left for the Lottery ticket, methinks
How lucky was this chap, to pull off a 150 yard slide sans blades, tail and then spin 180 to face back the way he came, without rolling over. No luck left for the Lottery ticket, methinks
Lucky is right, too often this ends with fatalities. Gotta HATE those wires - and keep a better lookout for them!!Senis Semper Fidelis
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Luuucky Chap,
looking at the mast it is difficult to see the top in any detail, therfore the question, when connecting with a wire does it rip the head off the shaft or cut through the actual mast.
The fact that the rear fuselage is missing is that from the rotor being forced backwards whilst still rotating and thus cutting thru the body, or is the cut caused by the movement of the wire?
At whatever state the pilot is in, he can fill in my lottery ticket next week!
Peter R-B
Vfr
looking at the mast it is difficult to see the top in any detail, therfore the question, when connecting with a wire does it rip the head off the shaft or cut through the actual mast.
The fact that the rear fuselage is missing is that from the rotor being forced backwards whilst still rotating and thus cutting thru the body, or is the cut caused by the movement of the wire?
At whatever state the pilot is in, he can fill in my lottery ticket next week!
Peter R-B
Vfr
Please gents be so kind and note the following picture 
BO 105 swashplate after heavy wire contact...
Sometimes the difference between life and death is only a few inches...
... in this case... luckily, the strong a/c and lady luck pointed to the crew side!
But unfortunately the pendulum swings mostly to the other side!
BO 105 swashplate after heavy wire contact...
Sometimes the difference between life and death is only a few inches...
... in this case... luckily, the strong a/c
and lady luck pointed to the crew side!But unfortunately the pendulum swings mostly to the other side!