Always double check your knots!
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Beyond the black stump!
Always double check your knots!
Man falls 40 metres from helicopter and escapes injury in western Austria
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A man plummeted 40 metres from a helicopter Monday but escaped injury because deep snow cushioned his fall.
The 42-year-old was suspended from the helicopter by a rope to make repairs when the knot came undone
and he slipped free, police in the Upper Austria town of Hallstatt said in a statement.
Although a fall from that height normally would result in death or serious injury, the deep snowdrifts broke the man's fall, officials said. He was taken by rescue helicopter to a nearby hospital for a medical checkup as a precaution but appeared to have no injuries, they said.
VIENNA, Austria (AP) - A man plummeted 40 metres from a helicopter Monday but escaped injury because deep snow cushioned his fall.
The 42-year-old was suspended from the helicopter by a rope to make repairs when the knot came undone
and he slipped free, police in the Upper Austria town of Hallstatt said in a statement. Although a fall from that height normally would result in death or serious injury, the deep snowdrifts broke the man's fall, officials said. He was taken by rescue helicopter to a nearby hospital for a medical checkup as a precaution but appeared to have no injuries, they said.
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Los Angeles
So he falls from a helicopter and gets rescued by a helicopter. Is there anything these wonderful machines can't do? And what was he repairing that he was tied on with a rope? Maybe a little in-flight engine maintenance?
Glad he's ok though.
-James
Glad he's ok though.
-James
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
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From: Downeast
Seems the legendary Snowball Hitch got used....it went away when the warm exhaust air got pushed down in the rotorwash!
Reckon there was a former North Sea Diver flying that helicopter?
Reckon there was a former North Sea Diver flying that helicopter?
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: JAA land
Unbelievable luck and a good reminder to check the safety briefings and the efficient instruction level of non own personal hoisting procedures. May be they have forgotten the pre hoisting safety check of this lucky dude by the hoist operator? Seems to me this was not a high pressure / high risk mission?
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
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From: Downeast
Current Related thread about "Real Freefall Jumping from airplanes".
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=208965
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=208965
