Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

Should We Wear Helmets

Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

Should We Wear Helmets

Old 3rd May 2007, 01:29
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Sale, Australia
Age: 80
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Should We Wear Helmets

The thread on crashworthy seats, and in particular Nick's observation about wearing helmets in cars prompts me to ask the question.

Anyone thats been in the business for any length of time will know of people, or of accidents, where a helmet, or lack of, determined the outcome for the individual/s.

The usual cause is the result of a blade entering the cockpit, some thing our fixed wing brothers don't have to worry about. A couple of interesting accidents I recall were a 412 in Alaska where a pitch link to one blade came adrift while in the cruise at 10,000 feet. Horrendous vibration set in which caused both pilots (only persons on board) to be bounced so violently in their seats that their heads went through the overhead greenhouse windows and were being belted against the door pillar. They put their ability to retain sufficient control and get safely to the ground down to the fact that they were wearing helmets. Another was a 76 accident where the captain banged his head on the broom closet. He exited the cockpit and helped the crash crew extricate the copilot who was pinned in his seat. 45 minutes after the accident he dropped dead as a result of his seemingly innoxious bump.

As a comment Nick, a Oz brain surgeon some years ago was campaigning for car occupants to wear helmets because of the injuries and deaths he saw in his business which would have been alieviated.
Brian Abraham is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 01:39
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Downeast
Age: 75
Posts: 18,267
Received 467 Likes on 191 Posts
Helmets save lives. Two engines save lives. Crashworthy seats save lives. Pop Out floats save lives......why would one wish to do without some means of increasing one's survival during a crash?

A helmet costs very little in comparison to the hospital bills they might prevent.

Mind you I always assumed a 205/212 blade whacking the nose off of a helicopter was one of those things that only a clear conscience would help.
SASless is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 02:59
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: the great white north
Posts: 299
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
honestly, i feel naked not wearing a helmet, however i cannot remember not wearing one. we are exposed to enough risk during the course of a regular work day (i do production longline work), why wouldn't you try to mitigate those risks by protecting yourself.
there was an accident a few years back when a 206 pilot in canada found his head to be firmly lodged between the front door pillar and the ground, and all he had to do to extricate himself was undo the chinstrap. there are many other stories how helmets have saved lives.
but lets also not forget about how they protect your hearing from high freq noise penetrating the nape of your neck.
wear one to protect your head and your medical and lets let the debate rest.
in case you wondered, this is what i think of my helmet: .
Fun Police is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 04:04
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: canada
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I think in this day and age, not wearing one is just plain ignorant. They cost what they cost, and they save lives. It's like the seatbelt argument, there's always someone willing to fly in the face of wisdom and common sense.

I too do a lot of long line work, was moving a drill in heavy rain last summer and the electrics let go. Switched to a headset for the last two lifts, never felt more exposed in my life.

Buy one that fits, regardless of brand, take care of it, and you'll have piece of mind if nothing else.

RH
remote hook is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 04:26
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Qld troppo
Posts: 3,498
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Why should the pilot wear a helmet, if there isn't one for me?

Dr
ForkTailedDrKiller is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 06:44
  #6 (permalink)  
MBJ
 
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: UK
Posts: 195
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
"Why should the pilot wear a helmet, if there isn't one for me?"

We spend much time and energy persuading pax that helicopters are a pretty safe way to travel A to B and it would be impossible, practically, to offer charter customers helmets. An ill-fitting bonedome won't help much. Probably a more productive route in the charter business is to minimise accidents through good practice, decent engineering and sensible decision-making.

In the aerial filming world we do offer multi-fit helmets to the director if there's any low-level work to be done and the crews generally all wear them anyway.
MBJ is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 09:38
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Spain
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello folks. I haven't posted for a while due jobsites lacking web access.

I'm 100% pro helmet. The reasons are obvious and I feel as comfortable without a helmet as I do in a truck or car without a seatbelt...Not very!

Just a sidebar..Anyone have a DC shorty helmet they want to sell (K-10?)

I know about the lack of certification as a flight helmet etc...But I have my reasons

email or PM would be appreciated if you have a K-10 surplus to requirements....Happy to pay a fair price...

Thanks...170

ps..I'll only have email/web access until Sunday 6th May,sporadic access thereafter....thanks
170' is offline  
Old 3rd May 2007, 11:05
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: lake providence, la.
Age: 63
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I feel naked without mine on. I always were it even when ferrying. As a bonus, I have AM/FM and XM, can't here the music without it on.

barryb
crop duster is offline  
Old 4th May 2007, 20:06
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: South of the border
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
ForkTailedDrKiller

" Why should the pilot wear a helmet, if there isn't one for me?"

Quite simple really... In the event of any problems it's the pilot who is going to get you down in one piece, not the pax!

I personally wouldn't be without mine. Increased safety and comfort - what more do you want?

Last edited by O27PMR; 4th May 2007 at 20:16.
O27PMR is offline  
Old 4th May 2007, 21:15
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: This Universe
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Should We Wear Helmets?

Dear Everyone,

Personally I feel that wearing a helmet must be compulsory for everyone in any business that involves a risk of a head injury. Coming to the business of CIVIL aviation, I do not have a record of helmets being made compulsory by any Airline for it's pilots nor any authority calling for a compulsion on wearing of a helmet by pilots on ANY flight by it's pilots. Even the ICAO (to my knowledge) does not define any regulations towards wearing a helmet by pilots. So, what does an airline expect? Put a helmet on every pilot's head before a flight as a routine? Safety-wise true, but is it practical? We certainly need to sort out the issue and get appropriate guidelines issued by the concerned Civil Avaition Authority. On the one hand, in certain phases of flight it's (I feel) a necessity, whereas, in most other phases of flight, taken to extremes it would become a pain in the posterior. My thoughts are certainly open for comment and suggestions and they are always welcome. Thanks


Hawk
agada is offline  
Old 4th May 2007, 22:48
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Throwing stones from my glass house
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Helmets...

Hello Groovers,

having been unfortunate enough to have ended the wrong way up in a field after a tail rotor malfunction, I am in no doubt that a major factor in our walking away without serious injury was the fact that all 8 on board were wearing helmets. I know some pax and engineers find them an annoyance but I feel that they should be used whenever they're availible.

I've never taken a beating like it. Helmet played a big part in my tiny brain staying inside my big head .
RotatingPart is offline  
Old 5th May 2007, 03:38
  #12 (permalink)  
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: U.S.A.
Posts: 1,874
Received 60 Likes on 18 Posts
If you really don't know why a helmet is a lifesaver, I can only suggest you haven't really studied the ergonomic nightmare that is the cockpit from a "what would really spoil my day if I headbutted it during a 10G deceleration" point of view. My personal vision on the road to Damascus was from some years ago, when a Hughes Pilot encountered resonance on a Ground run, the aircraft rolled over and the Gyro caging knob punctured his temple and killed him. Must still rate as one of the most avoidable and pointless fatalities in aviation for want of a bone dome.
Two's in is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 09:15
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hello,

Sorry if this is a daft question, but researching into helicopter flying, I see most civil pilots (Police, Air Ambulance, Coast Guard, North Sea etc) all wear helmets. I've seen some charter guys with only head-phones on.

Thus my question is this, would you recommend someone about to start their PPL(H) to invest in a helmet? I know I know, I'd probably look at idiot in my little R22 with an Alpha Eagle on my bonce, but if it adds that extra element of safety, quite frankly looking a prat is a price I'm willing to pay!

What are your thoughts?

Kelly
tourismkelly is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 10:08
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Alderney or Lancashire UK
Posts: 570
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hi Kelly,
I always wear one in my Enstrom. I dont care what I look like. Take your choice. A cool corpse or a live prat. Your skull doesnt care if the part that punctures it is Robinson or Sikorski.
I often wear a nomex suit as well to look like a real prat/jet pilot (delete as required) and yes I have been called names. I Really dont care.
Gaseous is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 10:13
  #15 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: uk
Age: 59
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Good on you, I've often thought that it only takes a certain critical mass to get it going.

Bit like helmets on push bikes, ears ago, none, now, just about everyone.

I've seen the aftermath of two helicrashes, both of which included head injuries (minor and everybody walked away both times), but you have to think that there would have probably been zero injuries in both those cases.

Not the subject of your question I know, but one other problem though is AOC work, the bride and groom probably aren't going to want to wear lids and ruin their nice new hair-does, and how many lids does the operator have to carry to fit all sizes? (And I'm not sure I'd want to wear somebody elses sweaty lid either!)

And I'm sorry to say that I don't wear a lid or nomex when flying, but I wear both in my racecar... go figure....
Twiddle is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 10:20
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: UK
Posts: 510
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Contrary to popular belief, North Sea pilots do not and never have, worn helmets.
Droopystop is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 10:51
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Contrary to popular belief, North Sea pilots do not and never have, worn helmets.
Apologies for making that assumption. Although, I must say I'm surprised that they don't. Is there a particular/specific reason why they don't wear a helmet?

Thanks,
Kelly
tourismkelly is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 10:54
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: UK/Australia
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have always worn a helmet, in rotary wing, and light fixed wing. The number of fatal and serious injuries to the head I have witnessed in accidents suggests its a good idea. The head is a relatively heavy part of the body, and the neck has a job coping with restraining it as the g forces rise ( you only have to look at racing car drivers e.g. formula 1) to see the neck braces they employ at relatively low levels of G . No body thinks twice about strapping their body in. You also get the added benefit of considerable noise reduction, helping to prevent hearing damage.
Most pilots egos seem able to handle the odd funny comment
tacr2man is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 11:55
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Age: 74
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Helmets

If you want to wear a helmet then for gods sake do it and stop expected everyone else to follow suit.
I do not want to wear a helmet and do not appreciate others trying to force this issue onto me.
Spending 8 hours flying with your head being compressed does not do it for me.
OffshoreHeli is offline  
Old 11th Aug 2007, 12:02
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tourismkelly wrote:" Thus my question is this, would you recommend someone about to start their PPL(H) to invest in a helmet?"

No I would not unless you are drowning in money. T think you'd be better off waiting until you are sure to reach your goal and have some better idea of the environment. Be a shame to spend all that dosh and then pack it in for some reason.


"I know I know, I'd probably look at idiot in my little R22 with an Alpha Eagle on my bonce, but if it adds that extra element of safety, quite frankly looking a prat is a price I'm willing to pay!"

On the contrary, I'd say the reverse. I have been wearing a flight helmet for over 33 years and to fly without one to me is an alien concept and on the rare occasion when I have to go without, it is I who feel like a prat.

Over the years there have been many occasions when having a helmet on has saved me from some grief. Thankfully I have never had need of it in anger.

Roll the robbo after cocking up a EOL and you will then discover the true value of having a helmet.
psyan is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.