Helicopter Crash In Bettystown Ireland
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I've been questioning his motives for going in there all day and still can't understand a logical reasoning for taking such a decision to land in there - it's just lunacy.
Helicopters are being treated like taxis, "ara yea, park her up in the car park there with the other cars, twill be grand"
I was at a corporate event near Kenmare there recently, two EC130s and a 206 were called in to move 40 people from a VERY large pier to a hotel in Killarney, absolutely everything movable in the nearest 20-30m was removed from the pier, the place was cordoned off and the helicopters were very professional in coordinating their efforts, dispite being from 2 different companies (the EC130s were together).. every effort was made to ensure that safety was the priority (I can see people firing back at me because this was a pier - I didn't make that decision, but if you saw the pier, it's a very big place, you could land 4 helis in there safely, it's like a pier/car park).
It looked like you could barely swing a robbie in the space he was landing in.. was there any foresight?? I'm not an experienced pilot, I'm still finishing off my qualifications but I can still have the common sense to see it's not safe there - jesus, I'd prefer to land in a field and tell them to get a taxi if they were so inclined.
I'm not trying to slate the Pilot, he probably did the best he could after he got into difficulty, but the question really sticks out as to why he would try and land such a large helicopter in there.. it's a bloody town - "what if anything went wrong".. I agree with the last post there by OEI and Still Flying, the pilot has the final say - he's in charge after all
Helicopters are being treated like taxis, "ara yea, park her up in the car park there with the other cars, twill be grand"
I was at a corporate event near Kenmare there recently, two EC130s and a 206 were called in to move 40 people from a VERY large pier to a hotel in Killarney, absolutely everything movable in the nearest 20-30m was removed from the pier, the place was cordoned off and the helicopters were very professional in coordinating their efforts, dispite being from 2 different companies (the EC130s were together).. every effort was made to ensure that safety was the priority (I can see people firing back at me because this was a pier - I didn't make that decision, but if you saw the pier, it's a very big place, you could land 4 helis in there safely, it's like a pier/car park).
It looked like you could barely swing a robbie in the space he was landing in.. was there any foresight?? I'm not an experienced pilot, I'm still finishing off my qualifications but I can still have the common sense to see it's not safe there - jesus, I'd prefer to land in a field and tell them to get a taxi if they were so inclined.
I'm not trying to slate the Pilot, he probably did the best he could after he got into difficulty, but the question really sticks out as to why he would try and land such a large helicopter in there.. it's a bloody town - "what if anything went wrong".. I agree with the last post there by OEI and Still Flying, the pilot has the final say - he's in charge after all
Scottishterrier,
Bond is the training bond for their S76 type rating course. Haughey Air introduced a 2 year training bond and an increased notice period to stop the horses bolting. i.e give 2 years employment or pay back the remaining cost of the money spent on their training. The outstanding cost usually reduces by 1/24th for each month served. I have heard of bonds only reducing in halves and even some requiring total pay back if you leave before the term of the bond.
FNW
Bond is the training bond for their S76 type rating course. Haughey Air introduced a 2 year training bond and an increased notice period to stop the horses bolting. i.e give 2 years employment or pay back the remaining cost of the money spent on their training. The outstanding cost usually reduces by 1/24th for each month served. I have heard of bonds only reducing in halves and even some requiring total pay back if you leave before the term of the bond.
FNW
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There's an aerial photo in some of todays Irish national papers showing the landing site (link provided by jumparound), and what remains of the 76.Has anybody who has seen the photo in question any idea what approach path was flown to this site.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I live right across the road from the crash site.from here you can see a large impact mark on the roof above the glass wall.Then what seem like rotor scrapes all down along the front wall of the building.It looks as if he took off from the beach, didnt gain enough altiude and possibly struck the roof before loosing control.He certainly cliped the rotors off somthing much higher before trying to land it at its final resting place.Theres a piece of the rotor blades wedged into the roof of a building behind the flat where I live.its a good 50 meters away and the piece would have had to fly over a 3 story building to land there!!masive impact.
YouTube - Helicopter Crashes into Hotel in Ireland
YouTube - katastrofa helikoptera w bettystown
YouTube - Helicopter Crashes into Hotel in IrelandYouTube - katastrofa helikoptera w bettystown
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bellow
The video shows the machine in a hover before the crash so your explanation is unlikely.
The aerial photo would appear to indicate that the crash happened in one corner of the car park. Did he come above the gap between the hotel and lower houses only to find the open central part of the car park occupied by cars/people?
The video shows the machine in a hover before the crash so your explanation is unlikely.
The aerial photo would appear to indicate that the crash happened in one corner of the car park. Did he come above the gap between the hotel and lower houses only to find the open central part of the car park occupied by cars/people?
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Size of site
Has it crossed anyones mind that the intended landing site was, how should I put it, tiny? Google Earth put's it at 13.75 meters width and the rotor diameter is 13.21 meters.
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It looked like you could barely swing a robbie in the space he was landing in.. was there any foresight??
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According to S76 specifications, the rotor diameter is as follows
44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Ouch - tight (Obviously Google Earth isn't going to be gospel but it would be close enough regardless)
44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)
Ouch - tight (Obviously Google Earth isn't going to be gospel but it would be close enough regardless)
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I must make an addition to that.. overall length (clearance needed) is 52 ft 6 in (16.0 m).. so he was really really stuck for space if the Google Earth calculations are accurate. Putting these precise measurements aside for a minute, it's far too tight to even contemplate even setting down in such a confined area, as the dramatic results of the events have proven (I haven't forgotten the possibility of engine failure and other contributing factors which we may not be aware of at this point)..
It still should never have happened, is that fair to say?
It still should never have happened, is that fair to say?
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based on what we have seen and heard so far (video,photos,eye witness) it would'nt take a rocket scientist to figure out what happened. Thankfully for all involved (public especially) no fatalitys occurred this time. I hope all potential and current pilots can learn from this reckless avoidable incident(roof top landings included). you rarely get a second chance when it all goes wrong.
The negative publicity does nothing for the industrys future, just provides tomorrows fish & chip paper and a bigger stick for the anti-helicopter lobby.
Let's be a bit more professional in our approach before we are scanning the obituarys for names familiar to us all.
The negative publicity does nothing for the industrys future, just provides tomorrows fish & chip paper and a bigger stick for the anti-helicopter lobby.
Let's be a bit more professional in our approach before we are scanning the obituarys for names familiar to us all.
One of the things I find impressive about the video is the two intrepid folks who took cover momentarily then ran straight to the crashed helicopter despite the aircraft being on fire.
My hat is off to them!
God Bless the ordinary person who does extraordinary feats at great risk to themselves....for total strangers!
My hat is off to them!
God Bless the ordinary person who does extraordinary feats at great risk to themselves....for total strangers!
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One of the things I find impressive about the video is the two intrepid folks who took cover momentarily then ran straight to the crashed helicopter despite the aircraft being on fire.
My hat is off to them!
God Bless the ordinary person who does extraordinary feats at great risk to themselves....for total strangers!
My hat is off to them!
God Bless the ordinary person who does extraordinary feats at great risk to themselves....for total strangers!
Witnesses said that the twin-engined American-registered Sikorsky S76 -- which was built in 1985 and is being offered for sale on an aviation business site -- tried to land in the car park but ended up landing on its side and burst into flames.
This kind of thing makes me so angry. I have had the honor of flying with some very talented and professional pilots in the republic over the years and this accident will bring nothing but scrutiny and criticism to an otherwise very safe and well run community..
I have no intention of speculating about the cause, but when all is said and done and the individuals background and experience have been made public and the AAIB report is in...... Well don't expect too many surprises
I hate ranting in public, but this effects all of us in the helicopter world, so I feel as a 30 year veteran in aviation I have earned the right to a wee bit of a wayward comment.... PRAT......
I have no intention of speculating about the cause, but when all is said and done and the individuals background and experience have been made public and the AAIB report is in...... Well don't expect too many surprises
I hate ranting in public, but this effects all of us in the helicopter world, so I feel as a 30 year veteran in aviation I have earned the right to a wee bit of a wayward comment.... PRAT......
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crash
just like to let you all know that the pilot is prob one of the most experienced in ireland , just for all you speculators, which you will find out in the report.!! that was not the intended landing site were the cctv footage was.!! he was trying to deal with the engine fire were he was, couldnt move forward because there was a woman standing there looking at him.!! tail clipped something and the rest is the rest. you will notice that the wheels are not even down in the footage, he tried to make the beach but couldnt, cockpit filled with smoke very quickly ..!!
The Cooler King
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Coatesy - you beat me to it!
Will you listen to yourselves! Is there no end to the bull**** about accidents? I have tried over on Rumours & News but to no avail.
Having read the thread through from the start, I can make a reasonable guess that the majority of you are neither rotary nor fixed-wing pilots.
Google Earth again! Now giving us the measurements for the "landing site".
As I said in another post earlier, YOU HAVE NO IDEA where the intended landing site was, nor do you have an idea about the pilot's intentions or what was going on at the time.
We now have details that it was an engine fire. And now the comments are starting about that. No one knows why there was a fire, until a proper investigation is done and then we MIGHT find out.
And what is the point in comparing R44s to S-76s for Christ's sake. It's like comparing a 172 to a Jumbo - totally different ball-game.
Ah, now that I type this, I have just realised that the Robinson is featured in Flight Simulator, isn't it?
Enough said - we all know who we're dealing with.
Will you listen to yourselves! Is there no end to the bull**** about accidents? I have tried over on Rumours & News but to no avail.
Having read the thread through from the start, I can make a reasonable guess that the majority of you are neither rotary nor fixed-wing pilots.
Google Earth again! Now giving us the measurements for the "landing site".
As I said in another post earlier, YOU HAVE NO IDEA where the intended landing site was, nor do you have an idea about the pilot's intentions or what was going on at the time.
We now have details that it was an engine fire. And now the comments are starting about that. No one knows why there was a fire, until a proper investigation is done and then we MIGHT find out.
And what is the point in comparing R44s to S-76s for Christ's sake. It's like comparing a 172 to a Jumbo - totally different ball-game.
Ah, now that I type this, I have just realised that the Robinson is featured in Flight Simulator, isn't it?
Enough said - we all know who we're dealing with.
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good man Farrell, exactly my point, the only one who knows what was going on was the person in the right seat..!!!! and might i add , I know to be an excellent pilot..!
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Well according to the AAIU spokesperson on the six one news last night, a prelim report will be issued within 30 days.They certainly have no shortage of evidence to this accident. Between the CVR, CCTV, eye witness accounts and pilot account, we will get a difintive answer I would think. Hard to know if it was landing or taking off from the CCTV footage on Sky, but it does look to be in a relatively steady hover before it all goes horribly wrong.