frog strikes ?
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frog strikes ?
FTW97LA016
While checking out accident stats I came across this , has to be one of the most unusual causes.
While checking out accident stats I came across this , has to be one of the most unusual causes.
Just another day in the GOM!
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There have been many cases of frog ingestion causing engine problems. Small green tree frogs are all over the place, and can easily stick to glass. They can get inside the engine intakes and hide, then get sucked into the engine after takeoff. Some companies require intake and exhaust plugs to be installed every night during frog season, in an attempt to keep them out, but even those are not 100% effective.
Many, many years ago, a S/E jet of the Germain Air Force ( Fiat G 91 ) encountered an engine flame out. Result of the investgations: The engine flamed out due to a rabbitstrike. The pilot, who ejected successfully, stated that he didnt any very low level flying at all. Also the rabbit entered a operating engine, so the conclusion was, that a raptor must have dropped the rabbit just in front of the incoming jet and hits the bullseye.
skadi
skadi
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There are actually three in the database.
FTW97LA016
FTW97LA270
DFW05CA149
I always wondered why the inlet screen on the 206 didn't actually cover the entire engine inlet. You would think it could help prevent this kind of FOD event.
FTW97LA016
FTW97LA270
DFW05CA149
I always wondered why the inlet screen on the 206 didn't actually cover the entire engine inlet. You would think it could help prevent this kind of FOD event.
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Yup keep an eye out for frogs on pre-flight especially after heavy rain & particularly in tropical/jungle enviornments. They like the dry places that are easily accessible such as the tail boom of 206/350 & I once found one on the oil cooler blower fan on the 206. Started up machine & felt a weird vibe through the fuse. Shut down & investigated. Waalahh 1 dead frog.
Frog strike 
You know what eats Frogs...........Snakes!
A USCG C-130 Crew at Mobile, Alabama found one curled up next to the chocks. Your typical Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake!
A USCG C-130 Crew at Mobile, Alabama found one curled up next to the chocks. Your typical Eastern Diamond Back Rattlesnake!
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Result of the investgations: The engine flamed out due to a rabbit strike. The pilot, who ejected successfully, stated that he didnt any very low level flying at all.
He should be happy he didn't get the rabbit to the canopy. Or the bird of prey that allegedly dropped it.
the guy on picture obviously got the snake 'by the balls' and it couldn't bite back. Well, I know I wouldn't do it. I had 'close encounter' with one highly poisonous snake when I was a kid and carrying my friend on my back (thus the only pair of legs for bite were mine). I'd play with constrictors, though.
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skiddriver:
Those green frogs are tiny little buggers...can easily go right through the 206 inlet screen mesh. The Allison make a cool "thump-thump" sound as the poor thing passes through.
Thread drift but related: I was working one night on a back heli-pad in Intracoastal City, La. Buddy of mine was on an adjacent pad, and hollered at me to look at the nutria rat that was wandering nearby.
Being young and senseless, I thought it would be cool to pick up and handful of shells and toss them at the yard-long nutria. Hmm. That f**king nutria took one look and made a full-on charge directly at me. I nearly jumped clean out of my shoes in horror, and scampered up the side of the 206 faster than I ever had. As I desperately hung on to the Jesus nut I looked down while the beast hissed and circled the helicopter about half dozen times.
My buddy, of course, pi$$ed himself laughing.
I always wondered why the inlet screen on the 206 didn't actually cover the entire engine inlet. You would think it could help prevent this kind of FOD event.
Thread drift but related: I was working one night on a back heli-pad in Intracoastal City, La. Buddy of mine was on an adjacent pad, and hollered at me to look at the nutria rat that was wandering nearby.
Being young and senseless, I thought it would be cool to pick up and handful of shells and toss them at the yard-long nutria. Hmm. That f**king nutria took one look and made a full-on charge directly at me. I nearly jumped clean out of my shoes in horror, and scampered up the side of the 206 faster than I ever had. As I desperately hung on to the Jesus nut I looked down while the beast hissed and circled the helicopter about half dozen times.
My buddy, of course, pi$$ed himself laughing.
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I recall in the early 80s that we had a very low flying UH-1H going down river during salmon season and they had a fish strike. Smashed into the chin bubble and exploded all over the pedals and the pilot's feet and legs.
Sounded hilarious when they called tower to return to base.
Sounded hilarious when they called tower to return to base.
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think we have a winner.
Serving 'saumon parfait au tartare' :-D
Just tell the grunts back at the base to be careful about pieces of plexiglass that could be inside.
Serving 'saumon parfait au tartare' :-D
Just tell the grunts back at the base to be careful about pieces of plexiglass that could be inside.
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