Sky Shuttle AW139 ditches in HK Harbour
Chief Bottle Washer
The Standard
Copter firm tries to clear the air
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Four days after a helicopter ditched in Victoria Harbour, commercial flights between Macau and Hong Kong will resume today.
And Sky Shuttle Helicopters, the company which runs the services, wants the public to know that everything's safe. To demonstrate its full confidence in the helicopter type, the company's senior management and a representative from the manufacturer will board the first departure from Hong Kong to Macau at 9.30am.
Wednesday, July 07, 2010
Four days after a helicopter ditched in Victoria Harbour, commercial flights between Macau and Hong Kong will resume today.
And Sky Shuttle Helicopters, the company which runs the services, wants the public to know that everything's safe. To demonstrate its full confidence in the helicopter type, the company's senior management and a representative from the manufacturer will board the first departure from Hong Kong to Macau at 9.30am.
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Thanks Senior Pilot, thats the pic from the Standard that I meant. I understand from Um...Lifting... that the driveshaft is inside the vert stab and the push-pull tube (or pitch rod) is what I saw as missing. Thanks for the clarification guys.
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SkyShuttle Press Release : Service Resumption
Sky Shuttle Helicopters Daily Flights between HK - Macau & Macau - Shenzhen / Press Room
Following a comprehensive fleet inspection and airworthiness review of Sky Shuttle Helicopters and East Asia Airlines Limited’s AW 139 helicopters and operations, the civil aviation authorities of Hong Kong and Macau have approved the resumption of all commercial flight services effective tomorrow (7 July).
In demonstrating its continued and full confidence in the helicopter type, senior management of the airline, as well as that of the manufacturer, Agusta Westland, will board the first flight departure from Hong Kong to Macau at 0930.
Don't you love the post-1997 spirit. Horses continue to gallop and the people continue to dance. 
Sky Shuttle Helicopters Limited /
East Asia Airlines Limited
Statement to Media: 6 July 2010
In demonstrating its continued and full confidence in the helicopter type, senior management of the airline, as well as that of the manufacturer, Agusta Westland, will board the first flight departure from Hong Kong to Macau at 0930.
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Moffie
I wonder why the only people debating the bird strike theory don't work there. Another pilot this morning confirmed the eagle impact but without the CSI evidence (washed away in HK harbour) who will know?
Regardless, Well done Richard.
Brian, what a **** day that S76 pilot had eh? Still had the composure to return back for a raft...
Regardless, Well done Richard.
Brian, what a **** day that S76 pilot had eh? Still had the composure to return back for a raft...
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I had a birdstrike whilst on the Brent Delta in a venerable S61 with.
I was outside supervising the crew change and I watched in fascination as a large seabird (swore blind it was an albatross) descended almost vertically with feet extended into the main disc at about the 11:00 o'clock position. The feet came off first and as the main body entered the disc it was whipped around and thrown into the tail rotor whereupon it virtually atomised. It was a big bird as we all realised becauise we ended up under the disc covered in gooo and birdy bits.
The Commander felt the impact and naturally we shutdown to inspect under engineering guidance from base. No damage, Just me sticking of fish and bird **** all the way home.
The impact with the tail rotor was full on with the birds body almost in one piece as it struck and still no damage.
I find it hard to accept that a bird doing the same in flight would result in catastrophic loss of the tail rotor.
DB
I was outside supervising the crew change and I watched in fascination as a large seabird (swore blind it was an albatross) descended almost vertically with feet extended into the main disc at about the 11:00 o'clock position. The feet came off first and as the main body entered the disc it was whipped around and thrown into the tail rotor whereupon it virtually atomised. It was a big bird as we all realised becauise we ended up under the disc covered in gooo and birdy bits.
The Commander felt the impact and naturally we shutdown to inspect under engineering guidance from base. No damage, Just me sticking of fish and bird **** all the way home.
The impact with the tail rotor was full on with the birds body almost in one piece as it struck and still no damage.
I find it hard to accept that a bird doing the same in flight would result in catastrophic loss of the tail rotor.
DB
Chief Bottle Washer
DB,
The Brent: another formative part of a pilot's life
I had a similar birdstrike to what you describe with an albatross who played chicken with a Sea King while I was running on a carrier deck. The albatross lost!
Since there is a swelling body of opinion toward the possibility of a birdstrike in honkyfid, it is also possible that the strike could have occurred directly into the tail rotor, from the side. Closing angle of 139 and bird such that the bird flew (whilst 'in the cruise') straight into the T/R: just a thought.
The Brent: another formative part of a pilot's life
I had a similar birdstrike to what you describe with an albatross who played chicken with a Sea King while I was running on a carrier deck. The albatross lost!Since there is a swelling body of opinion toward the possibility of a birdstrike in honkyfid, it is also possible that the strike could have occurred directly into the tail rotor, from the side. Closing angle of 139 and bird such that the bird flew (whilst 'in the cruise') straight into the T/R: just a thought.
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Hi SP, I am just speculating here, but unless the bird had suicidal tendancies its difficult to see why it would fly "AT" the tail rotor directly.
In my incident I sort of convinced myself that the bird saw the disc from the top and thought it was a solid object, It certainly appeared to flare with feet extended as if it was trying to land on the spinning disc. Maybe it got mesmerised by the disc.
Either way the impact with the tail rotor was with the almost complete boidy of thre bird as it had entered the main disc inboard where rotational speed is low enough to not atomise the brid but rather "fling" it into the TR.
I also agree with the poster who says that if the entire TRGBX and TR departed the resultant change in CG would almost certainly not be conducive to a controlled ditching. That was one of the conclusions in the Bristows lightening strike incident with Lional Sole - that had the TRGBX & TR departed completley in flight the helicopter would have been uncontrollable.
Just speculation of course but I will be very surprised if a dicky birdy has knocked the TR & TRGBX off and a controlled ditching made.
In my incident I sort of convinced myself that the bird saw the disc from the top and thought it was a solid object, It certainly appeared to flare with feet extended as if it was trying to land on the spinning disc. Maybe it got mesmerised by the disc.
Either way the impact with the tail rotor was with the almost complete boidy of thre bird as it had entered the main disc inboard where rotational speed is low enough to not atomise the brid but rather "fling" it into the TR.
I also agree with the poster who says that if the entire TRGBX and TR departed the resultant change in CG would almost certainly not be conducive to a controlled ditching. That was one of the conclusions in the Bristows lightening strike incident with Lional Sole - that had the TRGBX & TR departed completley in flight the helicopter would have been uncontrollable.
Just speculation of course but I will be very surprised if a dicky birdy has knocked the TR & TRGBX off and a controlled ditching made.
Chief Bottle Washer
unless the bird had suicidal tendencies its difficult to see why it would fly "AT" the tail rotor directly
That's assuming, of course, that the bird wasn't paying attention: but the history of aircraft vs bird incidents is littered with cases where the bird appeared not to notice the aircraft until 'too late'.
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Time will tell when they recover the TR Gear Box and blades or get CCTV footage.
Until then, A bird strike is plausible I guess, but very convenient for "both parties" to say its was an "Iron Bird".
Until then, A bird strike is plausible I guess, but very convenient for "both parties" to say its was an "Iron Bird".
the bird strike is plausible I guess, but also very convenient for both parties
BD
Not too convenient for the bird I guess, & as 212 says if less than 2.2 lb or even a smidgen over
Investigation begins into cause of helicopter crash in Hong Kong
Not too convenient for the bird I guess, & as 212 says if less than 2.2 lb or even a smidgen over
Investigation begins into cause of helicopter crash in Hong Kong
Aviation experts from Macau, Hong Kong, and Italy have begun their investigation into a helicopter crash that took place in Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor on Saturday afternoon.
13 people were on board the Sky Shuttle helicopter on July 3 that was en route to nearby Macau when pilots heard a loud bang at the back of the helicopter shortly after takeoff, around 12:04 p.m. (1604 GMT).
Witnesses said an eagle or "bird-like" object hit the tail rotor of the helicopter just after the helicopter took off for the popular casino region of Macau. The helicopter let out a loud bang and descended to the sea, about 500 meters northwest of Shun Tak Center on Hong Kong Island.
Inflatable buoys kept the helicopter afloat long enough to allow everyone to exit before the helicopter submerged. All 13 people - 11 passengers and two pilots - were rescued and taken to the Queen Mary Hospital for treatment and have since been released.
The helicopter pilot, Richard Moffatt, has over 8,500 hours of flying experience and was praised for his professionalism in the water landing by passengers and the Civil Aviation Department.
Sky Shuttle has five other AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, all of which have been grounded for inspection, while its service between Hong Kong and Macau has been suspended until further notice.
Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), Leung Yu-keung, said some of the fittings broken down from the wreckage will be sent to Italy, where the helicopter was manufactured. Leung expects a preliminary report to be issued within a month.
13 people were on board the Sky Shuttle helicopter on July 3 that was en route to nearby Macau when pilots heard a loud bang at the back of the helicopter shortly after takeoff, around 12:04 p.m. (1604 GMT).
Witnesses said an eagle or "bird-like" object hit the tail rotor of the helicopter just after the helicopter took off for the popular casino region of Macau. The helicopter let out a loud bang and descended to the sea, about 500 meters northwest of Shun Tak Center on Hong Kong Island.
Inflatable buoys kept the helicopter afloat long enough to allow everyone to exit before the helicopter submerged. All 13 people - 11 passengers and two pilots - were rescued and taken to the Queen Mary Hospital for treatment and have since been released.
The helicopter pilot, Richard Moffatt, has over 8,500 hours of flying experience and was praised for his professionalism in the water landing by passengers and the Civil Aviation Department.
Sky Shuttle has five other AgustaWestland AW139 helicopters, all of which have been grounded for inspection, while its service between Hong Kong and Macau has been suspended until further notice.
Acting Director General of the Civil Aviation Department (CAD), Leung Yu-keung, said some of the fittings broken down from the wreckage will be sent to Italy, where the helicopter was manufactured. Leung expects a preliminary report to be issued within a month.
One for Nick - perhaps. Does the 29.631 test require an actual drive train or just the rotor blades on a rig? The point being, does the real world shock loading of the drive shafts ( possibly super-critical) get tested when the bird hits the blades? Could be an important distinction!
Just beating the air into submission!
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The official release from Agusta has that
Apart for the Itlish language, this pretty is conclusive so far.
Again, a good recovery and ditching by the crew, well done.
on first examination of the recovered aircraft it appears that the incident effects are fully compatable with an external Foreign Object Damage (FOD) which caused a tail rotor imbalance damaging the components of the anit-torque system. The flight data download confirms the impulsive characteristics of the phenomenon, while the other aircraft parameters appear to stay inside the normal operating ranges
Again, a good recovery and ditching by the crew, well done.
Last edited by HeliAviator; 8th Jul 2010 at 06:12.
I find it hard to accept that a bird doing the same in flight would result in catastrophic loss of the tail rotor.
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on first examination of the recovered aircraft it appears that the incident effects are fully compatable with an external Foreign Object Damage (FOD) which caused a tail rotor imbalance damaging the components of the anit-torque system. The flight data download confirms the impulsive characteristics of the phenomenon, while the other aircraft parameters appear to stay inside the normal operating ranges
>>>>This is an interesting statement considering the TR came off....
>>>>This is an interesting statement considering the TR came off....