Brainfarts....gotta hate em




Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Brain Fart???
More like a fit of Dumbass!
When I first started the video....my very first thought was..."I bet you there is a field next to the road!"
I have been in that exact situation....nice field separated from the road by a fence and ditch....neither of which is a real barrier to enthusiastic Fire Fighters with bolt cutters and strong backs.....but....what the heck...let's make it easy for the Ground Units.
Our guy probably wishes he had merely shifted left into the field BEFORE swinging the tail!
More like a fit of Dumbass!

When I first started the video....my very first thought was..."I bet you there is a field next to the road!"

I have been in that exact situation....nice field separated from the road by a fence and ditch....neither of which is a real barrier to enthusiastic Fire Fighters with bolt cutters and strong backs.....but....what the heck...let's make it easy for the Ground Units.

Our guy probably wishes he had merely shifted left into the field BEFORE swinging the tail!
Chief Bottle Washer



Joined: Sep 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,253
Likes: 1,437
From: PPRuNe
My first thoughts were along the lines of: how did he get in there in the first place?
Second thought was: how much is the actual clearance, given that the video was shot in 16:9 but is showing in 4:3, thus distorting the image and the lateral distance?
Second thought was: how much is the actual clearance, given that the video was shot in 16:9 but is showing in 4:3, thus distorting the image and the lateral distance?

Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 448
Likes: 4
From: In the mountains
What did Mrs Gump say.... "Stupid is as stupid does..."
When ever I see someone with a video camera at a takeoff site, I go into over-drive mode of "WHAT COULD GO WRONG NOW" because I don't a video of me doing something stupid posted anywhere...
- Double thumbs up...
I don't know the emergency proceedures on that machine but why do a normal engine rundown after a strike??? Why not pull the EMERGENCY cut off and stop things from turning ASAP before it turns into a wreck?
When ever I see someone with a video camera at a takeoff site, I go into over-drive mode of "WHAT COULD GO WRONG NOW" because I don't a video of me doing something stupid posted anywhere...
I don't know the emergency proceedures on that machine but why do a normal engine rundown after a strike??? Why not pull the EMERGENCY cut off and stop things from turning ASAP before it turns into a wreck?

Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 134
Likes: 0
From: NO GPS FIX
If they had more power then that those Allison 250-C30S engines can produce I bet you they wouldn't have made a pedal turn and they would have gotten away with it.
I'm very happy to see that there weren't any injuries.
Time to retire the 76A fleet for dedicated air ambulance operations? I think so. The C+'s will be better but it's a shame that they're not going with C++'s.
I'm very happy to see that there weren't any injuries.
Time to retire the 76A fleet for dedicated air ambulance operations? I think so. The C+'s will be better but it's a shame that they're not going with C++'s.
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,113
Likes: 1
From: UK
Looks like intentional use of the (stronger) main rotor blades to cut that pesky wire before a (weaker) tail rotor blade hits it and kills everybody.
Last edited by Bertie Thruster; 20th March 2011 at 13:32.

Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 28
From: UK/OZ
Given that air ambulances land in tight spaces, should extra care be taken to move emergency ground crews who have responded to the scene, back or behind cover as the air ambulance departs?
Not possible to do this on landing as ground crews are usually busy with casualties, but we freqiently see a line up of emergency service workers unneccessariy close to tricky takes offs for no other reason than to get a good view.
Mickjoebill
Not possible to do this on landing as ground crews are usually busy with casualties, but we freqiently see a line up of emergency service workers unneccessariy close to tricky takes offs for no other reason than to get a good view.
Mickjoebill
Avoid imitations



Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 15,110
Likes: 1,083
From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
I prefer to get out and have look around after I've landed off helipad.
You know, for wires and stuff.....
You know, for wires and stuff.....
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: UK
Lo0k left - look right
They cant have watched the green cross code tv adverts - look left and look right.
Might have been better to transport the patient in the road ambulance infront to a more suitable landing area further down the road, as it looked a bit tight for the S76. (might have been tight for anyone doing a pedal turn!)
I know an ex CRM instructor who added a similar experience he'd had into a CRM class about landing in a very tight area in the UK down south on a casevac, and the nearby house gutterings were all blown down by the downdraft, and the job wasnt a life saver.
That S76 video will be a good lesson for any CRM class.
Might have been better to transport the patient in the road ambulance infront to a more suitable landing area further down the road, as it looked a bit tight for the S76. (might have been tight for anyone doing a pedal turn!)
I know an ex CRM instructor who added a similar experience he'd had into a CRM class about landing in a very tight area in the UK down south on a casevac, and the nearby house gutterings were all blown down by the downdraft, and the job wasnt a life saver.
That S76 video will be a good lesson for any CRM class.
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,422
Likes: 3
From: Milano, Italia
What about the blades? Could be a very expensive lesson.
I've got to admit though that having had the luxury of shutting down, and therefore able to carefully survey one's egress, .. it is slightly amazing that one would do this.
Fully concur however that we are all capable of it.
S.

Joined: Mar 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 659
Likes: 13
From: Under my coconut tree
My guess is he made his initial approach to the field left of picture and decided to plonk it roadside to ???? Look cool?/Help paramedics....
Who cares.... But to pedal turn on departure into the tight zone, well F**k me that was a surprise.....
P60 imminent if it was in the UK
If there is no icing clearance for that type why would you utilise such a large type for primary tasking???????
Who cares.... But to pedal turn on departure into the tight zone, well F**k me that was a surprise.....
P60 imminent if it was in the UK

If there is no icing clearance for that type why would you utilise such a large type for primary tasking???????


Joined: Aug 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 1,629
Likes: 206
From: SW England
griffo - you've been enjoying the delights of OM-country for too long! P60 comes out every year for those of us lucky enough to have a job, it's the P45 you don't want dropping on the doormat.

Joined: Mar 2007
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 659
Likes: 13
From: Under my coconut tree
Holy crap...
Thanks for the correction, I am truly happy to be out of the big squeeze
P60/45, the grey cells are shot
Again, why the big buggy for primary work??
Even with the Bolkow I managed to hit a couple of Cornish hedges !!
Thanks for the correction, I am truly happy to be out of the big squeeze
P60/45, the grey cells are shot

Again, why the big buggy for primary work??
Even with the Bolkow I managed to hit a couple of Cornish hedges !!





