Helicopter down at Redhill
I flew an A109 into the same place around 4pm and it wasnt gusting up to 25 then ...i presume the wind picked up later ? What time did this happen ?
Great shame in any event and i hope you find a replacement v soon !!
( having said that it could have been quite gusty judging by the remarks from Miles and Peter ( pilots at Arena ) about my landing
Great shame in any event and i hope you find a replacement v soon !!
( having said that it could have been quite gusty judging by the remarks from Miles and Peter ( pilots at Arena ) about my landing
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Wind 9G21, not out of the realms most would consider; but a day in which the wind was incredibly variable by direction, especially later in the day and at the north end of the field where it is often funnelled in a more northerly manner.
No trapped articles in this case as far as I'm aware.
No trapped articles in this case as far as I'm aware.
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Regards to you John,
Last saw her flying over me while queing up for the london eye, about 14:30 yesterday and also a pleasant flight a while ago was enjoyable in training.
Commiserations to your loss!
Take care in the future onwards
Last saw her flying over me while queing up for the london eye, about 14:30 yesterday and also a pleasant flight a while ago was enjoyable in training.
Commiserations to your loss!
Take care in the future onwards
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Hi! I saw this Thread as I logged in - could not believe the pics! Glad all P.O.B. ok - So sorry for your loss, John. 
I have been lucky to have 'lifted' in this amazing heli.......G-FEDA will indeed be missed, regards, Hangar Rat.
I have been lucky to have 'lifted' in this amazing heli.......G-FEDA will indeed be missed, regards, Hangar Rat.
Last edited by HowlingMad Murdock; 20th Jul 2011 at 23:46.
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Respect for your pragmatic approach John...
John,
I have spent many happy hours flying FEDA. She is now on her final journey to the golden helipad in the skies, subject to some salvage (10-15% at best of her agreed value).
Well done on keeping a pragmatic and philosophical attitude to this mishap... at least you did not have to fork out for a new strobe unit as well.
Ken's words ring in my ears of "turn to the right to avoid a fright", and this is especially true when the wind is gusting perpendicular to Hangar 1 from the right.
I hope those nice insurers pay within 14 days, and are sensible with the salvage.
James
I have spent many happy hours flying FEDA. She is now on her final journey to the golden helipad in the skies, subject to some salvage (10-15% at best of her agreed value).
Well done on keeping a pragmatic and philosophical attitude to this mishap... at least you did not have to fork out for a new strobe unit as well.
Ken's words ring in my ears of "turn to the right to avoid a fright", and this is especially true when the wind is gusting perpendicular to Hangar 1 from the right.
I hope those nice insurers pay within 14 days, and are sensible with the salvage.
James
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"I hope those nice insurers pay within 14 days" 
I was part of a group that owned/operated a heli, coincidentally from the same airfield....said machine eventually met it's maker at the hands of a 'newbie'...
It was insured with the 'main' firm but from memory the payout came after about 3 months...
I was part of a group that owned/operated a heli, coincidentally from the same airfield....said machine eventually met it's maker at the hands of a 'newbie'...
It was insured with the 'main' firm but from memory the payout came after about 3 months...
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Thankfully no-one got hurt.
My commiseration's to the owner and the pilot.
I hope the pilot will be in the air again asap in order to put this incident into perspective.
Sadly that could have been any of us.
Safe flying to everyone.
That machine had a cracking paint-job especially with the sense of humour.
My commiseration's to the owner and the pilot.
I hope the pilot will be in the air again asap in order to put this incident into perspective.
Sadly that could have been any of us.
Safe flying to everyone.
That machine had a cracking paint-job especially with the sense of humour.
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I was around the Biggin Hill area (at ground level) that day. Occasionally, it was very gusty in the most literal sense of going from not much to lots. It would be interesting to look at sub minute resolution wind speed for that day.
Redhill Aerodrome Press Release
see here
On Saturday 4th June 2011 at 1753 hours BST an EC120 helicopter registration GFEDA was being flown by a private pilot and was returning from a local flight with two passengers on board. Whilst manoeuvring, in the gusty surface wind, on to the landing pad the helicopter started to rotate quickly; it the made contact with the ground and rolled on to its side. The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting crew were on scene within one minute and assisted the persons on board. There was no fire, no injuries and no fuel/fluid leaks.
As part of the Aerodrome’s standard response to an aircraft accident, the outside emergency services were alerted and units from Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance service attended. The passengers and crew of the helicopter were seen briefly by the ambulance service before being released without treatment.
The accident has been notified to the Air Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport and will be subject to an Aircraft Accident Report Form investigation by them.
The helicopter was operated by EBG Helicopters based at Redhill Aerodrome.
Issued by SATCO Redhill Aerodrome Limited.
On Saturday 4th June 2011 at 1753 hours BST an EC120 helicopter registration GFEDA was being flown by a private pilot and was returning from a local flight with two passengers on board. Whilst manoeuvring, in the gusty surface wind, on to the landing pad the helicopter started to rotate quickly; it the made contact with the ground and rolled on to its side. The Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting crew were on scene within one minute and assisted the persons on board. There was no fire, no injuries and no fuel/fluid leaks.
As part of the Aerodrome’s standard response to an aircraft accident, the outside emergency services were alerted and units from Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance service attended. The passengers and crew of the helicopter were seen briefly by the ambulance service before being released without treatment.
The accident has been notified to the Air Accident Investigation Branch of the Department for Transport and will be subject to an Aircraft Accident Report Form investigation by them.
The helicopter was operated by EBG Helicopters based at Redhill Aerodrome.
Issued by SATCO Redhill Aerodrome Limited.
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120's
John,
if you're looking for another 120 of similar vintage (2000) in UK there are a few around for sale......
G-IGPW, (1999), G-OMEM, 1998 & completely refurbished & painted, G-TGGR, 2001, G-ZZZS, (2002).
As an aside, Eurocopter have had a 2008 120 in store at Kidlington for 3yrs !
Agree with fellow pruners, your acceptance of the situation is admirable
if you're looking for another 120 of similar vintage (2000) in UK there are a few around for sale......
G-IGPW, (1999), G-OMEM, 1998 & completely refurbished & painted, G-TGGR, 2001, G-ZZZS, (2002).
As an aside, Eurocopter have had a 2008 120 in store at Kidlington for 3yrs !
Agree with fellow pruners, your acceptance of the situation is admirable
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So it is official - got the forms from insurance people; economic write-off. They will pay out the hull value and take the machine to sell by closed tender for scrap. Saw her today hanging from the roof of the maintenance hangar - did look rather sad.
Time to start looking in ernest!
Time to start looking in ernest!
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JohnR81 - Oooooh! seeing poor sad FEDA hanging from roof must not have been easy....though as Swiss Cheese stated 'she is now on her final journey to the golden helipad in the sky' She will be happy there........ and am sure oodles of bods have pics, videos and wonderful memories of flying in her!
All the best in your search for a new heli!
Regards, Hangar Rat.
All the best in your search for a new heli!
Regards, Hangar Rat.
John
G-OTFL is new to the market - asking £475k but 12 year insp. due imminently (15 year engine inspection not due until 2020 due to being grounded in 2005 for 12+ months - needed inspecton by EC before flying). TT870 (all private), new interior, slaved HSI. According to G-INFO, it's in N Ireland. Nothing to do with me I hasten to add!
TTB
G-OTFL is new to the market - asking £475k but 12 year insp. due imminently (15 year engine inspection not due until 2020 due to being grounded in 2005 for 12+ months - needed inspecton by EC before flying). TT870 (all private), new interior, slaved HSI. According to G-INFO, it's in N Ireland. Nothing to do with me I hasten to add!
TTB
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Insurance money on it's way..........
Hole aleady buring in pocket..........
Need to invest my money in precious metal..........
No metal more precious than helicopter components (at least accoring to what I have to pay to get any!)
That's it then!
Hoping for next machine to be sorted by end of next week.
Another EC120
Hole aleady buring in pocket..........
Need to invest my money in precious metal..........
No metal more precious than helicopter components (at least accoring to what I have to pay to get any!)
That's it then!
Hoping for next machine to be sorted by end of next week.
Another EC120