Emergency landing on rooftop
Thread Starter
Final report is out:
http://www.bfu-web.de/cln_030/nn_226...0_Hannover.pdf
The red Fuel Low Light was already on for 15min, when the engine quits...
skadi
http://www.bfu-web.de/cln_030/nn_226...0_Hannover.pdf
The red Fuel Low Light was already on for 15min, when the engine quits...
skadi
Last edited by skadi; 23rd Nov 2011 at 01:39. Reason: Report in english language
"The fuel warning indicator (FUEL) had already lit up about 15 minutes"
"His total flying experience amounted to approximately 9408 hours, of which he flew more than 5000 on the affected type. His flight experience with external load transport was about 2 000 hours...."
"...registered for the training of private pilots"
That's what you call early retirement....
"His total flying experience amounted to approximately 9408 hours, of which he flew more than 5000 on the affected type. His flight experience with external load transport was about 2 000 hours...."
"...registered for the training of private pilots"
That's what you call early retirement....
No retirement plan. He's the owner of the aircraft as well as the company 
.... especially considering he's probably out the cost of a 350/the repairs there of, now with the insurance 
applauding his skills...
This guy knew where his fuel was
Thread Starter
Apologies - I don't read German. Did it give any reason why he continued to fly the job with the fuel light on?
skadi
This whole scenario brings to mind the Harrier that landed(?) on a container ship out at sea.
The report in the link above is in english
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Ahm,...excuse me, at 7%?!? Is this guy nuts? I mean we all make mistakes, but I always check on the fuel. It scares me just to think of it to continue operations once the warning light annunciates on the panel.
Ahm,...excuse me, at 7%?!? Is this guy nuts?
Everyone that have been flying external ops in the 350(any machine really) have been subject to on the limit liftjobs, and therfore use of limited fuel to be carried. There is nothing that prevent you from flying with the light on in short priods to get the job done, but you must know what you're doing and follow a procedure.... In short: TIME
Now, can you dispatch a helicopter with the fuel gauge inop?? According to my MEL I can, provided I have a way to figure out when to land. Known amount of fuel put in the tank, and TIMED operation.
So the conclusion is: when the light comes on, start the time and know exactly how long you can safely operate, and ofcourse in the perfect world, never even see the light come on..
This has been working for me for many years.
Or maybe I am just nuts?!
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@Nubian; fine as long as you know what to do. But I was told on more than one occasion that fuel is one of the easiest things where one can screw up. If you are nuts or not is left for you to decide. However, me thinks this guy is nuts. 
And he was lucky not to get killed based on that blunder.
And he was lucky not to get killed based on that blunder.
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I thought most if not all countries regs require a minimum fuel amount that would be above the fuel light level. If I'm not wrong on that, then Nubian the lifts you're doing need to be done by a more capable aircraft in order for you to operate legally.
Fuel quantity less than 60 -Avoid large attitude changes.litres (15.8 US.Gal) ~ :
Remaining usable fuel FUEL allows approximately 18 minutes level
fl ight at maximum continuous Dower.
He pushed his luck for 15min... slinging over building.........STUPID
He pushed his luck for 15min... slinging over building.........STUPID
I was taught, have taught, and have flown, NEVER to trust the fuel gauge, as is illustrated in this case, and if the little RED fuel light comes on, hit the stop watch and put your ass down on the ground immediately. In cases where you can't, be gentle and START LOOKING for a place..... Don't continue the job... This is an emergency situation, thus the RED LIGHT WARNING
He had a total flying experience of about 9,408 hours; 5,000 hours of which were on the type in question.
type instructor
actually opened that little blue book full of information that is under the seat...
Do the maths:
Stop for a few minutes to do a hot refuel (which would have to be done any way), or.....
chop up a roof top and wreck a helicopter............difficult one!!!
Stop for a few minutes to do a hot refuel (which would have to be done any way), or.....
chop up a roof top and wreck a helicopter............difficult one!!!
If this is the owner of the aircraft...... Pwaaahahhahahaa.... you deserve your losses....
If it's not, good luck looking for another job.......
If it's not, good luck looking for another job.......
The last line of the report says it all............
Good fuel management during the flight will then allow the right decision at the right time: to divert or continue the flight.
.........................yet another case for the CRM classes......
.............................................Well Done
.............................................Well Done
darrenphughes
Not quite... I the US, the FAR's state you may not BEGIN a flight unless you have enough fuel to fly to your first point of intended landed plus 20 minutes... FAR 91.151 .
Firstly... It mentions NOTHING about ENDING the flight, there is no regulatory requirement to "land" with that 20 minutes worth of fuel....
Secondly... Each aircraft light is NOT set to 20 minutes.
You can legally LAND with zero fuel... Not that I recommend it....
Welcome to the real world outside of flight instruction.....
I thought most if not all countries regs require a minimum fuel amount that would be above the fuel light level.
Firstly... It mentions NOTHING about ENDING the flight, there is no regulatory requirement to "land" with that 20 minutes worth of fuel....
Secondly... Each aircraft light is NOT set to 20 minutes.
You can legally LAND with zero fuel... Not that I recommend it....
Welcome to the real world outside of flight instruction.....
aluette,
Did you miss my remark in the first sentence? "what makes him nuts"....
Yes, as I explained, you need to know what you're doing. Otherwise, you're as you said....nuts
Decredenza
As for flying 8000 hrs, without the light coming on, congrats to you. I'm not sure if we're doing the same type job then.
Flyting
As for the fuel-light in the 350, is yello (amber,across the pond) not red. So, no emergency.
Darrensphughes,
And for recalculating lifts, so you would be legal or use a more suitable aircraft. Yeah right!.... Call in the 214 to lift a load that is under the legal limit at altitude, but temperature is just a little high, and it's for one lift now and then inbetween 100's....yeah.
Gordy,
Spot on!
Did you miss my remark in the first sentence? "what makes him nuts"....
Yes, as I explained, you need to know what you're doing. Otherwise, you're as you said....nuts
Decredenza
As for flying 8000 hrs, without the light coming on, congrats to you. I'm not sure if we're doing the same type job then.
Flyting
As for the fuel-light in the 350, is yello (amber,across the pond) not red. So, no emergency.
Darrensphughes,
And for recalculating lifts, so you would be legal or use a more suitable aircraft. Yeah right!.... Call in the 214 to lift a load that is under the legal limit at altitude, but temperature is just a little high, and it's for one lift now and then inbetween 100's....yeah.
Gordy,
Spot on!