AS350 Crash caught live on TV, Auckland, NZ
A compilation of two videos from the quayside:
The first video shows clearly the line from the top of the tower to the hook, getting closer as the 350 descends. Both videos show a cameraman relocating away from the shot of a lifetime: I bet he won't live that one down!
The second video has the accident from about 3:40 onwards, but watch the crewman. Having had the scare of a lifetime, he is then first one into the cockpit apparently shutting down the engine, then looking to the pilot.
I'd be buying him more than one drink
The first video shows clearly the line from the top of the tower to the hook, getting closer as the 350 descends. Both videos show a cameraman relocating away from the shot of a lifetime: I bet he won't live that one down!
The second video has the accident from about 3:40 onwards, but watch the crewman. Having had the scare of a lifetime, he is then first one into the cockpit apparently shutting down the engine, then looking to the pilot.
I'd be buying him more than one drink
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This is video from the camera man who changed positions, but the video clearly shows how the cable was about to hit the rotor and then he has the immediate aftermath
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Wow, lucky guy.....
As a Utility pilot, I spend most days with head down looking through the vert ref window in a B2/FX on a 100ft line. I can see how this happened.....
As for the helmet, never even do a ground run without it myself. Saved my life many moons ago in the Artic.Shoulder harness a pain when longlining, but I live with it. Just trying to even the odds...... But hey, just got home today after a 4 week tour, all longline, man I got a bad back.....
Oh yeah, had an engine failure in a B2 early this last summer. Put it down and we all walked, nobody hurt. But ya should see my seat......don't even get me started on that...
As a Utility pilot, I spend most days with head down looking through the vert ref window in a B2/FX on a 100ft line. I can see how this happened..... As for the helmet, never even do a ground run without it myself. Saved my life many moons ago in the Artic.Shoulder harness a pain when longlining, but I live with it. Just trying to even the odds...... But hey, just got home today after a 4 week tour, all longline, man I got a bad back.....Oh yeah, had an engine failure in a B2 early this last summer. Put it down and we all walked, nobody hurt. But ya should see my seat......don't even get me started on that...
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Talking seats, there is little (nothing?) new under the sun. I'm presuming in this case the belt anchorages are on the seat. The Huey in the early days had issues with pilots still strapped in seat being found some distance from the wreckage, having exited the airframe through the windscreen. The simple expedient to fix the problem was to make the seat belt anchorages on the airframe, and not the seat.
Seeing what the pilot had been through very surprised to see him interviewed later and getting about without any apparent injury, as if he had just been for a walk to the corner shop.
Seeing what the pilot had been through very surprised to see him interviewed later and getting about without any apparent injury, as if he had just been for a walk to the corner shop.
Brian,
No, the seat belt anchorages are on the airframe: but the seat rails are always a nightmare to install the seat and have it adjust properly. But don't expect any response from Eurocopter, it's bound to be someone else's fault
No, the seat belt anchorages are on the airframe: but the seat rails are always a nightmare to install the seat and have it adjust properly. But don't expect any response from Eurocopter, it's bound to be someone else's fault
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Earlier I was going to leap to the defence of the AS350 for being a 'poor design'. Then I read the G-OROZ report that 500e mentioned and now I won't get into one, front or back, unless I know at least that the seat SB has been complied with. Having said that the cabin was tough and the MRGB and blades somehow managed to remain attached which is more than can be said for the early exit of the tailcone.
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Have you spoken to the guy pulling the cable?
I've tried to get hold of him, but...
"He will be back flying on monday in the companys other helicopter, but first he will spend the weekend fishing and buying a lotto ticket..
RESPECT!
Chopper pilot keen to finish Viaduct job - National - Video - 3 News
I've tried to get hold of him, but...
"He will be back flying on monday in the companys other helicopter, but first he will spend the weekend fishing and buying a lotto ticket..
RESPECT!
Chopper pilot keen to finish Viaduct job - National - Video - 3 News
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"The first video shows clearly the line from the top of the tower to the hook, getting closer as the 350 descends. Both videos show a cameraman relocating away from the shot of a lifetime: I bet he won't live that one down!"
On the other hand, the helicopter only needed to not spin quite as much and come forward 10 - 15 feet and he might have got the shot of a lifetime but might not have been around to see it.
Glad all are OK though.
.
On the other hand, the helicopter only needed to not spin quite as much and come forward 10 - 15 feet and he might have got the shot of a lifetime but might not have been around to see it.
Glad all are OK though.
.
I am actually still trying to 'see' exactly just what happened as the videos posted on page 2 did not play for me. John's video above was however somewhat revealing.
Am I correct in assuming that the poor chap descended into his own line while it was still affixed to the mast - or am I not seeing things clearly?
Either way, I am relieved that no one was injured - perhaps the first miracle of Christmas.
Am I correct in assuming that the poor chap descended into his own line while it was still affixed to the mast - or am I not seeing things clearly?
Either way, I am relieved that no one was injured - perhaps the first miracle of Christmas.
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Seems like by yanking the cable downwards it also pulled the end attached to the tower into the disk?
Full marks to all those who after the thrashing ceased, but while there was still the most horrendous noise, didn't hesitate to run into harms way
And the tower wasn't pulled over in the mayhem either.....
Mickjoebill
Full marks to all those who after the thrashing ceased, but while there was still the most horrendous noise, didn't hesitate to run into harms way
And the tower wasn't pulled over in the mayhem either.....
Mickjoebill
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Savoia, try going to 3news.co.nz has an interview tonight and real slow motion of the moment that the ground crew grab the cable and bring the whole show down.
Greg says on the TV interview that was always the plan for the guy to yank the cable, but i just can't see how that would ever work with the length of line he had on.
Greg says on the TV interview that was always the plan for the guy to yank the cable, but i just can't see how that would ever work with the length of line he had on.
3 News:
I know I was praising the crewie before, but it is looking increasingly more like his 'little pull' on the line may have been a 'little mistake' 
Mind you the clearances shouldn't have been that tight, in a perfect world
Chopper pilot keen to finish Viaduct job
By Amanda Gillies
The Auckland pilot who walked away from a helicopter crash at the Viaduct does not remember a thing, saying he blacked out.
Greg Gribble was saved by his seatbelt, which dragged him back into the aircraft seconds before it plunged into the ground.
His million dollar helicopter has been written off yet he has just a tiny scratch on his finger.
He is now keen to go back and finish the job and says he is feeling “alive”.
“Very grateful. And very grateful nobody else got hurt. That's the main thing,” says Mr Girbble.
How nobody got hurt is difficult to fathom.
He does not remember being half-flung out of his chopper or the moment it slammed into the ground but he has watched footage many times.
He is too terrified to think how close he came to the rotor blades.
“If I had gone out and stayed out here, I’d have been cut to shreds.”
Trouble started a moment after Mr Gribble released a light cable hooked on to the bottom of the aircraft. A grounds man pulled the cable, which was the plan, but somehow something went haywire. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the grounds man.
“I've tried to get hold of him. But I think he's in a bit of shell shock as well.”
They were half way through what should have been a “relatively easy job'”, lifting a Christmas tree into place at Auckland’s Viaduct. He's prepared to go back to finish the job.
“They might not want me back. I don't have a problem going back there but they probably won't have me back.”
Mr Gribble has been flying choppers for 20 years. He bought his Squirrel about eight years ago. It has always been his baby and always had a clean bill of health. But now it has been written off. It costs about $1.5 million dollars and thankfully he is insured.
He will be back flying on Monday in the company's other chopper. But first he will spend the weekend fishing and will buy a lotto ticket.
By Amanda Gillies
The Auckland pilot who walked away from a helicopter crash at the Viaduct does not remember a thing, saying he blacked out.
Greg Gribble was saved by his seatbelt, which dragged him back into the aircraft seconds before it plunged into the ground.
His million dollar helicopter has been written off yet he has just a tiny scratch on his finger.
He is now keen to go back and finish the job and says he is feeling “alive”.
“Very grateful. And very grateful nobody else got hurt. That's the main thing,” says Mr Girbble.
How nobody got hurt is difficult to fathom.
He does not remember being half-flung out of his chopper or the moment it slammed into the ground but he has watched footage many times.
He is too terrified to think how close he came to the rotor blades.
“If I had gone out and stayed out here, I’d have been cut to shreds.”
Trouble started a moment after Mr Gribble released a light cable hooked on to the bottom of the aircraft. A grounds man pulled the cable, which was the plan, but somehow something went haywire. He hasn’t been able to get in touch with the grounds man.
“I've tried to get hold of him. But I think he's in a bit of shell shock as well.”
They were half way through what should have been a “relatively easy job'”, lifting a Christmas tree into place at Auckland’s Viaduct. He's prepared to go back to finish the job.
“They might not want me back. I don't have a problem going back there but they probably won't have me back.”
Mr Gribble has been flying choppers for 20 years. He bought his Squirrel about eight years ago. It has always been his baby and always had a clean bill of health. But now it has been written off. It costs about $1.5 million dollars and thankfully he is insured.
He will be back flying on Monday in the company's other chopper. But first he will spend the weekend fishing and will buy a lotto ticket.
Mind you the clearances shouldn't have been that tight, in a perfect world
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yeah but the "little pull" was part of the plan. therefore might need to look at his planning.
lucky it was his machine, imagine trying to explain to your boss why his lovely helicopter he let you take to work today is looking a bit tired and on TV around the world!!!
lucky it was his machine, imagine trying to explain to your boss why his lovely helicopter he let you take to work today is looking a bit tired and on TV around the world!!!
