Two Helos Collide in New Zealand
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Two Helos Collide in New Zealand
News report saying two helos came together at the Tindall Glacier this afternoon near the Shotover River. Report said pax and one pilot flown back to base and one pilot transferred to hospital with injuries.
Apparently one was landing at the time and hit the other.
Apparently one was landing at the time and hit the other.
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Same company??? wonder if it will be fisty cuffs at dawn?
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The "fisty cuffs at dawn" should be saved for people that make negative comments on PPrune and show no respect in these circumstances. There seems to be a lot of people who like to think they know what happened when accidents like this occur. Both pilots are very experienced in Mountain flying in the Southern Alps. I'm going to wait till I talk to the guys and see the accident report before I make judgement.
Whilst you are right in that we shouldn't pre-judge, I will be interested to see what explanation there is for two helicopters from the same company taking chunks out of each other unless there is a clear technical failure as the cause.
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Having flown there, and been flown there by some well known locals...I would say that this may be "an accident"...where someone has made a "mistake".
Sorry to be flippant, but that does happen, even with the best machines, pilots and company's involved.
I hope everyone is OK.
Arrrj
Sorry to be flippant, but that does happen, even with the best machines, pilots and company's involved.
I hope everyone is OK.
Arrrj
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Not the first time for it to happen, and I can't see it being the last either. It's not like landing at an airfield up there.
I think Marine have the dubious title of taking out three in one go!
I think Marine have the dubious title of taking out three in one go!
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NRDK - sorry mate but you are a prize prick!!
People are injured and proffessional pilots do not post unsympathetic drivel like you have done. If you cannot post sensibly sod off and Troll somewhere else.
DB
People are injured and proffessional pilots do not post unsympathetic drivel like you have done. If you cannot post sensibly sod off and Troll somewhere else.
DB
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Poor DB
You seem to take it personally whenever someone here posts any remark against either the wonderful establishment or another skygod like yourself. With your 17.000+ hours perhaps you should re-read a few of your own comments you may have hurt some sensitive soul with your previous comments
.
This is a rumour network, plenty of banter.
lots of wind ups, can't take a joke....should have joined the Army!
Seriously though. Standing on the ice glacier with your paying pax and have your oppo turn up and then land on you! Having survived what may have been an absolute tragedy, tell me honestly you wouldn't be a little pi#€ed off with that 'professional' colleague. Yes sh1t happens, but I doubt I'm alone in thinking this was so unavoidable.
. This is a rumour network, plenty of banter.
lots of wind ups, can't take a joke....should have joined the Army!Seriously though. Standing on the ice glacier with your paying pax and have your oppo turn up and then land on you! Having survived what may have been an absolute tragedy, tell me honestly you wouldn't be a little pi#€ed off with that 'professional' colleague. Yes sh1t happens, but I doubt I'm alone in thinking this was so unavoidable.
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NRDK Having spent the better part of my life in aviation I can agree with you that all accidents are avoidable. However they continue to happen. The difference between you and me is....my first thought is..."that could happen to me" and then I want details so I can try to make sure it does not.
You suggest that I consider myself as a "Skygod"
Actually your statements on this thread infer that it is you who considers yourself as a Skygod because clearly this would never happen to you which in turn allows you to be inappropriately critical of those unfortunate to have had this accident.
However, what makes you a "Prick" is that you level this criticism with absolutley no factual detail of what occurred.....other than the event happened.
Time and experience serve only to teach us how fallible we all are. How easily these things can happen. To any of us. Maybe you do not have the benefit of experience to draw on!!! In which case keep quite until some facts emerge.
Ooh! For the record.....I did join the Army!!
You suggest that I consider myself as a "Skygod"
Actually your statements on this thread infer that it is you who considers yourself as a Skygod because clearly this would never happen to you which in turn allows you to be inappropriately critical of those unfortunate to have had this accident.
However, what makes you a "Prick" is that you level this criticism with absolutley no factual detail of what occurred.....other than the event happened.
Time and experience serve only to teach us how fallible we all are. How easily these things can happen. To any of us. Maybe you do not have the benefit of experience to draw on!!! In which case keep quite until some facts emerge.
Ooh! For the record.....I did join the Army!!
Last edited by DOUBLE BOGEY; 29th Oct 2013 at 03:49.
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DB
Yes, the army joke was a double tap at you, as I know your background.
I would hope already that you have learnt enough of the basics to have prevented this cockup!
Day VMC, Operating with another of your company aircraft to the same area, (to an area used frequently by all accounts). R/T position reports? A basic landing site recce using the mark 1 eyeball before committing to fly into your oppo's aircraft (having planned an approach routing that gave a safe under/overshoot)
Alway lessons to be learnt from every incident, accident in life. Complacency being a good one.
I would hope already that you have learnt enough of the basics to have prevented this cockup!
Day VMC, Operating with another of your company aircraft to the same area, (to an area used frequently by all accounts). R/T position reports? A basic landing site recce using the mark 1 eyeball before committing to fly into your oppo's aircraft (having planned an approach routing that gave a safe under/overshoot)
Alway lessons to be learnt from every incident, accident in life. Complacency being a good one.
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I would say that this may be "an accident"...where someone has made a "mistake".
. Crossed every finger and every toe, even recited a prayer in every religion I knew for the donk not to quit on me as I sailed over it by just a few feet.Glad there were no fatalities and hope they recover soon enough to get back in the saddle.
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Well said DB
The two pilots involved are not only very experienced in mountain flying but they are also good mates of mine and well respected in the industry. One of them has serious injuries and is in hospital although the news I got this morning is he should make a full recovery.
NRDK I gave your dribble the benefit of the doubt last night and I appreciate this site is a "rumor network" but people could have died including my mates and there is no reason ever, for you or anyone, to post offensive, unprofessional posts and be an insensitive ********.
The two pilots involved are not only very experienced in mountain flying but they are also good mates of mine and well respected in the industry. One of them has serious injuries and is in hospital although the news I got this morning is he should make a full recovery.
NRDK I gave your dribble the benefit of the doubt last night and I appreciate this site is a "rumor network" but people could have died including my mates and there is no reason ever, for you or anyone, to post offensive, unprofessional posts and be an insensitive ********.
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In conditions you find on a glacier with its flat light and blowing snow reference can well be an issue.
Its a common technique to use the biggest thing on the snow to provide a reference...thats another helicopter.
I spent years flying around NZ's amazing glaciers. And that was what I, and other pilots used. So landing close was accepted and was generally much safer then trying to land in a area with no reference. I know of many helicopters that have rolled over due to lack of reference. There was a 500 that opted to land in no mans land ( there was two helicopters providing great reference on the normal landing site) and he ended up drifting, catching a skid and rolling over. Luckily no major injuries to passengers. (not sure "that girls" undies were that lucky
)
Sometimes, it can be bloody tricky. Some days you dont land.
I AM NOT SPECULATING on the cause, I am just saying landing near each other is common as it aids safety in the landing.
By the way, this is the first accident/incident I have heard off on the glaciers in the 30 year history of this company (and others) involving a machine touching the other considering the number of flights going on.
Just glad to hear the pilot will make a recovery.
To the Company pilots, Chin up and keep it safe.
Its a common technique to use the biggest thing on the snow to provide a reference...thats another helicopter.
I spent years flying around NZ's amazing glaciers. And that was what I, and other pilots used. So landing close was accepted and was generally much safer then trying to land in a area with no reference. I know of many helicopters that have rolled over due to lack of reference. There was a 500 that opted to land in no mans land ( there was two helicopters providing great reference on the normal landing site) and he ended up drifting, catching a skid and rolling over. Luckily no major injuries to passengers. (not sure "that girls" undies were that lucky
)Sometimes, it can be bloody tricky. Some days you dont land.
I AM NOT SPECULATING on the cause, I am just saying landing near each other is common as it aids safety in the landing.
By the way, this is the first accident/incident I have heard off on the glaciers in the 30 year history of this company (and others) involving a machine touching the other considering the number of flights going on.
Just glad to hear the pilot will make a recovery.
To the Company pilots, Chin up and keep it safe.
Thread Starter
The pilots of this company are some of the best, the bosses above them like GB ensure it is so.
Pilot was transferred to Lakes District Hospital and then over to Dunedin. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery. The area around Queenstown and Wanaka has some unforgiving mountains and many a pilot has come close to meeting their maker in them.
THL flies many thousands of hours per year, I think about 18 helos flying around 450 hours per year per machine which certainly adds up and this is the first major I have ever heard them have apart from one up near Fox/Franz a while ago.
Thoughts are with everyone at THL and the pilots family.
Pilot was transferred to Lakes District Hospital and then over to Dunedin. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery. The area around Queenstown and Wanaka has some unforgiving mountains and many a pilot has come close to meeting their maker in them.
THL flies many thousands of hours per year, I think about 18 helos flying around 450 hours per year per machine which certainly adds up and this is the first major I have ever heard them have apart from one up near Fox/Franz a while ago.
Thoughts are with everyone at THL and the pilots family.
Fisticuffs already it seems.
For those of you new to PPrune who want us armchair judges to wait until the results are out: Too late mate, that's been thrashed to death here on the RUMOUR NETWORK If you don't like that idea: F.O.
For the rest of you egotists, the bottom line is that two a/c came together in the same space at the same time: COCK UP. Simples. One of them made a mistake. Human error. Can it be avoided: of course it can. It needs constant SA, airmanship and common sense. This happened on the ground remember so presumably ONE of the targets wasn't moving??? The other one waas driven (in this instance) by a PRAT. Simples. Apologise and get over it. No-one dead
For those of you new to PPrune who want us armchair judges to wait until the results are out: Too late mate, that's been thrashed to death here on the RUMOUR NETWORK
If you don't like that idea: F.O.For the rest of you egotists, the bottom line is that two a/c came together in the same space at the same time: COCK UP. Simples. One of them made a mistake. Human error. Can it be avoided: of course it can. It needs constant SA, airmanship and common sense. This happened on the ground remember so presumably ONE of the targets wasn't moving??? The other one waas driven (in this instance) by a PRAT. Simples. Apologise and get over it. No-one dead
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TC as usual your post is simply designed to offend as many people as possible. I am not surprised at all that you choose to vomit up your diatribe on a post where it serves only to create misery.
DB
DB
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Thomas Coupling is right,move on,some of these NZ pruners must never sleep with their amazing flying feats day and night then all the advice they pass on to us mere mortals via these forums
Rottenjohn:
DB: Don't know you, don't really.....want to either but, needs must!
NZ pilots need to understand this is a 'normal' risk. Two pilots flying in the same airspace, one of them makes a mistake and hits the other.
Smell the coffe brothers: kiwi's are human like the rest of us and YOU MAKE MISTAKES - learn from it and move on.
Just re-train the guy who did it and if you can't - sack him. Simples
Remember - accidents are a minority event done by a minority of pilots. Find a majority pilot or address his inadequacies because inadequacies they are.
DB: You are allowed to dismount from your high horse occasionally, you know?
DB: Don't know you, don't really.....want to either but, needs must!
NZ pilots need to understand this is a 'normal' risk. Two pilots flying in the same airspace, one of them makes a mistake and hits the other.
Smell the coffe brothers: kiwi's are human like the rest of us and YOU MAKE MISTAKES - learn from it and move on.
Just re-train the guy who did it and if you can't - sack him. Simples
Remember - accidents are a minority event done by a minority of pilots. Find a majority pilot or address his inadequacies because inadequacies they are.
DB: You are allowed to dismount from your high horse occasionally, you know?
Last edited by Thomas coupling; 29th Oct 2013 at 10:23.
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TC
What a breath of fresh air your posting has added, thanks.
DB...if I'm ever parked up and you land on my cab and we survive, best you stand by for some whoop ass
To quote a wise one...simples!
DB...if I'm ever parked up and you land on my cab and we survive, best you stand by for some whoop ass
To quote a wise one...simples!