Helicopter crash at Taupo Hospital, NZ
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A pilot and a crew member had a lucky escape after their rescue helicopter crash landed near Taupo Hospital today.
One man, a non-medical crew member, was moderately injured and is being treated at Taupo Hospital.
Eyewitnesses say the aircraft appeared to clip the top of trees as it began its descent onto the hospital helipad causing the helicopter to careen to the ground.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said the damaged helicopter landing heavily on impact.
A CAA investigator would be arriving in Taupo this morning to examine the scene and interview the pilot.
- Herald on Sunday (updated with more info from later story)
One man, a non-medical crew member, was moderately injured and is being treated at Taupo Hospital.
Eyewitnesses say the aircraft appeared to clip the top of trees as it began its descent onto the hospital helipad causing the helicopter to careen to the ground.
A Civil Aviation Authority spokesman said the damaged helicopter landing heavily on impact.
A CAA investigator would be arriving in Taupo this morning to examine the scene and interview the pilot.
- Herald on Sunday (updated with more info from later story)
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TK
Thankfully all as ok as can be, lucky escape.
What is it with authorities authorising approved landing sites festooned with trees, lamp posts and other helicopter unfriendly obstacles. How many more accidents are waiting to happen?
Yes, yes, I know a few muppets will say that the skygods should be good enough to avoid these things.....
What is it with authorities authorising approved landing sites festooned with trees, lamp posts and other helicopter unfriendly obstacles. How many more accidents are waiting to happen?
Yes, yes, I know a few muppets will say that the skygods should be good enough to avoid these things.....
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Yes they must be light poles or flag poles as the Kiwis are far smarter than using the same sort of poles for their football such as is used down south on this side of the water where they claim to be playing football during aerial semaphore hopscotch.
Too many trees would be a big worry with squirrels around, they should cut them down and shoot a few of those pesky squirrels.
Seriously though it seems an increasing trend of young pilots these days to go just a bit close with their furniture to obstacles. Very strict discipline in that regard is as important as learning to hover before one is allowed to venture further than the pad.
cheers tet
Too many trees would be a big worry with squirrels around, they should cut them down and shoot a few of those pesky squirrels.
Seriously though it seems an increasing trend of young pilots these days to go just a bit close with their furniture to obstacles. Very strict discipline in that regard is as important as learning to hover before one is allowed to venture further than the pad.
cheers tet
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Topendtorque - how do you know the driver of that machine is young? He's not!!
I just love it how all the so called experts come out of the woods without knowing any of the facts.
Remember people, we are all just one flight away from phucking up or having a phuck up.
Sad
to see when that aircraft features in my logbook many times overs the years. Great to see the crew walk away. 
Now let's wait for the CAA to do their investigation.
I just love it how all the so called experts come out of the woods without knowing any of the facts.
Remember people, we are all just one flight away from phucking up or having a phuck up.
Sad
to see when that aircraft features in my logbook many times overs the years. Great to see the crew walk away. Now let's wait for the CAA to do their investigation.
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Sorry to offend BB.
I had no idea how old the driver was, none whatsoever and was not inferring for one second that it may be excused because of youth or, most particularly improper training which I was aiming at, but not as an excuse. If the pilot has been around for a while and still neglected his clearances to the point where collision arose on a routine operational flight, then perhaps a bit of criticism is well founded and I can rest my case.
Then again the pesky Squirrel may have thrown a bearing or some other thing at a critical time and let him down into it? There seems to be so many of them crashing in the operational environment it's not at all funny.
Your lead.
Happy Easter TET.
I had no idea how old the driver was, none whatsoever and was not inferring for one second that it may be excused because of youth or, most particularly improper training which I was aiming at, but not as an excuse. If the pilot has been around for a while and still neglected his clearances to the point where collision arose on a routine operational flight, then perhaps a bit of criticism is well founded and I can rest my case.
Then again the pesky Squirrel may have thrown a bearing or some other thing at a critical time and let him down into it? There seems to be so many of them crashing in the operational environment it's not at all funny.
Your lead.
Happy Easter TET.
