AW139 crash in Kenya
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Having just reviewed some of the other videos of the event, it does look like a steady hover, with initially a right yaw, then a rapid vertical descent with left yaw. So, VRS seems less likely. Its not consistent with TRDS fail, because of the left yaw.
The only scenario I can conceive of that seems to make sense is what Maeroda referred to - tail rotor control binding with improper pilot reaction. Raising and then dumping the collective with stuck pedals would give the result which appears to have happened in the videos, (right yaw, then left yaw & high rate of descent) and then significantly raising the collective close to the ground would have given the rapid rate of right yaw and reduced rate of descent which appears to have been the case closer to ground impact.
The only scenario I can conceive of that seems to make sense is what Maeroda referred to - tail rotor control binding with improper pilot reaction. Raising and then dumping the collective with stuck pedals would give the result which appears to have happened in the videos, (right yaw, then left yaw & high rate of descent) and then significantly raising the collective close to the ground would have given the rapid rate of right yaw and reduced rate of descent which appears to have been the case closer to ground impact.
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Not everything is capable of being recorded. This could be something as simple as a foreign object in the footwell jamming the pedals (checklist holder, data plate, maglite, metal pen, pilots personal sidearm).
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To me it appears more like they were hovering in hover-mode and instead of pushing the ATT button upon departure from the hover, the pilot pushed the AFCS cut off button. No big deal for experianced pilots, but maybe too much for the inexperianced crew. Has happened to everybody before, not with these consequences though.
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Harry,
You have re-programmed yourself to your new type!
I think you mean the "FD Stby" and the "SAS release" buttons on the cyclic!
You have re-programmed yourself to your new type!
I think you mean the "FD Stby" and the "SAS release" buttons on the cyclic!
Last edited by Non-PC Plod; 10th Sep 2016 at 10:09.
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I'm sure the people of Kenya will be relieved to find out the cause when it's released. In the meantime let's hope for all their sake that the remaining 139 will be flown by pilots capable of flying it.
Wageslave, sub 1000 hours pilots like those fly all kinds of advanced jets and helicopters all the time.
It's called the military, and most of the audience (me included) was at one point one of those and perhaps you.
It's called the military, and most of the audience (me included) was at one point one of those and perhaps you.
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wtf are these people wasting thier time and money flying an AW139 !!! when there is (obviously) no realistic safety upside from flying such a 'redundant' airframe.
They could be flying something reliable, safe and with huge margins instead.
This twin nonsense disease is becoming stupid.
YOU (SP) are guilty, wake up !!!
They could be flying something reliable, safe and with huge margins instead.
This twin nonsense disease is becoming stupid.
YOU (SP) are guilty, wake up !!!
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Terrifying moment police helicopter crashes over slums in Nairobi
Found this online....it has some reasonably good stills capture from video...is it just me or is something missing from the third still?
Found this online....it has some reasonably good stills capture from video...is it just me or is something missing from the third still?
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Wageslave, sub 1000 hours pilots like those fly all kinds of advanced jets and helicopters all the time.
It's called the military, and most of the audience (me included) was at one point one of those and perhaps you.
It's called the military, and most of the audience (me included) was at one point one of those and perhaps you.
I spent the past 7 years in that region, and i can tell you that i have only met ONE (!) pilot from here who i considered a professional pilot...
All other helicopter pilot "somehow" got their license...were put into a cockpit....cockiedīaround that they can do it themselves after a few minutes....and the "mzungus"were sent home, as the local pilots can do it better anyway....
This is their attitude, this is their culture.....
Let me give you another example:
A foreign pilot from Europe-4000 hours, 3000 hours on type, 2500 hours PIC, VFR, IFR, ATPL(H) from a proper EASA country comes down here...
The local CAA asks for dozens of pages of paperwork, including factory type training (he received type rating training on a proper ATO, not the factory), and refuses to give him a validation....
8 months later this pilot is still trying to pass their silly exams.......and maybe after 12 months, he will get a local license conversion.
A local pilot, aged in the early 70īs, had a "license" back in the 1970....where it also expired....hasnīt flown since then.....asked for a job.....nope, no job, mate.....you need a license, a type rating and an ifr rating..
Man walks into the CAA, walks out with an ATPL and a type rating on it not even 4 hours later....
This is the way it works down here....
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Huey Racer..shock horror! I've been training Middle East pilots, and they have their position because of their uncle/father not because of any selection process. We'll be very unlikely to get past the culture difference, so we have to deal with it as best we can. The mitigating factor appears to be, accidents will happen, but on their patch. If a brand new 139 went down like that in the UK there would be many questions if not an enquiry as to why it happened.
Terrifying moment police helicopter crashes over slums in Nairobi
Found this online....it has some reasonably good stills capture from video...is it just me or is something missing from the third still?
Found this online....it has some reasonably good stills capture from video...is it just me or is something missing from the third still?
Just the angle - still attached post impact
