Helicopter down outside Leicester City Football Club

[runway30]

Originally Posted by Wycombe

Drone for overhead TV shots? One would surely hope this is properly co-ordinated (especially if the rotary presence is regular as is being suggested) and that that is a red herring.

Leicestershire Police have a drone that they can deploy at football matches if required. Not known if it was flying at this match.

[falcon900]

It is surprising to me that an aircraft of this size could land on the grass playing surface without damaging it or at least affecting its suitability for top class football. I’m not suggesting it has any bearing on the tragic events which have unfolded, just a stray thought.

[silverelise]

Originally Posted by falcon900

It is surprising to me that an aircraft of this size could land on the grass playing surface without damaging it or at least affecting its suitability for top class football. I’m not suggesting it has any bearing on the tragic events which have unfolded, just a stray thought.

I believe that pre-game it lands outside of the stadium and the passengers are conveyed the final distance by car it's only after the game it lands on the pitch. Generally there is a game played on the pitch once a week or so.

[HarryMann]

Surprised this sort of operation is even countenounced on a regular basis esp. at night

[SFIM]

Surprised this sort of operation us even countenounced on a regular basis esp. at night

there is nothing wrong with this type of operation and this really isn’t the time for this when there is no clue what happened.

[ORAC]

Five on board were the owner, his daughter, another guest and the two pilots.

[helispeediii]

god bless them all im sure I know the pilots, have flown many hours in 109 with them! again lets not invent reasons for the accident god bless heli speediii

[chips101]

Thank you helicrazi. If a helicopter had more height and speed and the tail rotor failed are there options. Again I do not want to cause thread drift.

[Misformonkey]

You Tube

is that a normal take-off technique to reverse whilst climbing out? I would have expected a normal tower type ascent to the transition to forward flight. I’m from an rotary wing background but haven’t seen this before.

[mercuray]

SFIM. This is Forum for aviation professionals. Accordingly,it is perfectly appropriate for other members to put forward PURELY informal comment as to whether this sort of operation is even "countenounced on a regular basis especially at night". Many of my own aircrew colleagues have also openly stated that they too are currently somewhat confused about such a Regular Operation. Naturally the authorities will be do their formal work on all aspects of this very sad event. Far more to the point is that so little from The "Press" seems to be concerned that apparently 4 other POB also perished in this accident. Human Life should not be so much more important just because one of the victims is a billionaire owner of a football club. ALL those on board deserve exactly the SAME amount of Attention; Respect and Sorrow at this time.They too have families. I am confident that The Chairman of Leicester Football Club would be the first to agree with me. I am now 68,so I remember when not Everything was so shamelessly Linked to Fame and Fortune. This is simply a sport;a game of football,and now is not the time to be focusing on FOOTBALL,but ALL of the 5 HUMANS whom have just perished in an horrific aviation accident. I assure you that AIB will have commenced their investigations almost immediately. Like other great Clubs before them,Leicester FC did NOT DIE last night,and will come back in sombre mood,but I suspect more united and determined than ever. The Fans will see to that.

[helicrazi]

Yep, normal technique

[Axel-Flo]

Committed perhaps?

I haven’t flown helicopters for years now but I’d guess if you’ve nowhere else to go backing up gives you a forward and down option in the event of a catastrophic failure before you comit yourself to go. The stadium right in front of you would probably be a worse option.

[barbados sky]

is that a normal take-off technique to reverse whilst climbing out? I would have expected a normal tower type ascent to the transition to forward flight. I’m from an rotary wing background but haven’t seen this before.

Yes, its not an uncommon procedure for a PC1 type take off, it keeps the reject area in front of the aircraft until committed.

[jayteeto]

Is this allowed? Yes
why did they move up and back, not towering? Because that’s the approved departure technique. Very rare to go straight up if you have an obstruction on departure path.

ie. That’s how it’s done properly

[wokawoka]

Standard technique

Originally Posted by Misformonkey

https://youtu.be/2On58NfaSXg
is that a normal take-off technique to reverse whilst climbing out? I would have expected a normal tower type ascent to the transition to forward flight. I’m from an rotary wing background but haven’t seen this before.

This is a standard technique in commercial ops. You drift up and back keeping sight of the landing site so that if you have an engine failure on transition you can drift down to the site. Especially relevant in oil rig operations.

[industry insider]

Especially relevant in oil rig operations.

Really? Never done that type of take off from any rig or platform offshore in my 40 almost years in the industry. I learn something everyday.

[meleagertoo]

Originally Posted by Misformonkey

is that a normal take-off technique to reverse whilst climbing out?

Perfectly normal. The technique was originally intended for use from a restricted area where category "A" performance was required - ie land or fly away from a single engine failure. The reversing element was to allow the pilot to retain sight of the pad through the chin window as he climbed to the critical height from which he could dive on speed and fly away if an engine failed. Prior to that point a descent onto the still visible pad is accomplished on the remaining engine.
It was, afaik, introduced in the UK in via the offshore oil industry as mentioned above and was adopted on land for use on helipads that did not allow a conventional acceleration, transition and run-on, typcally needing 5-600m of flat ground for a light twin. It lends itself to use on elevated pads, eg rooftop sites and also to sites surrounded by tall obstacles such as trees or even stadium roofs
For this technique to work successfully it may require the machine to be below a calculated weight for performance reasons.

[jackharr]

Far more to the point is that so little from The "Press" seems to be concerned that apparently 4 other POB also perished in this accident. Human Life should not be so much more important just because one of the victims is a billionaire owner of a football club. ALL those on board deserve exactly the SAME amount of Attention;

I agree entirely with that comment.

[aox]

Originally Posted by mercuray

Far more to the point is that so little from The "Press" seems to be concerned that apparently 4 other POB also perished in this accident. Human Life should not be so much more important just because one of the victims is a billionaire owner of a football club. ALL those on board deserve exactly the SAME amount of Attention; Respect and Sorrow at this time.They too have families.

For some time last night there were even denials that the owner was on board, which might imply that a rhetorical question why no quotable comment yet by the owner, so where is he, hadn't occurred to those writers and some editors. Even early on it was obviously a strong chance of fatal to whoever was in it, but as you say a bit too much focus on yes or no about just one.

[PPI Zulu]

Originally Posted by Misformonkey

https://youtu.be/2On58NfaSXg
is that a normal take-off technique to reverse whilst climbing out? I would have expected a normal tower type ascent to the transition to forward flight. I’m from an rotary wing background but haven’t seen this before.

It very much depends on what is approved for that Type in the RFM which, in turn, is finalised and approved during certification.

Even two Variants of the Type may have two different profiles. The AS332L2 Super Puma, for instance, has a backwards climb profile in its helipad departure. However, The EC225 Super Puma has a vertical (straight up) profile.