Geelong Helicopter accident Waterfront 6/1/18
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Geelong Helicopter accident Waterfront 6/1/18
9 News claims Geelong Helicopter undershot the pad on landing and ended up in the drink this afternoon. Nobody Injured. VH-HYX Robinson R44 Raven
A year ago?
r44 floats
https://ua.all.biz/en/the-robinson-r...-the-g13558942
But what looks scary is the fact that the rotors look to be running in that pic (blades are straight), and the tail rotor looks awfully close to those rocks!!!!
In that case I'm very surprised a fixed float STC that by design has the helicopter sitting in salt water would get approved (BTW I'm a fixed float qualified helicopter pilot, just not on the robo-flimsycopter).
Last edited by gulliBell; 6th Jan 2019 at 23:27.
I'm curious to find out what they were doing. Assuming the engine is running and producing power. Never in my wildest dreams would I believe anybody would do float training on salt water.
I wonder if the WWT offers discount for BYO gaffa tape? Would taping it up i.a.w the RFM to minimize the risk of sinking it during fixed float training be permitted pilot maintenance, or would it require a mechanic to do it and sign it off in the technical log?
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I would suggest these emergency flotation devices have not been certified, meaning they have not gone through through the full process, however as is evidenced here they can be a meaningful safety aide in some situations. In other situations they may not have the strength to support the water impact.
I know of an R44 which landed in knee deep water in the Kimberley’s during a flood evacuation years ago & that’s where it stayed as the engine sucked water up through the air cleaner. Once it was back on dry ground it was found that the seal around the filter wasn’t quite up to scratch. Looking at those photos of the machine sitting in the water I’d be worried about getting back off the water again, which makes the floats a single use item in my books!
