NYC helicopter crash 10th June 2019
It doesn't make sense for a non-instrument rated pilot, after experiencing IMC and then extracting himself successfully from that situation, to then go and put himself in the same situation again. The concept of self preservation should be overwhelming once regaining VMC I would have thought. In any event, can the A109 at least do HDG and ALT hold? Or was there no autopilot on this one?
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Quote - „He decided to crash onto the roof of the high-rise building on 7th Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets to put "other lives first," his family said in a statement after the crash“.
How heartbreaking! I would ask why he decided to crash a fully operational helicopter?
Sometimes you have to call a tree a tree - He f.....ed up big time!!!
How heartbreaking! I would ask why he decided to crash a fully operational helicopter?
Sometimes you have to call a tree a tree - He f.....ed up big time!!!
Family just put a positive spin on it in their hour of grief. Yep, heartbreaking for sure. 'Aint no way he had any intention of crashing on the roof of that building. It just happened to be in the way of where he was going, only he didn't know it. As for the news report the helicopter was seriously damaged; well, that is the overstatement of understatements.
After checking with the videographer regarding the two videos, I’m 90% confident
Aircraft was filmed from approx 1 kilometer from the helipad, exiting clouds in a dive, the aircraft then climbed back heading North into the cloud base adjacent the helipad. A short time later, under 90 seconds judging by the changing position of the ferry, (which is only visible in the full height versions of the videos) and comments by the videographer that he returned within seconds, he is filmed south of the camera position near the power station in a low hover where he then climbs again into cloud base heading North.
Three climbs into the cloud base.
Two occasions passing by the helipad.
Low hover opposite a landmark power station.
EAOE
mjb
Aircraft was filmed from approx 1 kilometer from the helipad, exiting clouds in a dive, the aircraft then climbed back heading North into the cloud base adjacent the helipad. A short time later, under 90 seconds judging by the changing position of the ferry, (which is only visible in the full height versions of the videos) and comments by the videographer that he returned within seconds, he is filmed south of the camera position near the power station in a low hover where he then climbs again into cloud base heading North.
Three climbs into the cloud base.
Two occasions passing by the helipad.
Low hover opposite a landmark power station.
EAOE
mjb
It doesn't make sense for a non-instrument rated pilot, after experiencing IMC and then extracting himself successfully from that situation, to then go and put himself in the same situation again. The concept of self preservation should be overwhelming once regaining VMC I would have thought. In any event, can the A109 at least do HDG and ALT hold? Or was there no autopilot on this one?
After checking with the videographer regarding the two videos, I’m 90% confident
Aircraft was filmed from approx 1 kilometer from the helipad, exiting clouds in a dive, the aircraft then climbed back heading North into the cloud base adjacent the helipad. A short time later, under 90 seconds judging by the changing position of the ferry, (which is only visible in the full height versions of the videos) and comments by the videographer that he returned within seconds, he is filmed south of the camera position near the power station in a low hover where he then climbs again into cloud base heading North.
Three climbs into the cloud base.
Two occasions passing by the helipad.
Low hover opposite a landmark power station.
EAOE
mjb
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Apparently no one wants to go here, but surely the NTSB is investigating a possible suicide. Possible. As others have noted this event is inexplicable. A fairly experienced pilot with probably dozens or more ops from the E 34th St heliport, who's been flying corporate equipment around NYC for years gets lost minutes after departing the heliport? Then climbs into the ovcst and dives nearly vertically...yes, it could be a medical anomaly, but something ain't right here. I'm not buying spatial disorientation.
Apparently no one wants to go here, but surely the NTSB is investigating a possible suicide. Possible. As others have noted this event is inexplicable. A fairly experienced pilot with probably dozens or more ops from the E 34th St heliport, who's been flying corporate equipment around NYC for years gets lost minutes after departing the heliport? Then climbs into the ovcst and dives nearly vertically...yes, it could be a medical anomaly, but something ain't right here. I'm not buying spatial disorientation.
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There was no reason for him to climb into IMC in the clouds. He had no instrument rating and he hadn't filed. By all accounts he was experienced flying VFR around NYC, and probably had experience flying low-level VFR (scud running) along the East River and over the harbor...it's what we can legally do in rotorcraft. A typical scenario in low ceiling/vis would be depart the heliport to take a look, fly low and slow down the river and if things look too crappy make a 180 and retrace the route back up to the heliport and call it a day. Why would any experienced pilot climb into the ceiling and then make a near-vertical dive? He did a lot of erratic, inexplicable maneuvering during this brief flight...especially turning west INTO downtown Manhattan. The East River is a big ole landmark that would have led him right back to the heliport.
Why he was IMC is the question that needs an answer. Particularly when he started out in VMC, and gained VMC after being IMC, and then went IMC again. And it would seem, got VMC again before going IMC for a 3rd time in a short space of time. Obviously he shouldn't have gone IMC the first time, because he was not IFR qualified, nor was he following an IFR procedure. It doesn't make sense to give it a go when you're not qualified to do it, just to save the $100/15 minute parking fee.
Why he was IMC is the question that needs an answer. Particularly when he started out in VMC, and gained VMC after being IMC, and then went IMC again. And it would seem, got VMC again before going IMC for a 3rd time in a short space of time. Obviously he shouldn't have gone IMC the first time, because he was not IFR qualified, nor was he following an IFR procedure. It doesn't make sense to give it a go when you're not qualified to do it, just to save the $100/15 minute parking fee.