AW139 Crash in Bahamas - 7 Killed
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Originally Posted by FIRESYSOK
I don’t know about helicopters, but are the landing gear supposed to be down after takeoff?
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All the bells and whistles and 2 pilots and it looks like they hit at very high speed and at a very steep angle. Very very sad.
What was that aircraft equpped with that will help out investigators.
What was that aircraft equpped with that will help out investigators.
A telling photo would be of the back-end, see if the tail rotor is still in place. Nothing much to conclude from the wheels being down, reports suggest it was found in the water not far from departure point. No floats installed in this one, right? I don't see the MGB or any MR hub/blades, I doubt it separated in-flight as the hull damage is too minimal.
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Originally Posted by gulliBell
A telling photo would be of the back-end, see if the tail rotor is still in place. Nothing much to conclude from the wheels being down, reports suggest it was found in the water not far from departure point. No floats installed in this one, right? I don't see the MGB or any MR hub/blades, I doubt it separated in-flight as the hull damage is too minimal.
It left London Air with floats and the photo above on the ramp after getting N registered shows floats, so unless they were recently removed they should still be on there.
It looks to me like it is resting on the MR Head, with MGB in place and I can see the #2 engine as well. FDR will tell the story.
Originally Posted by gulliBell
If it's thrown a TR blade it would end up in the water...it's happened before.
Well the tail rotor is obviously not there, neither is the tail boom. With all the damage upstairs I wonder if it's gone in upside down? Inverted, submerged, at night: that's a tough scenario to escape from.
If earlier comments prove to be correct, 2.00AM flight, transponder off, no flight logged etc Will this become yet another example of pilot/pilots being pressured to take a flight by the big boss that really shouldn’t have been taken?
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But regardless of rules surely a night flight across water with no objects to bump into should be safe in s 139 ??? I don’t think having transponder on would have made a difference...
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Originally Posted by nigelh
But regardless of rules surely a night flight across water with no objects to bump into should be safe in s 139 ??? I don’t think having transponder on would have made a difference...
2am - right at the bottom of the circadian low - perhaps an urgency to the flight if the report of an illness is correct, 2 pilots with perhaps no exposure to EMS/SAR decision making/risk assessment procedures and a fatal crash very soon after take-off.
It is too easy to join the dots but unless a mechanical failure can be proven, this could turn out to be another very avoidable accident.
It is too easy to join the dots but unless a mechanical failure can be proven, this could turn out to be another very avoidable accident.
For all of that structural damage....it was not a soft impact.
Question for the 139 drivers.....How are the floats actuated on the 139?
Any Saltwater switches or Float Valve Switches that will trigger the floats automatically....if the system is armed?
Are there indications in the photos that give a clue as to whether the floats inflated or not?
Question for the 139 drivers.....How are the floats actuated on the 139?
Any Saltwater switches or Float Valve Switches that will trigger the floats automatically....if the system is armed?
Are there indications in the photos that give a clue as to whether the floats inflated or not?
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Originally Posted by KiwiNedNZ
Tottigol - My info is accurate - have known Geoff for a long time. Was chatting with him only a couple of days ago. He is the primary pilot for Chris on the 139. I am pretty sure its a 2 person crew and have no idea who the other crew was.
Originally Posted by SASless
For all of that structural damage....it was not a soft impact.
Question for the 139 drivers.....How are the floats actuated on the 139?
Any Saltwater switches or Float Valve Switches that will trigger the floats automatically....if the system is armed?
Are there indications in the photos that give a clue as to whether the floats inflated or not?
Question for the 139 drivers.....How are the floats actuated on the 139?
Any Saltwater switches or Float Valve Switches that will trigger the floats automatically....if the system is armed?
Are there indications in the photos that give a clue as to whether the floats inflated or not?
I see nothing in these photos to indicate any float inflation. The Fwd bags are housed below the cockpit doors & the Aft bags below the baggage bay.
I'm aware that some operations discourage arming floats on the AW139 during cruise .... despite the RFM calling for this .... just saying.
