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Kobe Bryant killed in S76 crash

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Kobe Bryant killed in S76 crash

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Old 27th Jan 2020, 11:34
  #101 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by blind pew
Good morning britain with Piers Morgan had a chopper pilot that appeared to be a genuine expert who expressed himself extremely well and knew the location. From his analysis it appeared the chopper went into a typical holding pattern considering the deteriorating weather then crashed which led to the conclusions of either the unlikely event of a mechanical failure or loss of spacial awareness.
He was 'holding' because of all the IFR FW traffic into one of the airports he was wanting to transit though their zone (can't remember which of the two but it's in the youtube ATC clip).
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 11:54
  #102 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by n5296s
Why are you so certain? Not saying you're wrong, just curious? It was way beyond Vne (most likely)..
The helicopter doesn't self destruct and fall out of the sky as you pass on to the wrong side of Vne. Vne is a number that the flight test guys and engineers come up with, with significant safety margins built in, to keep you on the right side of the fatigue life calculations so your flight safety critical bits don't wear out or break before they are due to be time-expired. The S76 will easily fly through Vne and keep flying, but the wear and tear on the rotor system and tail boom (and hydraulic servo actuators) goes exponential big time. Therefore compromising the component fatigue life. If that helicopter was doing 180 (and I'd be surprised if it was), and even if it was heavy, and even if it was cutting some bank angle, the retreating blade would not be stalled. And in any event, with the onset of retreating blade stall the tendency is for the nose of the helicopter to pitch up slightly (in addition to roll) and reduce the angle of attack of the blades, thus self-correcting the onset of the stall. I really don't think RBS has anything to do with the accident outcome.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 11:55
  #103 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Callisthenes
Sightseeing.
or waiting for SVFR clearance
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 12:40
  #104 (permalink)  
 
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Tragic and frustrating. RIP.

Besides the weather issues...
Less distracting radio, more independent situational awareness from cockpit technology, and get to someplace safe ASAP!

Last edited by Indelible Spirit; 27th Jan 2020 at 12:52.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 12:50
  #105 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by Arfur Dent
Absolutely agree 76fan. Those execs and/or celebs using light aircraft or helicopters to get to major events like weddings and baseball games etc don't seem to allow much contingency to allow for delays due to weather.
Hiring charter or a check-pilot captain? Find someone who puts safety first AND WILL NOT SHUT UP about it, no matter how famous the client or owner-pilot is!
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 12:59
  #106 (permalink)  
 
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I'm still puzzled why a high net worth individual would be stooging around in a 30 year old helicopter instead of ponying up $16M of loose change for a pimped up latest and greatest 139 with 2 guys up the front.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:04
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Originally Posted by gulliBell
I'm still puzzled why a high net worth individual would be stooging around in a 30 year old helicopter instead of ponying up $16M of loose change for a pimped up latest and greatest 139 with 2 guys up the front.
I think probably because to him it was a flash big black helicopter with a smart VIP interior. I doubt he knew much about helicopters themselves; what models are available, avionics etc.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:05
  #108 (permalink)  
 
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If this is any more than yet another IIMC at low level, an atttempted turnback/180 and resultant CFIT, I will be very surprised.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:06
  #109 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by gulliBell
I'm still puzzled why a high net worth individual would be stooging around in a 30 year old helicopter instead of ponying up $16M of loose change for a pimped up latest and greatest 139 with 2 guys up the front.
True, but certainly no guarantee - just look at the recent Bahamas and UK AW139 accidents
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:10
  #110 (permalink)  
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Gee, lot of fantasy in speculation from some here , including the daily mail , that obviously do not know how ATC works and what is Special VFR.
Special VFR for a Heli is absolutely normal , you need to stay away from clouds and 1 Mile 1,5km ( less than a NM) visibility . both Burbank and Van Nuys reported 2,5 Miles and 1100ft ,, and on teh ATC tape, pilot reported VMC a couple of times, no stress in voice indicating otherwise. Holding was not due to bad weather but to stay out of Burbank class C airspace because of a few dep/arrivals. Not related to accident at all, Socal ATC advising flight was too low was not related to weather or terrain but too low for flight following on radar and possibly even radio /VHF.
If you want to speculate , how about this one : I would say the usual, commercial pressure for destination , entering deteriorating conditions , lost sight of ground and attempted a 180 to get back , wrong side , was too close to he hill for that.

Addition : [email protected] just saw our post crossed , we are on the same line of thought I see
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:13
  #111 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by medod
I think probably because to him it was a flash big black helicopter with a smart VIP interior. I doubt he knew much about helicopters themselves; what models are available, avionics etc.

just a question regarding the flashy black helicopter, and I am sorry I didn't browse through 6 pages to see if anyone else made note.

what paint scheme was this in? we have all seen the black one adorned with nike etc, and the blue and white we all assumed was the original scheme. it definatly looked like a dated corporate scheme.

I see blue and white in the crash scene video. Was the black a temporary wrap for a promotion??
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:20
  #112 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by gulliBell
I'm still puzzled why a high net worth individual would be stooging around in a 30 year old helicopter instead of ponying up $16M of loose change for a pimped up latest and greatest 139 with 2 guys up the front.
Because that's how he likely got to having a high net worth.
Accident like this happen in 139s too, apparently.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:22
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GrayHorizonsHeli, seems it used to go black when Bryant owned it, then he allegedly sold it to an operator and I assume they re-painted it into white/blue
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:43
  #114 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by Callisthenes
Sightseeing.
Awaiting SVFR clearance from Burbank Tower.

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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:45
  #115 (permalink)  
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Originally Posted by 212man
He was 'holding' because of all the IFR FW traffic into one of the airports he was wanting to transit though their zone (can't remember which of the two but it's in the youtube ATC clip).
Van Nuys Airport.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:47
  #116 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by medod
I think probably because to him it was a flash big black helicopter with a smart VIP interior. I doubt he knew much about helicopters themselves; what models are available, avionics etc.
Might be a recommendation by a/his pilot/friends/business partner, whatever. You never know how much personal interest people with a lot of money and a lot of other concerns will take in things they consider tools and which they don't drive personally.

I have not been in business aviation, but colleagues who took that route out of necessity reported that there are charter clients who specifically ask for "a safe pilot" and others who don't because they don't care. I'd suppose if I were a millionaire hiring a pilot I'd ask him to not fly if he has any doubts about safety as I'd value my ass even more than his, but apparently this attitude is not universal. This is in no means directed at Kobe Bryant whom I don't know (not interested in sports) but a more general observation. Maybe continued success breeds a feeling of invincibility.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 13:59
  #117 (permalink)  
 
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https://nypost.com/2020/01/27/kobe-b...ed-as-victims/

Pilot and remaining passengers named. Lots of IMC talk, but as others have mentioned that would have gotten you safely from departure airport to some arrival airport with an approach, not the destination - may as well drive. Two pilots, maybe for the crew-discipline to turn around before losing control, but then you'd be pushing it pretty hard, like SAR hard. I too am puzzled at the speed, like the 109 in New York a while back. I also don't know the background of the pilot - if he had flown pipeline/powerline patrol with a Robbie in the mountains it would be helpful background, or fires with an Astar in heavy smoke, or SAR like we saw in the short video of the highway following helicopter in the UK. Turn left in deteriorating conditions at the bottom of a valley when sitting solo right seat in a S76, hmm, and doing it at anything over 60 knots, again, hope for more insight into this. Rich guys die in helicopters, we read about it in this forum all the time.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 14:09
  #118 (permalink)  
 
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The helicopter was 2/3/3 seating configuration, right? Which is 8 seats. However there were 9 POB. I wonder how that worked.
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Old 27th Jan 2020, 14:29
  #119 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by gulliBell
The helicopter was 2/3/3 seating configuration, right? Which is 8 seats. However there were 9 POB. I wonder how that worked.
The rear bench is certified for 4 pax, armrests up. I would guess they had removed the 2 VIP chairs & credenza unit and fitted a fwd cabin bench seat, worked a UK 76B with this option.

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Old 27th Jan 2020, 15:23
  #120 (permalink)  
 
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Sounds there‘s heavy workload for the PIC.... lot of radio, holding.... and bad ceiling/weahter conditions
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