If you're scud-running, don't follow rising terrain.
Rule # 1 of trying to cross a ridge in poor weather - climb enough to see what's on the other side before committing to crossing so you have an escape route back the way you came in. If you can't get high enough to see the other side then turn round.
Judging by the audio, they were lucky enough to escape alive but only through luck since there was no judgement there at all.
Judging by the audio, they were lucky enough to escape alive but only through luck since there was no judgement there at all.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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This one it would appear...
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/281350
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-62494931
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/281350
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-62494931
A presidential candidate in Panama posted a dramatic plea for help on social media after his helicopter crashed into the country's jungle.
Dimitri Flores, a independent candidate seeking to stand in elections in 2024, posted the video from the scene after his aircraft crashed in a mountainous area in western Panama.
The helicopter was carrying six people, including Mr Flores, all of whom have since been rescued.
Dimitri Flores, a independent candidate seeking to stand in elections in 2024, posted the video from the scene after his aircraft crashed in a mountainous area in western Panama.
The helicopter was carrying six people, including Mr Flores, all of whom have since been rescued.
Apart from scud-running being generally 'unhealthy', the titling of that clip is wrong - it should read 'deliberately' , not 'inadvertently' !! 
Shades of the NZ glider clip !
Shades of the NZ glider clip !
Below the Glidepath - not correcting
If only there were some way to slow a helicopter down, so you could take a cautious peek over the other side of the ridge line, instead of barrelling into IMC...
Hughes is right....I always eased up to the ridge top so I could see what was on the other side...and if it was ok...over and down.....if not slide back off down from where I had come from....always slow enough to stop and turn around or being able to maneuver to maintain visual contact with the ground.
While flying a 500E in the Pacific Northwest....know for its beautiful clear rain and snow free weather in the Summer.....I was asked by my Passengers one day why I did not just fly high and direct to our destinations.
I explained that come the Fall and Winter....we would not be able to do the high and direct thing and I wanted to know what my inclement weather routes were and know them by landmarks that would be above the snow pack.
Once they got to enjoying seeing Deer,Elk, Bears, and the occasion Cougar....they got to enjoying it instead of a boring cramped ride fighting airsickness....and come the rain, fog, snow, sleet, and low cloud....and we continued making our regular runs without problems....they embraced what we were doing.
Helicopters have unique capabilities but you use them with due care and circumspection.
Most Rules exist because someone did not.
While flying a 500E in the Pacific Northwest....know for its beautiful clear rain and snow free weather in the Summer.....I was asked by my Passengers one day why I did not just fly high and direct to our destinations.
I explained that come the Fall and Winter....we would not be able to do the high and direct thing and I wanted to know what my inclement weather routes were and know them by landmarks that would be above the snow pack.
Once they got to enjoying seeing Deer,Elk, Bears, and the occasion Cougar....they got to enjoying it instead of a boring cramped ride fighting airsickness....and come the rain, fog, snow, sleet, and low cloud....and we continued making our regular runs without problems....they embraced what we were doing.
Helicopters have unique capabilities but you use them with due care and circumspection.
Most Rules exist because someone did not.
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I really think the title of this thread is at fault
"If you are Scud Running..."
Nobody should be scud running! Its inherently dangerous as this video graphically indicates. There are limits, fly to them! Any other advice is superfluous.
How many helicopters, military and civil have ended up in a heap through this sheer folly.
Darwinism at it most basic form.
"If you are Scud Running..."
Nobody should be scud running! Its inherently dangerous as this video graphically indicates. There are limits, fly to them! Any other advice is superfluous.
How many helicopters, military and civil have ended up in a heap through this sheer folly.
Darwinism at it most basic form.
Thread Starter
I really think the title of this thread is at fault
"If you are Scud Running..."
Nobody should be scud running! Its inherently dangerous as this video graphically indicates. There are limits, fly to them! Any other advice is superfluous.
How many helicopters, military and civil have ended up in a heap through this sheer folly.
Darwinism at it most basic form.
"If you are Scud Running..."
Nobody should be scud running! Its inherently dangerous as this video graphically indicates. There are limits, fly to them! Any other advice is superfluous.
How many helicopters, military and civil have ended up in a heap through this sheer folly.
Darwinism at it most basic form.
Avoid imitations
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Well quite. He just charged on into that big bowl of grey. Fixated on clearing the ridge and assumed if that was clear, the bases on the other side would be higher. Bad assumption.
I'd also add that depending on the type you're flying (left seat / right seat?) ... I would always try to have my escape route on my side. Just helps with SA when you need it most.
Yeah, you shouldn't do it.
Darwin Award was promptly awarded...
But I'm wondering, to the left there was much more light - so obviously less cloud.
If I would have been in that situation - I would have gone left first instead pushing into the grey....
So if you ever get caught out - and can't put the helicopter safely down - don't go to fast, keep the option of turning around and look for low ground and less clouds.....
Darwin Award was promptly awarded...
But I'm wondering, to the left there was much more light - so obviously less cloud.
If I would have been in that situation - I would have gone left first instead pushing into the grey....
So if you ever get caught out - and can't put the helicopter safely down - don't go to fast, keep the option of turning around and look for low ground and less clouds.....
And don't cross a ridge unless you can see clear ground/sky the other side.
Watch the side slip string on windscreen prior to the impact. pause and play as it goes up the mountain.
Interesting as the helicopter is yawing at the top of the peak.
Interesting as the helicopter is yawing at the top of the peak.
Not a pilot. But I have spent quite a bit of time hiking in the local mountains (Pacific Northwest Cascades). I've seen quite a few clouds passing over a ridge with what might be sufficient clearance to fit underneath. And then the wind pattern shifts and the clouds pour down the leeward side, hugging the ground.
Around 20 years ago at the pre worlds flown out of St Aubin one of the top pilots crossed a col in the alps maritime into orographic cloud and lost it. It was probably a lee side phenomena. Unfortunately the french insisted on his gyro instruments being covered or removed for the comp which might have saved him.
I was once engulfed in orographic cloud low down after flying off the beach in Kerry..fortunately I had a sensitive gps which helped me keep my wings level which allowed me to clear the mountain behind. I had replaced the turn and bank with an artificial horizon but didn’t have the time for it to erect.
It was a flash over with a lump of moist air condensing as it lifted. I had been at least 100 yds in front of the cloud which I thought was safe.
Since then I’ve spent many hours parawaiting in and out of cloud on mountains..it’s unpredictable…
I was once engulfed in orographic cloud low down after flying off the beach in Kerry..fortunately I had a sensitive gps which helped me keep my wings level which allowed me to clear the mountain behind. I had replaced the turn and bank with an artificial horizon but didn’t have the time for it to erect.
It was a flash over with a lump of moist air condensing as it lifted. I had been at least 100 yds in front of the cloud which I thought was safe.
Since then I’ve spent many hours parawaiting in and out of cloud on mountains..it’s unpredictable…
Not a pilot. But I have spent quite a bit of time hiking in the local mountains (Pacific Northwest Cascades). I've seen quite a few clouds passing over a ridge with what might be sufficient clearance to fit underneath. And then the wind pattern shifts and the clouds pour down the leeward side, hugging the ground.
We used to routinely hover up the downwind side of the mountain to get to the resupply pad on top.....as there seemed to always be some clear air underneath the curling cloud coming from the upwind side which had solid cloud being blown into the upwind side of the mountain.
Combat Rules applied....not peace time Rules.
Combat Rules applied....not peace time Rules.