Helicopter clouts tree with its fenestron
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 518
Likes: 50
From: London/Atlanta
Helicopter clouts tree with its fenestron
Helicopter hits a tree with its fenestron, not sure if he/she was landing or taking off, seems they got away with it.
see video link below.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Helicopters...its_palm_tree/
Not sure the guy walking past at the end of the video realizes how serious it could have been!
see video link below.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Helicopters...its_palm_tree/
Not sure the guy walking past at the end of the video realizes how serious it could have been!
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,144
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From: UK
(I am not a heli pilot); Just for my interest; how does one navigate in such confined spaces, near trees etc?
It is obviously vital not to stray towards the obstacles, so how do you ensure that? Do you fix on a feature on the ground underneath the heli and keep it directly below you, (but obviously where you can see it)? Tricky to do on grass, I would think.
Secondly, this heli is operating in what looks like a car park with members of joe public walking past very close by, and with no marshalling; is that sensible? And was it sensible to use that particular car park - surrounded by tall trees - in the first place?
It is obviously vital not to stray towards the obstacles, so how do you ensure that? Do you fix on a feature on the ground underneath the heli and keep it directly below you, (but obviously where you can see it)? Tricky to do on grass, I would think.
Secondly, this heli is operating in what looks like a car park with members of joe public walking past very close by, and with no marshalling; is that sensible? And was it sensible to use that particular car park - surrounded by tall trees - in the first place?
Joined: Aug 2009
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 87
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From: australia
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 446
Likes: 100
From: South East Asia
Nasty place to land (light poles !!!). my preference would be to land somewhere else and "wheel it" into the site
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 41
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From: United Kingdom
I can't be the only one wondering why such a confined site for an event with helicopters? With the light poles it wouldn't even be the tail rotor that concerns me, it'd be easy enough to strike the main rotor.
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 431
Likes: 41
From: yes
A few things I have done:1. Visit LZ prior to landing.
2. Use a ground guide.
3. Get out and walk the LZ for obstructions.
4. No hovering turns or movement inside a confined area.
5. Ground-handle the aircraft to final position.
And I truly hope appropriate maintenance personnel inspected the aircraft prior to the next flight.
2. Use a ground guide.
3. Get out and walk the LZ for obstructions.
4. No hovering turns or movement inside a confined area.
5. Ground-handle the aircraft to final position.
And I truly hope appropriate maintenance personnel inspected the aircraft prior to the next flight.
"Just a pilot"
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 633
Likes: 8
From: Jefferson GA USA
I am not a heli pilot); Just for my interest; how does one navigate in such confined spaces, near trees etc?...
What 'JimEli' said, above, additionally-
I would land as far forward as mandatory rotor clearance (10-15') would allow, and laterally centered. Often (but not always, and never without pilot checking) there is room to maneuver, reposition, turn, etc. I require a specific, visually obvious and fixed ground reference to base those maneuvers on.
I believe in a pilot ground recon whenever practical and possible, preferably engine off and rotors stopped. This isn't always a good choice, such as when one has landed on a main artery or single access, in which case one lands as far to the side as necessary to allow traffic movement.
As posted earlier, use a ground guide but with discretion- I've had occasions when the ground guide stopped guidance because of the belief that the pilot was better aware of hazards.
What 'JimEli' said, above, additionally-
I would land as far forward as mandatory rotor clearance (10-15') would allow, and laterally centered. Often (but not always, and never without pilot checking) there is room to maneuver, reposition, turn, etc. I require a specific, visually obvious and fixed ground reference to base those maneuvers on.
I believe in a pilot ground recon whenever practical and possible, preferably engine off and rotors stopped. This isn't always a good choice, such as when one has landed on a main artery or single access, in which case one lands as far to the side as necessary to allow traffic movement.
As posted earlier, use a ground guide but with discretion- I've had occasions when the ground guide stopped guidance because of the belief that the pilot was better aware of hazards.
Joined: Sep 2004
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL(H)
Posts: 2,378
Likes: 881
From: Canada
I have seen many “pilots” who are incapable of lifting off vertically, and hovering there, nor of doing a 360 turn around the tail, nose or mast when required.
Remember hover patterns? We did a lot of those in training.
Remember hover patterns? We did a lot of those in training.
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 10,959
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From: EGDC
I have seen many “pilots” who are incapable of lifting off vertically
A technique taught on Wessex and Sea King - primarily to avoid the risks of dynamic rollover - is to help what will be the 'uphill' skid/wheel off the ground (or at least to light contact) with lateral cyclic as the collective is raised. This gets you closer to the hover attitude before you leave the ground and that cyclic input is reduced as the skid/wheel comes light - normally results in a vertical take off without wobbling.
As ever, looking ahead and not close in to the aircraft helps prevent overcontrolling and crap take offs.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 66
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From: ipswich