Helicopter Accident Isle of Wight


Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere

Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,111
Likes: 118
Just seen the video of the crash on the BBC, no tail appendage or gearbox at all, looks like it has been chopped off . Not sure how recoverable that would ever be Gordy, one thing losing drive something else losing the whole dam thing .
Purveyor of Egg Liqueur to Lucifer


Joined: Nov 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 4,753
Likes: 65
From: Alles über die platz
Sad news.
FYI Dave and his mates are investigating…
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CS...ibextid=wwXIfr
FYI Dave and his mates are investigating…
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CS...ibextid=wwXIfr


Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
Joined: Aug 2022
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 2
Likes: 7
From: UK
Reading some of the posts here shows who is not a helicopter pilot.
If it was mast bumping, the rotor would have separated from the mast, and probably chopped up the cabin etc.
Floats, don’t cushion the impact with the ground.
May I politely suggest that this conversation is left to professional helicopter pilots?
Apologies if I’m speaking out of turn.
If it was mast bumping, the rotor would have separated from the mast, and probably chopped up the cabin etc.
Floats, don’t cushion the impact with the ground.
May I politely suggest that this conversation is left to professional helicopter pilots?
Apologies if I’m speaking out of turn.


Joined: Jun 2016
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 387
From: Brantisvogan
On a light aircraft like a Robbie that can go badly wrong, quickly.

Joined: Sep 2009
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 948
Likes: 62
From: N.YORKSHIRE
On behalf of all the perfectly competent PPL H holders out there. Past and present, I'd say you are.
Last edited by Flyingmac; 26th August 2025 at 06:08.
Joined: May 2024
Posts: 1
Likes: 1
From: UK
A very sad day indeed. I have quite a lot of hours in Robinsons, and an Alternator failure was the only issue I ever experienced, thankfully. Hopefully, the surviving pax will be able to give more information as to what happened and allow the AAIB to get to the bottom of why. In the meantime, I wish them a speedy recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with those involved and their families, as well as the operators and the rotary community at this time. It always hits hard and serves as a reminder of the risks we all take in aviation. Rest in Peace.
Joined: Sep 2017
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 1,058
From: Bremen
Joined: Sep 2017
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,026
Likes: 1,058
From: Bremen

Accident helicopter in June 2025

Stabilizer (?) near the body of the helicopter

Bend in a blade
The last two pictures are clipped from the video posted upthread.

Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 75
Likes: 10
From: n.ireland
I wonder are looking at something similar to the Heli accident in New York where there were no survivors?

Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 90
Likes: 66
From: Looking north out to sea
Only a few thousand heli hours and a survivor of a Gazelle engine failure at 30ft going vertically up in a CA.
I would suggest those blades were not turning on impact…. still at 180 to each other and no damage from striking anything whilst rotating, but massive vertical crushing.
Very sad.
Me
I would suggest those blades were not turning on impact…. still at 180 to each other and no damage from striking anything whilst rotating, but massive vertical crushing.
Very sad.
Me


Joined: Dec 2020
Aviation Qualifications: Non-Aircrew
Posts: 1,569
Likes: 1,382
From: Over the rainbow
There have been several catastrophic failures recently leading to loss of life. Have ballistic chutes ever been looked at as a last ditch survival mechanism for helos?
It has also been reported that families of those lost are crowd funding to pay for their repatriation. Would a helicopter flight be considered high risk? Would standard holiday insurance not pay out?
It has also been reported that families of those lost are crowd funding to pay for their repatriation. Would a helicopter flight be considered high risk? Would standard holiday insurance not pay out?
Last edited by DogTailRed2; 26th August 2025 at 12:37.

Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 87
From: Essex
There have been several catastrophic failures recently leading to loss of life. Have ballistic chutes ever been looked at as a last ditch survival mechanism for helos?
It has also been reported that families of those lost are crowd funding to pay for their repatriation. Would a helicopter flight be considered high risk? Would standard holiday insurance not pay out?
It has also been reported that families of those lost are crowd funding to pay for their repatriation. Would a helicopter flight be considered high risk? Would standard holiday insurance not pay out?

Joined: Sep 2018
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 888
Likes: 65
From: California
There was a guy in a 44 once (in the Robby newsletter) who had his TR ripped off and managed to fly for about 45 minutes (he was over dense forest) before doing a 40kts running landing. Still had the vertical stabalizer though.


Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,081
Likes: 189
From: Redding CA, or on a fire somewhere
I suspect that is a down side of the flight school.... We do training every year for stuck left, stuck right, loss of thrust etc, none of which require autorotation.
As most know, (I have written an account on Pprune somewhere), I had stuck left pedal in an Astar with 6 passengers many years ago---landed it safely, no damage.
As most know, (I have written an account on Pprune somewhere), I had stuck left pedal in an Astar with 6 passengers many years ago---landed it safely, no damage.
Last edited by Gordy; 26th August 2025 at 15:48. Reason: Spelling

Joined: Sep 2018
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 888
Likes: 65
From: California
I suspect that is a down side of the flight school.... We do training every year for stuck left, stuck right, loss of thrust etc, none of which require autorotation.
As most know, (I have written an account on Pprune somewhere), I had stuck left pedal in an Astar with 6 passengers many years ago---landed it safely, no damage.
As most know, (I have written an account on Pprune somewhere), I had stuck left pedal in an Astar with 6 passengers many years ago---landed it safely, no damage.


Joined: Oct 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,373
Likes: 930
From: Den Haag



