Errr... uh... getting back on topic...
 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v639/tyro303/R44.jpg :E :E

I've seen a 500 that suffered a tailboom strike and didn't take the tail off completely. What did happen was that the tail rotor and 'T' tail rotated through 90 degrees. The tail boom metal tore like a tin can. The tail rotor and gearbox never touched the ground even though they were at full RPM and were used again.
It looked like some kind of strange Chinook. (and yes I have pictures, but at present they are on the other side of the planet)

To believe that someone had a tail boom strike, cutting through 50% of the tail and then flew home is very hard to swallow. Show us the pictures!

Maybe the inspecting pilot was blinded by panic and all sense of safety went away with the wind.

Hi trackdirect,

I was in the B47 with Mr Selfish.

It was in the Rocky area and wasn't yellow.

Very scary and yes we both agreed when we was home and safe that shock must have made us get back in and fly.
We've both learnt from that one.

Huey

P&B,
Yep, kick the pilot up the ar$e, tell the owner how close he came to infamy and generally scare the wits out of the boys so that they realise the depth of their stupidity.

Don't forget that we have all stuffed up in the past, will again to varying degrees in the future and are not immune to criticism.

I have seen on more than a few occasions the loudest castigator of a peer after an incident or accident have the next major infraction.

Give us the pics mate; we can all learn a little.

Gibbo

Huey,

Must have been another one then, the one I remember was at YPMQ and the owner and an instructor were aboard, flipped upside down due to turbulence or something and the owner sold it not long after... lost his nerve!!

Also seen it at YBHM but this was also due to turbulence with hand off the collective.... didn't end up upside down but put PAX head through the bubble.

I have heard the tail boom strike is quite true, apparently the machine is going to be written off as mentioned in earlier posts, not sure about the details of the flight though.

so pitch and break you wee quite correct in part of your details anyway

if this story is true, and i doubt it, then imagine what would have happened if the machine crashed on the flight home.

it would have been put down to main rotor divergence or possibly delamination, the r44 would suffer very adverse and unwarranted publicity, and nobody would be able to prove any different.

like everybody else i would still like to see a photograph. hasn't someone got a phone camera?????

you would not carry on flying with even a small dent from a main rotor blade strike. if it is true the pilot is an imbecile.

:yuk: :yuk: :yuk:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../deadhorse.gif


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../worthless.gif

I wondered over to the hangar again yesterday; and yes the aircraft is still there BUT the offending tail boom has been covered/taped over to keep prying eyes away. Was told the aircraft is to be written off (old ASTRO model so not worth the repair effort) and was also told the aircraft has been wrapped up as it is to be subject to an ATSB inspection and investigation. Once again chaps; it did happen but I guess we're all going to have to wait for the illusive pics! Maybe the eventual ATSB report will appease some of you.

Heres one from the past
 

After reading the following accident report it makes you wonder and cringe how this machine did not crumple after its TAIL rotor strike. Thanks for the info John, tail rotor strike sounds more feasible.

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...22X00993&key=1

If you have the time, read the full narrative.




:(

i wouldnt fly an aicraft with something like the alternator belt missing. let alone half the tailcone.. and i bet this guy is the first one to complain when his and everyones insurance is so high..:mad:

JE
 

John,

Not sure where you got your info but it is incorrect. The main rotor blades have struck the boom in this instance and there is no damage to the tail rotor blades. The boom has been all-but severed at the main rotor blade tip contact point AND the beacon has been smashed also by this impact......tail rotor strike COULD NOT cause this damage.
That is not to say that the accident occurred because the stinger has contacted the ground during a heavy landing causing the sudden stoppage of the downwards travel of the tail BOOM section causing the rotor blades to strike the boom. There is no indication that the blades struck the drive shaft although the miss must have been messured in micro mm's.
The major point in question here is the decision to return the aircraft to YSBK under it's own steam!

I drove out to Bankstown myself yesterday!! Yep she's a right off alright!!!!!
:(


This wasn't just a bad command decision! The PIC needs a good kick up the Arse.....:mad: :mad:

:ok:

To the people who have seen it, stop teasing us!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2.../worthless.gif

Soon????

there you go,

http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com.au/pprune/44tb.jpg

http://www.bluetonguehelicopters.com...rune/44tb2.jpg


:E

Well it looks like the danger sticker is in the right place anyway!.

makes you cringe doesnt it!!..brrrrr

Wow... okay, we have clear and substantial damage. Now, can anybody verify that this ship was actually flown post impact? I've met some folks in life that couldn't find their own arse with two hands and a search warrent, but I still have a hard time believing any pilot would fly this bird after a blade strike like that!

P.S. Any chances of getting a picture of the blades?

the damage was not as bad as that post impact, most of the damage was done on the flight home, apparently??:mad:

All I can say is that those pilot's must have a couple of screws missing from upstrairs... would the BIG hole in the boom not be an indication that something wrong?

HH:cool: