RAF Helicopter Crash
 

Rescue 137, a Seaking from Lossiemouth apparantly crashed yesterday with 5 POB just after take off.
It appears the tail rotor section "fell off"
Reports indicated that all the crew are safe and well but a bit shaken.
Does anyone have any other info?

Well at least everyone is o.k.
Also happened more than once to Navy Sea Kings in the seventies!
Is this what happens to elderly aircraft?

'RAF Helicopter Crash'
 

Maybe 'incident' would be more accurate?

The pilot used his skill to avoid a crash. :ok:



The story was reported yesterday - BBC

Sounds like some excellent flying!:D

Pat on the back for the Pilot Glad all safe and well

I Have heard that ALL SAR Seakings Navy/RAF are grounded except for lifesaving flights.

If its true that they are gounded that pretty serious. They wouldnt normally ground an aircraft within 24 Hours of the accident unless they were convinced there was a serious fault...

The two that are operating out of the secret wiltshire airbase are still flying.

As has already been said, the crew are all safe and well, which is the main thing. As for the technical matters, the Board of Inquiry is being conviened tomorrow morning, so the causes will out from there. All RAF SAR assents were put on 'Operations Only' as a precautionary measure - in my understanding, Royal Naval Seakings were not subject to this. This restriction will be re-visited in the morning.

I hope that clears things up a bit.

NV

Emmmmmmmmm whats it got todo with the S-61:hmm: why are u dragging them into it they were made by a different company, I think I'm right in saying that a 61 tail won't fit a Seaking ;)

Rescue 1, you are quite correct in stating that the tail pylon from the S61 rises at a different angle to that of the Sea King, I don't know about the actual attachment points, though!

Well done to Pilot and great to hear no casualties.
Happiest days of my service life spent on 202 at Lossie and by far the best and most rewarding flying you could ever hope for.
Well done again to all concerned.
TSM
ps How bad is the Cab? Cat 4/5?

Allegedly it had a technical problem earlier in the day and was on a flight test. Shortly after lifting to the hover it became virtually uncontrollable and the pilot threw it onto the ground. The tail became detached due to the severity of the landing, but it remained upright and all the crew jumped out OK.

Fantastic,
Well done to all concerned.
TSM

The decision to ground the aircraft initially came from the ARCC, next morning IPT allowed Navy Seakings to fly (not sure if their decision also covered RAF ones).
When I left work yesterday RAF aircraft were still not flying but I had just flown for 2 hrs in a clapped out Mk5 - why the difference?

believe the crew did an excellant job, look forward with interest to see the photos and read the report.

Meanwhile Happy flying;)

The BBC report is almost completely inaccurate so don't read too much in to it. The aircraft was not on an airtest it was getting airborne on a training sortie. As for the rest of the details, we can wait for the BOI to find out what happened but you can be sure that the TR didn't drop or fall off.

Certainly the photos I've seen (sorry can't say more or indicate source) seem consistent with a main rotor blade cutting into the tail.

http://www.highglide.co.uk/seaking.htm
There are some photos on the above link.

Taken from near the 10 runway end looking towards the SAR hanger
http://www.highglide.co.uk/images/sk1.jpg


Looking north from the SAR hangar
http://www.highglide.co.uk/images/sk2.jpg

Follow this link for some better photos - http://www.scalerchelis.com/forum/in...opic=6347&st=0

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...escue137_3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...escue137_1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...escue137_4.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...escue137_2.jpg

Teeteringhead - I can't see any evidence of main rotors touching the tail as I'm sure (from when I used to fly such beasts) they would have severed the TRDS much further aft, than the break in these pics. Also, there's no evidence of the TRDS cowling having any blade impact damage from the side - it's just been opened up at the break. Are your photos more detailed than these??
Can't pre-judge, but looks like T/R was turning when it hit, shearing TRDS very quickly & spilling large puddle of HYD oil at the impact point - less than 90 deg rotation after that, breaking the tail wheel (no surprise), before they came to rest.
Big respect for the handling pilot, though. :ok:

I agree with Zorab 64 - The tail probably sheared through impact shock loading transmitted to it as the ac hit the ground possibly tail rotor first? But lets let the BOI sort out the detail and just say well done to the crew! Oh I think you will find it was pretty out of control and thats why the tail hit the ground not because someone was careless.

I've flown with both the pilots. Well done you 2, you know who you are!

Have to check the log book to see if I flew that one, but well done lads, a real brown trouser moment!:}