G-LADZ comes a cropper!!!
 

Unfortunately G-LADZ, an Enstrom 480 owned by some good friends of mine has come a cropper whilst parked at Sleap Airfield today. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

You can read about it here!

Joel

I havn't figured out quite how yet, but that's got to be the helicopter pilot's fault.

Interesting story, any chance on shedding more light on the reference to the "gearbox failure in flight" bit?
cheers tet

Hi TET

You can read about the gearbox situation here

Joel :ok:

.....the helicopter pilots fault
 

In response to Mr Optimists post above, I was the pilot who had just flown LADZ into Sleap and I am sure you must be right. I had flagrantly (and with scant consideration for other pilots) left the helicopter in what can only be described as 'exactly the right place'. On all future visits to this and indeed any other airfields we will be sure to leave it in 'exactly the wrong place' where I can be sure that it won't be driven into.:rolleyes:

Mike, sorry to hear about the accident. :(

Did you put a hi-viz vest on it? :}

Cheers

Whirls

When we bought new main blades for the machine recently we paid considerably more for the hi-vis paint option - didn't appear to help much!!

Sorry to hear about G-LADZ Joel nice machine , Im sure they wouldnt have hit it if youd left it in the eye catching burgundy

Personally, I blame the pilot!
But which one? ...........
Regrettably, it was just one of those things.
It's a pi**er, but hopefully some good will come of it.

Joel

From now on we will leave the heli in a low hover whilst we go in for a cuppa.

Actually, I recommend a high hover!

Joel:ok:

Good point given that the cafe is on the first floor.

It looks like the heli will be recovered tomorrow to engineering and we are hoping to have an initial damage assessment by Tuesday.

i bet g-ladz is getting sick of sitting on the back of a bloody lorry!

I hope G-LADZ make a speedy recovery!

Non pilot (at the minute) question:
Joel, how does this, and G-LADZ's previous incident work from an AAIB point of view? Is it mandatory that the AAIB are notified of all incidents?

Yes, it's an AAIB reportable incident although I doubt they will investigate as thankfully there were no injuries.

Joel

G-Ladz
 

Jeeze, perhaps the blades dazzled the old boy?

Oddly enough, they were specifically painted that way to make it more bloody visible!!!

Perhaps a refund might be in order!

Joel:ok:

Jamie, I am a part owner of G-LADZ and was there on the day of the accident. I logged the incident with the AAIB over the phone on Sunday Morning. Although it was a reportable incident, they will not investigate further as thankfully nobody was hurt. I have also spoken to the 88 year old pilot of the Cessna who was shocked and embarrassed but otherwise ok. The aircraft is being recovered today, and i expect to have a preliminary damage report within the next few days.

Bloody hell, Steve, I thought you were the only octogenarian still flying.

Joel;)


anyway I'm glad to see G-LADZ is in good hands as per the latest photographs of her :-

http://i551.photobucket.com/albums/i...ADZ_poorly.jpg

Did he explain what or why it happened?

Have to feel some sympathy for him as well