And this is why we have Aircrewmen in helos...

[helolumpy]

Would love to be on this AMB, looks like an open and shut case!

http://m.youtube.com/?rdm=4oholjadb&reload=3#/watch?v=EsfUsGU9GDQ

 

[C420sailor]

Bad link.

 

[Flying Toaster]

Bad link.

Fixed-

Raw footage-

Looked like he either wasn't belted in or that seat didn't stand up all that well.

 

[C420sailor]

Wow. Looks like his seat/harness failed?

 

[squorch2]

More likely he unlocked (or wasn't wearing) his harness to get a better angle. He really needed another dude in the helo or a different approach angle.

 

[Flugelman]

Interesting how the tail boom failed downward as quickly as it did as soon as the blade impacted something. Some gyroscopic forces, perhaps?

 

[Pags]

More likely he unlocked (or wasn't wearing) his harness to get a better angle. He really needed another dude in the helo or a different approach angle.

Hard to say without seeing what other obstacles may have been in his way. As hard as it i for us as Naval Helo pilots to fathom, single pilot ops are pretty common on the civie side.

Interesting how the tail boom failed downward as quickly as it did as soon as the blade impacted something. Some gyroscopic forces, perhaps?

As soon as the rotor system hit something the entire drive train either stopped or failed catastrophically at some point. There was probably a lot of torque going through the tail boom that caused it to rip off. Downward is more than likely due to gravity. The tail is heaviest at it's end where all the heavy pieces, like gearboxes and tail rotor system are.

 

[Brett327]

It was pretty amazing to watch the various components of the drivetrain disintegrate and shake themselves apart. Also sounded like the turbine continued to run (albeit under apparent distress) for a bit after all violent motion stopped.

Brett

 

[Flugelman]

It was pretty amazing to watch the various components of the drivetrain disintegrate and shake themselves apart. Also sounded like the turbine continued to run (albeit under apparent distress) for a bit after all violent motion stopped.

Brett

Just saw it on the cable news here. The clip they ran did indeed show the exhaust from the turbine even as the rescuers were climbing into the cabin.

 

[BigIron]

Helos are dangerous as hell....

 

[phrogdriver]

Just saw it on the cable news here. The clip they ran did indeed show the exhaust from the turbine even as the rescuers were climbing into the cabin.

That's why every so often a squadron gets tapped to give new CFR guys an orientation, and the gouge on where the T-handles are, etc.

 

[hlg6016]

Couldn't see if he actually fell free from the bird. My impression was he had the lap belt on but not the shoulder belts?

 

[bunk22]

He walked away is my understanding.

 

[fc2spyguy]

Couldn't see if he actually fell free from the bird. My impression was he had the lap belt on but not the shoulder belts?

If you look it appears that he ends up in the back of the cabin. I didn't see anyone else in the helo. In fact, it appears the entire seat failed in the impact. You can see him and the seat go backwards.