Helicopter down, in the Hudson
Discussion
This has just popped up in my news feed, Looks like a helicopter has gone down in the Hudson 
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c871gxg09jjt
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/c871gxg09jjt
The footage is shocking and weird, it just falls from the sky sans rotors or tail boom as though its been attacked in a GTA videogame
I did see one comment that it was a Bell 206 with a teeter rotor.... Which went on to explain the rather concerning fact that a teeter head design can allow the main blades to strike the tail boom in edge cases like an emergency bunt manoeuvre...
I did see one comment that it was a Bell 206 with a teeter rotor.... Which went on to explain the rather concerning fact that a teeter head design can allow the main blades to strike the tail boom in edge cases like an emergency bunt manoeuvre...
The discussion amongst professional pilots is mostly on PPrune.
And, yes, there is speculation about ‘mast-bumping’ - a very rare condition that can afflict a 2-blade ‘teetering’ rotorhead if mis-handled - although it could be a catastrophic failure in the gearbox or tail boom.
Although the Bell design is does suffer this risk factor, it is more commonly associated with Robinsons.
Most other helicopters have multi-blade fully articulated or rigid rotorheads, which cannot generate mast-bumping.
And, yes, there is speculation about ‘mast-bumping’ - a very rare condition that can afflict a 2-blade ‘teetering’ rotorhead if mis-handled - although it could be a catastrophic failure in the gearbox or tail boom.
Although the Bell design is does suffer this risk factor, it is more commonly associated with Robinsons.
Most other helicopters have multi-blade fully articulated or rigid rotorheads, which cannot generate mast-bumping.
gmasterfunk said:
Me and a mate and some work colleagues have flown in that on occasion.
Blade to/ from jfk.
Sobering. Sad to hear a family were in it.
I used to use Blade to get to the Hamptons - great service. Blade to/ from jfk.
Sobering. Sad to hear a family were in it.
Totally tragic that a whole family has been wiped out - and to think there were initially 2 survivors the horror they must have gone through is unimaginable.
The New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal has since called for a ban on sightseeing helicopter tours which I think is overly dramatic- hundreds of flights a day, over the last few decades have operated perfectly safely.
Cold said:
The (still unverified) video shows the body of the helicopter falling upside down into the water and the tail assembly completely detached with its rotor still spinning.
That first pic - that's not the tail assembly ringed in red, that's the main rotor and gearbox ! Looks a lot like the main rotor and gearbox completely ripped right out of the fuselage
Edited by MartG on Friday 11th April 14:02
Petrus1983 said:
gmasterfunk said:
Me and a mate and some work colleagues have flown in that on occasion.
Blade to/ from jfk.
Sobering. Sad to hear a family were in it.
I used to use Blade to get to the Hamptons - great service. Blade to/ from jfk.
Sobering. Sad to hear a family were in it.
Totally tragic that a whole family has been wiped out - and to think there were initially 2 survivors the horror they must have gone through is unimaginable.
The New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal has since called for a ban on sightseeing helicopter tours which I think is overly dramatic- hundreds of flights a day, over the last few decades have operated perfectly safely.
I hope, for their sakes, they were already unconscious when it happened.
This is my own personal view on Helicopters.
And I certainly don’t wish to offend any techies or pilots on this forum.
My own view is:
I remember years ago, mid nineties - I guess. Reading an article in a prominent F1 Racing Maybe Autosport. It related to a guy who specialised in Life Assurance etc for F1 drivers. And this guy was very reluctant to get involved with drivers who had their own Helicopters.
His view was, and it struck me: “ Too many moving parts”
I really do get that they; ( Helicopters) are really versatile pieces of kit.
And extremely handy to have at your disposal.
But the maintenance is essential and extremely costly.
That extremely wealthy UK Football club owner in the UK?
Tail Rotor failure.
If one of those many moving components breaks, it’s usually a catastrophic ending due to the nature of how these machines keep airborne .
I certainly would never get in one.
And I certainly don’t wish to offend any techies or pilots on this forum.
My own view is:
I remember years ago, mid nineties - I guess. Reading an article in a prominent F1 Racing Maybe Autosport. It related to a guy who specialised in Life Assurance etc for F1 drivers. And this guy was very reluctant to get involved with drivers who had their own Helicopters.
His view was, and it struck me: “ Too many moving parts”
I really do get that they; ( Helicopters) are really versatile pieces of kit.
And extremely handy to have at your disposal.
But the maintenance is essential and extremely costly.
That extremely wealthy UK Football club owner in the UK?
Tail Rotor failure.
If one of those many moving components breaks, it’s usually a catastrophic ending due to the nature of how these machines keep airborne .
I certainly would never get in one.
Dbag101 said:
I’ve just been sent a video ( as yet unverified) that shows some serious dick manoeuvres, just before the main rotor detached. If it ( the video ) turns out to be real, questions will be asked.
Not the same helicopter not even the same model, it doesn't have skids it's a retractable gear type, like an Agusta AW109.Helicopter travel is fundamentally very safe.
It is estimated that, everyday, there are up to 100,000 helicopter movements, worldwide - commercial, military, offshore, police, emergency services, heads of state, VIPs, celebrities, sports, mountain rescue, construction, air taxis, sightseeing, training, filming, private use, firefighting, etc, etc……
They are the cleverest form of flight, able to hover, spot-turn, climb and land vertically, fly backwards, sideways and forwards …….
Yes, this does make them quite complex, but most have a proven, reliable design, and rigid maintenance programs, and flight training emphasises emergency procedures for both engine and tail rotor failure both of which are rare.
However, any helicopter incident tends to make the news, perhaps giving a misleading understanding of the high levels of actual safety.
If there is a risk it is probably the human factor. Most incidents are due to pilot error, often coupled with adverse weather conditions.
Yesterday’s accident is very tragic but it shouldn’t distort the true value of safe, everyday helicopter travel.
It is estimated that, everyday, there are up to 100,000 helicopter movements, worldwide - commercial, military, offshore, police, emergency services, heads of state, VIPs, celebrities, sports, mountain rescue, construction, air taxis, sightseeing, training, filming, private use, firefighting, etc, etc……
They are the cleverest form of flight, able to hover, spot-turn, climb and land vertically, fly backwards, sideways and forwards …….
Yes, this does make them quite complex, but most have a proven, reliable design, and rigid maintenance programs, and flight training emphasises emergency procedures for both engine and tail rotor failure both of which are rare.
However, any helicopter incident tends to make the news, perhaps giving a misleading understanding of the high levels of actual safety.
If there is a risk it is probably the human factor. Most incidents are due to pilot error, often coupled with adverse weather conditions.
Yesterday’s accident is very tragic but it shouldn’t distort the true value of safe, everyday helicopter travel.
The issue with helicopters is the failure modes (unless the pilot acts quickly and dumps the collective to autorotate) are usually pretty catastrophic - fixed wing aircraft usually have the ability to glide if something goes wrong, which substantially expands the options available.
...and yes, they are typically more complex than an equivalent size fixed-wing because of what they can do.
...and yes, they are typically more complex than an equivalent size fixed-wing because of what they can do.
Gassing Station | Boats, Planes & Trains | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff