Helicopter Flight Information
This domain is for sale. #1 in all relative searches, 12,000 views per month averaging 400 views per day!
|
Helicopter Flight Information This domain is for sale. #1 in all relative searches, 12,000 views per month averaging 400 views per day! |
|
|
We're Going Down!!!This accident occurred March, 2004. As I warn all of my students not to fly low in an air taxi, some do not heed my cautions. Flying nearer the ground gives a false sense of security which is brought on simply by feeling safer through being closer to the ground. The fact of the matter is that it is far more dangerous to be close to the ground than it is to be higher because anytime something goes wrong in aviation it takes altitude to recover, and you better have plenty of altitude when it is needed. I had sold my flight school just prior to the occurrence of this accident. Due to the fact that another instructor was going to be hired to replace me, I gave an exit speech regarding cautious flight habits and safety to the remaining 4 students who would be finishing with the new instructor. I also made arrangements for a high-time, highly experienced, pilot to check out any potential new instructor. The new owner decided to let the instructor go out in the helicopter and familiarize himself with the area; he did not get checked out by the pilot that I had recommended. This new instructor was overconfident; he had a habit of flying low and fast making high bank turns which he called 'high performance maneuvers'. He told the other pilot that these were 'AG' turns. This new instructor had under 400 hours, certainly not enough flight time to be flying this dangerously. All of the students were eager to learn these forbidden maneuvers that I would not teach them, and now that someone would, they were excited. On the morning of this accident, the instructor held a pre-flight briefing and explained the 'high performance maneuvers' that they were about to do. Keep in mind that this instructor had only 400 hours of flight time, absolutely not enough experience under any circumstances do be flying these maneuvers, much less teaching them. They departed the hanger area on the flight and completed several high bank low altitude turns, when suddenly in what would be the final turn, they turned into a downwind. The helicopter quickly lost lift, and settled to the ground hard in a right skid low attitude. The impact drove the skid support upward through the cabin floor, then the helicopter struck the ground on the other skid, and then rolled two times or so. The new school owner, another student, and the girl friend of the student (who was in the helicopter) were observing the flight from the hanger area. Suddenly as the helicopter disappeared from site they observed a lot of flying dirt and debris at which time they jumped in the owners truck and drove to the scene. My advice to all pilots is always the same, "Never fly more aggressively than is necessary for the duty at hand." Do not risk what is not necessary, always fly at an altitude of not less than 500 feet AGL unless the job dictates otherwise. Fly Safe!!
|
Send email to
rb@helicopterflight.net with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
