Ops-Normal.org

Undried Plum wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 14, 2018 3:57 pm

I understand that.

What I was wondering is whether the client's administrators who handled the contractual side of the aircraft's ops thought they were hiring two helicopter pilots, not one.

I doubt it. To present oneself as a commercial helicopter pilot when one is not, despite being a commercial fixed wing pilot, would be fraudulent in such a contractual situation would it not? Moreover the young lady had a high aviation profile <see link>> and was also well known to be the pilot's girlfriend. I am sure everybody knew what the score was.

https://london.mfa.gov.pl/en/news/polka ... lechowicz/

Caco

Boac wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 14, 2018 12:55 pm

For C16 or FD2 - how would the AAIB know about an 'attempted' left turn? Was there an FDR on the machine?

Late on parade as usual and the others have correctly answered the query.

Re the helicopter being a certified single pilot machine and the owner possibly requiring a second pilot on board, back in the early 80's I know of one operator of a certified single pilot North Sea helicopter type who was required by the client to provide two type qualified pilots on board. On an odd occasion when a second pilot was not available a type engineer was dressed up in a pilot's survival suit to play the part. Legally okay as far as the CAA would be concerned; contractually very risky.

No names, no pack drill. Not saying it was right, but it did happen.

No, Caco, not setting a trap for you. Yes I read the interim report and I cannot deduce from that that the pilot attempted to turn the machine to the left, and the Sun video does not show any yaw to the left (as far as I can see) before a rapid yaw right, which appears to follow a very small right turn. At that point I propose the pilot would have been rapidly applying significant left pedal! Hence the query on the FDR which I guess all assume shows a left pedal before the failure? I had surmised the tail rotor ran fully 'right' at the point he yawed right. However, the AAIB will know. As they say "The cause of the apparent loss of yaw control has yet to be determined."

Regarding the 'second pilot', I recall my days flogging round Scotland in an 'Air Taxi' with Loganair flogging around with their 'second crew member' - the 'Radio Operator' in the right seat - often a PPL trainee or similar!

Boac wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 14, 2018 5:00 pm

No, Caco, not setting a trap for you. Yes I read the interim report and I cannot deduce from that that the pilot attempted to turn the machine to the left, and the Sun video does not show any yaw to the left (as far as I can see) before a rapid yaw right, which appears to follow a very small right turn. At that point I propose the pilot would have been rapidly applying significant left pedal! Hence the query on the FDR which I guess all assume shows a left pedal before the failure? I had surmised the tail rotor ran fully 'right' at the point he yawed right. However, the AAIB will know. As they say "The cause of the apparent loss of yaw control has yet to be determined."

You know I was just joshing you and your point is well made.


Caco

Latest report

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-46471934

The BBC news report gives brief extracts of today's further AAIB Special Bulletin S2/2018 published 6 December 2018.

The actual document is downloadable from https://www.gov.uk/government/news/upda ... ent-g-vskp

Thanks for that 603DX - what a nightmare. Full right yaw input and nothing he could do about it.

If the the bellcrank was able to move beyond the pitch stops is it possible that hydraulic servo could have turned the tail rotor at 90 degrees to the airflow in its plane of rotation thereby causing enormous stress on the rotor and mechanism that might have caused catastrophic failure of the rotor itself?

Caco

As you say, FD2, what a nightmare. Even if it had happened in the cruise he would have been unlikely to get away with it. Airflow over the fuselage would assist in possibly restricting the effect of the yaw but as soon as you slow down.....

Caco - I can't answer that one but I suppose when you get an emergency like this which nobody foresaw then anything is possible.

Final report.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... inspectors

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/aaib ... tober-2018

Still shocking after 5 years...

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news ... nt-8729262

There are some problems which it’s just not possible to recover from. This was one of them.

What an excellently produced video. Even I could understand that. I echo FD2's comments. Sometimes it's just not your day. Such a tragic accident.