Coastguard helicopter landing incident - one dead.

[CharlieOneSix]

This is strange - no idea of the circumstances yet. Of course it does not involve a RN Sea King shown in the article.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-60626396

[PHXPhlyer]

Helicopters (operated by Bristow under contract)

10 Sikorsky S-92 - search and rescue
10 Leonardo AW189 - search and rescue
Under a 10-year £1.6 billion contract starting in 2015, Bristow Helicopters assumed responsibility for search and rescue operations within the United Kingdom on behalf of HM Coastguard. Under the contract, Sikorsky S-92 and Leonardo AW189[10] helicopters operate from 10 locations around the British Isles. Ten S-92s are based, two per site, at Stornoway, Sumburgh, Humberside, Newquay and Caernarfon. Ten AW189s operate, two per site, from Prestwick airport, Inverness, Lydd, Lee-on-the-Solent and St Athan. Two aircraft are kept in reserve.[15] All bases are operational 24 hours a day. Half of the new fleet was built in Yeovil, Somerset.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majes ... St%20Athan.

Narrows it down a bit.

PP

[CharlieOneSix]

Plymouth is in the Newquay base patch and they have an S92. The helipad is slightly elevated from the local ground - I’m on my iPhone so I’ll post a photo once I get back to my PC. The S92 downwash is horrendous so I’m wondering whether that caused a nearby 80 year old lady to fall and hit her head.

Edit: Just seen FD2’s thread on the same incident - great minds think alike about the incident!

[CharlieOneSix]

Here's the Derriford pad. A slightly elevated pad in a walled enclosure with security gate and warning signs on the walls - however I think it was night when the incident happened, not easy to see the signs. Car park and pedestrian walkway nearby.

derripad.png (346.71 KiB) Viewed 372 times

warning.JPG (24.87 KiB) Viewed 372 times

[CharlieOneSix]

87 year old grandmother Jean Langan was 'blown over' by landing helicopter at Derriford Hospital, say family.

Plymouth Live website

AAIB vehicle parked near the helipad next to a warning sign about helicopter downdraft...

aaib.JPG (155.48 KiB) Viewed 363 times

[FD2]

We were right C16.

What a sad event - people and aircraft don't mix well and folk often seem to ignore or just not notice signs, especially small(ish) ones.

Take the number of people who get stranded on the causeway by the tide while driving off Lindisfarne, despite large, easy to read signs.

[Boac]

With public access around, do places like this have restricted access/exit routes? I can see downwash could be a big issue - soft-top sports car, camper with soft roof?

[FD2]

Good point - also bikes both pedal and motor. Expect changes in ‘rules’ so more safety features implemented. Traffic lights, barriers etc etc. Just probably needs one man and a red flag plus megaphone.