Rescue Helicopter Crash

[mrnolmts]

Interesting video. You'd think they'd be able to lift out.

http://cbs13.com/topstories/local_story_131110012.html

Better video here (foreign language though):

http://www.vg.no/video/videoplayer/player.hbs?id=3121

 

[mudkow60]

What is the story behind that?

The helo hits so hard on initial water impact, I hope that was not a drill.

 

[FracCapt]

You can see the blades are coning pretty heavily just before they drop in, and right up until impact, indicating the pilot probably didn't lower the collective. You could also see the rotor slow down significantly, assuming at the same time(assuming the video speed remained the same). It seems like they lost too much rotor RPM and possibly stalled the blades....possibly a result of an engine failing at a really bad time(probably heavy, hover OGE). Just a guess...

 

[Tram]

Did anyone else notice his gear was up when he hit and down after he flipped? Why is that?

 

[Diesel]

Translating the video-

Military show, said they had a problem during the show or were showing the skill of the plane.

It was unable to take off out of the water. All 13 got out of the helicopter. 3 hurt bad 1 died at the hospital.

Typical reporter stuff. no help

 

[Axel]

Just guessing:

To add on to FracCapt's post, the pilot will be between a hard rock and a place if one quits at OGE hover but close to the surface. Unless the collective is lowered, rotor RPM will decay. Lowering collective will result in a hard landing, RPM decay will result in a hard landing. From the visible slowing of the rotor system and the deep coning, it appears the pilot chose the latter (or wasn't quick enough to dump the collective). He was screwed either way.

The pilot stabilized the helo on the surface and regained rotor RPM with the remaining engine, then tried to take back off. No guesses as to why he lost attitude control.

 

[FN FAL]

If a rescue helicopter crashes in the ocean and there is no one there to hear it crash, is it still a rescue helicopter?

 

[FracCapt]

The pilot stabilized the helo on the surface and regained rotor RPM with the remaining engine, then tried to take back off. No guesses as to why he lost attitude control.

IF that scenario is what occurred....his biggest mistake was trying to takeoff again single engine. I don't know of any multi-engine helicopter that can take off when heavy, ESPECIALLY from water, with OEI. He MAY have been trying to do a running takeoff, which would explain the forward tilt of the main rotor and the forward speed he seemed to be developing(made even more obvious by the water coming up over the windscreen). In any case, not a smart move if he was indeed single engine.

 

[Axel]

IF that scenario is what occurred....his biggest mistake was trying to takeoff again single engine. I don't know of any multi-engine helicopter that can take off when heavy, ESPECIALLY from water, with OEI. He MAY have been trying to do a running takeoff, which would explain the forward tilt of the main rotor and the forward speed he seemed to be developing(made even more obvious by the water coming up over the windscreen). In any case, not a smart move if he was indeed single engine.

True, a big if. Thus my "just guessing" disclaimer.

I wondered about the apparent forward motion also. It would have been tough even on glassy water to get the airspeed required for a running takeoff, much less in ocean swells. Maybe (again just guessing), the helo pitchpulled (sailing term, not rotor wing term) when the nose buried in the swells.