Wnbc Chopper Crash

[Timebuilder]

I had the opportunity to meet those guys from NBC 4 about two years ago. WNBC was my first station, and it was fun talking about their job, and the stuff they'd seen flying over NYC.

I'm VERY glad to hear about a helo crew that survives something like this.

 

[flyifrvfr]

Lighten up, Francis.

I think I remember that line from stripes. That's a good recall!

 

[Birdstrike]

Um, ahem.

Posted by Typhoon:

"...We're talking about folks whose bread-and-butter is the suffering of others..."

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Have you traveled coach lately?

You're in the same business!


All joking aside, I was amazed they survived. The fuselage did a 360 tumbling off the upper building and came to rest upright on a lower building's roof. One-half less rotation on that tumble and we're looking at three fatalities.

 

[JohnDoe]

quote from typhoon1244:

"I hope they sent batallions of reporters to the reporters' homes to shove microphones in their relatives faces and ask questions like "what were you feeling as you watched your loved ones spiraling toward certain doom?" Just like they do after any other disaster."


LOL....
Send some back at those "bubble-headed bleach-blondes."


Glad everybody lived. Fortunately for the families involved, that will probably spare them the "inquisition." Nobody died.....? Only news for a couple hours.

 

[Dizel8]

"bubble-headed bleach-blondes"

Could you send a couple to my house, got a microphone I would like to show to a few!

 

[TonyC]

Updated videos on the previously linked site include the "approach to crash" - - hard to tell what the problem was (for me, anyway).

Also, one other link includes this:

In the back, a pilot observing - - climbed out after the crash.

In the front left - - reporter, climbed out.

In the front right - - pilot, trapped inside. When firefighters arrived on the rooftop to free him the ENGINE was still running - - very noisy, they said. HE had to yell to the firefighters "Pull the red levers ! " to shut the engine down.

(Wonder why the other pilot couldn't have done that?!?!?)

Reporter, concusion. Pilot flying - - injured back of head and knee. Other pilot - - umm, I don't recall exactly - - minor injuries, I guess.

ABC Chopper video shows the reporter stepping out of the wreckage seconds after it came to rest on the roof.


Truly amazing.

 

[ThomasR]

Crash upDate

Updated videos on the previously linked site include the "approach to crash" - - hard to tell what the problem was (for me, anyway).
Also, one other link includes this:

In the back, a pilot observing - - climbed out after the crash.

In the front left - - reporter, climbed out.

In the front right - - pilot, trapped inside.

When firefighters arrived on the rooftop to free him the ENGINE was still running - - very noisy, they said. HE had to yell to the firefighters "Pull the red levers ! " to shut the engine down.

(Wonder why the other pilot couldn't have done that?!?!?) Reporter, concusion.

Pilot flying - - injured back of head and knee.

Other pilot - - umm, I don't recall exactly - - minor injuries, I guess.

ABC Chopper video shows the reporter stepping out of the wreckage seconds after it came to rest on the roof.

Truly amazing.

TonyC,

I agree it is amazing.

Usually when there is a blade strike the engine is ejected at an angle 90 degree behind the point of impact. I was able to see the actual video for the first time last night on the news. I got quite a different impression of the accident watching video than from still pictures.

In my mind I first resort to mechanical failure leading to an unavoidable conclusion. However, in this case it is quite perplexing. The FAA accident investigation will resolve many discussions as well as bets.

I saw no evidence of a tail rotor strike, external obstruction to flight or debris from deteriorating components in the video. Witnesses reported sounds like a motor cycle which leads to engine malfunction or drive shaft bearing deterioration. Both conditions would produce external evidence as it is happening [smoke from the exhaust or shrapnel as the bearings break up resulting in drive shaft separation].

The video showed an abrupt nose high followed by a sharp left pivot to a nose low attitude, a moment of recovery and then a wobbly spin into the roof. Whoever it was that exited the aircraft first looked pretty wobble also. I'd be interested in knowing what was going on inside the cock-pit and if there were dual controls installed.

I have never heard of an engine failing in flight without some FOD involvement. I saw an engine deteriorate once. Not sure what caused it but the shrapnel from the turbine fans tore the tail fin up and took out the tail rotor gear box. We joked about that for a long time; no one was "seriously" hurt in the incident though.

Sometimes there are jokes; resulting from the stark understanding that it could happen to anyone, acknowledgment of the bazaarity or to just avoid crying. Its just my opinion.