Possible helicopter crash in Manhattan

[cornishfrogboy]

I was a helicopter technician Sgt, airframes and engines for 12 years with the REME. I would hope that I know plenty about them..

I have flown many, many hundreds of hours in them and would happily do so again.. with one proviso..

I was never comfortable in gusting winds when in light helicopters such as Alouette 2, Gazelle and Scout with limited or no stability augmentation systems (we actually deleted them from Gazelle as a modification).. In Lynx there were two engines and system redundancy as well as stability augmentation.. Whilst I had the very highest regards for the pilots, a big sudden gust can require big, sudden instinctive correction, often when close to the ground.

As for the mechanics, providing there was no catastrophic failure such as to controls or tail rotor authority, I would regard them as very safe indeed. With single engined aircraft, provided there is sufficient altitude, a non powered autorotative landing is a routine for which pilots regularly practice. Providing there is somewhere to put it, I have every confidence that I would walk away with no damage to the airframe at all. With heavier helicopters, It can be more difficult.

As regards flying on holiday. I would have no worries in an open area with easily found landing sites such as Orlando, subject to my dislike of gusting winds and Robinson’s are about as light, rudimentary and flimsy as you can possibly get. As regards Manhattan, I would be a tad more wary.

Most accidents in my Army Air Corps (REME) and Royal Marine times were down to pilot error. I will not list examples out of courtesy to possible relatives of those involved who may be DIBBERS . We had over 300 aircraft and clearly there were losses when operating under often inclement conditions in tactical exercises.

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by cornishfrogboy

I was a helicopter technician Sgt, airframes and engines for 12 years with the REME. I would hope that I know plenty about them..

I have flown many, many hundreds of hours in them and would happily do so again.. with one proviso..

I was never comfortable in gusting winds when in light helicopters such as Alouette 2, Gazelle and Scout with limited or no stability augmentation systems (we actually deleted them from Gazelle as a modification).. In Lynx there were two engines and system redundancy as well as stability augmentation.. Whilst I had the very highest regards for the pilots, a big sudden gust can require big, sudden instinctive correction, often when close to the ground.

As for the mechanics, providing there was no catastrophic failure such as to controls or tail rotor authority, I would regard them as very safe indeed. With single engined aircraft, provided there is sufficient altitude, a non powered autorotative landing is a routine for which pilots regularly practice. Providing there is somewhere to put it, I have every confidence that I would walk away with no damage to the airframe at all. With heavier helicopters, It can be more difficult.

As regards flying on holiday. I would have no worries in an open area with easily found landing sites such as Orlando, subject to my dislike of gusting winds and Robinson’s are about as light, rudimentary and flimsy as you can possibly get. As regards Manhattan, I would be a tad more wary.

Most accidents in my Army Air Corps (REME) and Royal Marine times were down to pilot error. I will not list examples out of courtesy to possible relatives of those involved who may be DIBBERS . We had over 300 aircraft and clearly there were losses when operating under often inclement conditions in tactical exercises.

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Interesting. What is stability augmentation- like a gyroscope?

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by YorkshireT

Interesting. What is stability augmentation- like a gyroscope?

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Yes. The aircraft detects sudden uncommanded movement and assists in compensating. I believe that the pitot static systems may also play a part.

I was airframes and engines. That was what I needed to know about. Avionics was a separate and weird world in which I had no involvement other than before flight and after flight inspections to ensure certain electrical systems were serviceable. If they were not, I would go and tell an Avionics technician. If an Avionics technician doing a BF or AF found an airframe or engine issue, then he would do likewise and tell me! Either way, it would be entered in the aircraft log book and remedial action carried out. Where appropriate (control disturbance etc), then a second Technician of Sgt or above would independently check the work and then it would all be signed up. The same procedure applies if a Pilot detects a fault. Aircraft maintenance is understandably both time consuming and meticulous.

I have now been out many years and the computer world has taken over many aspects of aircraft maintenance recording, but the principals remain exactly the same as several friends who are still involved tell me.

Hope that clarifies!

[LRMD]

I’ve only been in a helicopter once which was two 30 min flights over the Grand Canyon, must admit they feel so fragile and shake a lot, planes do feel a lot safer! Very sad accident in NYC though. I guess it could have been worse if it came down in the streets below though.

[Guest]

Originally Posted by Mr Tom Morrow

Very sad. I flew many hours in them whilst working. Hate them with a vengeance. I will never get in one ever again.
Far too prone to mechanical failure.

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I have done a few helicopter rides in the past, but I have also decided not the get into one again, they seem too precarious.

[JudgeJ26]

Flew many times in Chinooks whilst serving in the Army and in the Falklands flew in Bristows too which we nicknamed Erics. Never thought about the danger thankfully as there have been crashes. One of my former bosses was killed in a helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre.

[cornishfrogboy]

Originally Posted by JudgeJ26

Flew many times in Chinooks whilst serving in the Army and in the Falklands flew in Bristows too which we nicknamed Erics. Never thought about the danger thankfully as there have been crashes. One of my former bosses was killed in a helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre.

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Awful crash. That was the first Chinook fitted with FADEC digital engine management. Pilots error through gross negligence was blamed and the families have spent decades trying to clear their names. Farnborough had apparently refused to clear the system for service. Most on board were special forces and int , all from Northern Ireland..