Northern Tas - another crash (helicopter this time)

[Marty_d]

Don't know what's happening up there this week! Heard on the radio the chopper is based at Bridport (which is where the Europa incident occurred). This one crashed in Deloraine while doing crop spraying.

 

The chopper is seriously wrecked but pilot alive, albeit in a serious condition.

 

Chopper pilot suffers serious injuries in crash

 

 

[fly_tornado]

hmmm, not sure who's not doing their job properly, the cop or the reporter.

 

Police said the man was spraying crops when the helicopter clipped a power line and crashed into a paddock on Long Ridge Road in Deloraine just after 12:30pm.

 

Senior Constable Nick Crawford said police would investigate the cause.

 

"Whether it's mechanical or driver error, we wouldn't comment at this stage - we'd have to investigate.

 

 

[Marty_d]

hmmm, not sure who's not doing their job properly, the cop or the reporter.Police said the man was spraying crops when the helicopter clipped a power line and crashed into a paddock on Long Ridge Road in Deloraine just after 12:30pm.

 

Senior Constable Nick Crawford said police would investigate the cause.

 

"Whether it's mechanical or driver error, we wouldn't comment at this stage - we'd have to investigate.

Not sure there's a conflict there. Yes the direct cause of the crash was clipping a power line, but WHY it clipped the power line is unknown and needs investigation.

 

 

[facthunter]

Normally it's because the powerline is there and someone forgets it, usually later in the day, in a cropdusting situation. Nev

 

 

[fly_tornado]

At a guess, I would say the helicopter flew into it. Judging by the wreckage, that engine had to be producing power.

 

 

[turboplanner]

At a guess, I would say the helicopter flew into it. Judging by the wreckage, that engine had to be producing power.

We have to wait for the investigation FT; the power line could have been twitchy.

 

 

[M61A1]

At a guess, I would say the helicopter flew into it. Judging by the wreckage, that engine had to be producing power.

 

 

[rankamateur]

that engine had to be producing power.

Just not sufficient power to pull over the power line. Power line 1, helicopter nil. Next contest.

 

 

[scotsman]

I flew with a grade 1 heli instructor who used to do powerline inspections and he took me close up to the high voltage ones in the hover during my training to give me a clear picture of what would likely happen if I clipped one low flying....my word those things are thick like bridge cables....if you clip a blade off one it really is lights out.

 

Most wires are really hard to see and the likelihood here is that he didn't see the wires till he clipped them. During heli training you are taught to look for the poles/supports and not the actual wires.