NTSB Prelim on Jennings/Nespoli Copter Crash

[Guest]

Not at all skydiving-related, except for those involved...

http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20021113X05466&key=1

NTSB Identification: LAX03LA027

Accident occurred Sunday, November 10, 2002 at Kingman, AZ
Aircraft:Aerospatiale AS350B, registration: N909WA
Injuries: 2 Minor, 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On November 10, 2002, about 1155 hours mountain standard time, an Aerospatiale AS350B, N909WA, collided with a transmission line and impacted the terrain near Kingman, Arizona. The pilot was operating the helicopter under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Two passengers sustained minor injuries and the pilot was not injured. The helicopter sustained substantial damage. The local flight departed Kingman airport about 15 minutes earlier that day to shoot an aerial photographic sequence. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.

The pilot reported that he was filming a motor home for the "Ripley's Believe It or Not" television series. The helicopter was crabbing sideways, paralleling highway 66 as it impacted the transmission line. Both he and another crewmember had noticed the transmission line just before the impact. By then one rotor blade had struck, sending the helicopter into a descent. There were no mechanical or weather issues.

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Better that the copter bit it than those on board, but I'm betting the owner of that aircraft isn't a very happy camper.

"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat."

[homer 0]

I think somebody needs to learn how to pay attention. good to hear they are alive.

CSA #699 Muff #3804

[ltdiver 3]

Thanks for the info, Bill.
Glad to hear Joe and Carl are o.k.!

ltdiver

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[sangiro 26]

I know not everyone reads the Photography and Video forum so here's a link to Brent Finley's post on the Ripley's Believe it or Not incident.

Safe swoops
Sangiro

[flyhi 24]

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I think somebody needs to learn how to pay attention.

In the late 80's, the Army Safety Center put out a statistic that the Army (the largest user of helicopters in the world?) averaged one wire strike a week since they started flying them. One of the reasons they got wire cutters.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[diverdriver 6]

Quote

Quote

I think somebody needs to learn how to pay attention.

In the late 80's, the Army Safety Center put out a statistic that the Army (the largest user of helicopters in the world?) averaged one wire strike a week since they started flying them. One of the reasons they got wire cutters.

True, but would wire cutters help in this instance? I believe they are only mounted on the front of the chopper (correct me if I'm wrong). I think what would have been best would be to fly the route along side the road before attempting to film it. If you are going to be flying partially blind then you might want to know what's there before you do it.

Chris Schindler
www.diverdriver.com
ATP/D-19012
FB #4125

[TheMonkey 0]

i think the true cause is they were distracted by the attractive little hostess of Ripley's Believe it or Not (see pictures at Brent's site http://www.brentfinley.com/images/ripleys/
)

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Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience!

[quade 4]

Wire cutters on helicopters only work in the forward direction of flight.

Additionally, most movie helicopters do not have wire cutters installed because they would have a tendancy to show up in the shot.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[AndyMan 7]

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Wire cutters on helicopters only work in the forward direction of flight.

For the rest of us, a picture of wire cutters on a Bell Long Ranger:

www.bellhelicopter.textron.com

__

You put the fun in "funnel" - craichead.

[quade 4]

The wire cutter is the antenna looking thing at the bottom of the nose pointing forward and down.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[flyhi 24]

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The wire cutter is the antenna looking thing at the bottom of the nose pointing forward and down.

There is also a top one showing. The theory is if you hit it between them, the wire will ride up or down the nose of the helicopter until it gets cut.

Shit happens. And it usually happens because of physics.

[Jonno5 0]

Wire strike protection kits generaly dont work below 50kts airspeed.This is one reason that we dont use them,and we are in the powerline repair business.They also will be totally ineffective against a transmission line, unless you just hit the overhead shieldwire.I hit a small 7000volt line last year with a hughes 500 and it was quite exciting for a while.I was lucky in that all i did was bust the windshield,one blade and my swashplate were also taken out, but we landed upright and all walked away.These things are generally 50/50 as to if you survive or are killed.

[kevin922 0]

Quote

Wire strike protection kits generaly dont work below 50kts airspeed.This is one reason that we dont use them,and we are in the powerline repair business.They also will be totally ineffective against a transmission line, unless you just hit the overhead shieldwire.I hit a small 7000volt line last year with a hughes 500 and it was quite exciting for a while.I was lucky in that all i did was bust the windshield,one blade and my swashplate were also taken out, but we landed upright and all walked away.These things are generally 50/50 as to if you survive or are killed.

What type of windshield do helicopters have? When they bust is it like auto safety glass or does it just shatter in chunks?

[freeflir29 0]

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What type of windshield do helicopters have?

Lexan or plexiglass. Just like every other light aircraft window.

[Jonno5 0]

Well mine was definatly in chunks.