What the heck is going on?????
 

Just had a news helicopter go down right here in my hometown. They lost power over a lake and the pilot was able to auto rotate to a field and bring it down. NO INJURIES. Kudos to this pilot.

This has been a crazy week and a half or so for GA and copters. Prayers to all the lost, and all you others - stay safe!!


http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont....c6250837.html

Yep, definitely NOT the best week for GA. That's three crashes that I know of in less than 5 days. First was the set of choppers mentioned in the article, second was a seaplane crash in the Willamette River, by the Seaplane pilot of the year I might add, and now this one.

Oh pilots, pilots....when are we going to learn that "maintain visual seperation" isn't a psychology term.

Plus the Pitts at an airshow, and the P51's colliding at Oshkosh.

Good one, I had forgotten about those.

Just saw that yet another GA airplane went down this afternoon on the front lawn of a school in IL. Early report was that it had engine problems of some kind.

2 medical helicopter crashes in the last few days... it does seem like there is a lot more going on right now huh?

Here is the video footage from the helo as they lost power. You can hear the engine rpm just drop off. Looks like they just missed the lake. These guys are counting their blessings.....

http://www.dallasnews.com/video/dall...ml?nvid=162861

I used to fuel this helicopter when I worked at the FBO at KGPM a couple of years ago. Glad to see those guys are OK.

Assuming that the helo camera was pointing forward the entire time and the angle to the horizon was correct, these guys are lucky they aren't dead. WAY to much pitch up. Drop collective, Pitch for 52, and keep the Main rotor up all the way to the ground. Cushion with a little pop in the collective...mind the flashing red "LOW ROTOR RPM" light as that is a baaaaaaddd thing.

I suppose this goes to show how complacency and comfort in ones job can really hurt you, literally. If you don't practice these things, like autorotations on a consistent regualr basis, they WILL most likely kill you.

Only time I can remember you guys practicing autos in the hook was right out of phase. Not a very consitant basis though