Looks like the helicopter clipped a cable while installing a Christmas tree. Reposted from the thread I opened before I saw this thread:
TV3 was filming when the chopper crashed 45 minutes ago. The pilot escaped without being seriously injured. But watch the video and you'll see he almost falls out of the chopper into the rotor blades. News is reporting that he was possibly carrying a passenger underneath in a human wenching operation but I haven't heard anything about that person's condition.
Texan
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
Independence76 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 164 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 2878 times:
Incredible high-quality footage.....great news that the pilot is OK.
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texan From New Zealand, joined Dec 2003, 4204 posts, RR: 54 Reply 3, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 2729 times:
CAA's press release:
Quote: CAA to investigate helicopter accident at Auckland’s Viaduct Basin
The Civil Aviation Authority will investigate an accident involving helicopter ZK-HIG at Auckland’s Viaduct Basin this morning. Safety Investigator Steve Walker will arrive at the scene early this afternoon, and Aviation Safety Adviser John Keyzer will join him.
Steve’s first steps will be to examine the wreckage in situ, interview the pilot and witnesses, and to develop a clear understanding of the work that was being carried out.
Once Steve has completed his examination of the wreckage it will be released to the owner for removal.
A preliminary can be expected within four weeks, and will be published on the CAA website.
Will keep y'all informed.
Texan
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
My guess is a turbine over speed, the engine is still running (see the 17 sec mark in the video posted in reply 4 you can see the exhaust increase below the rotor hub) however it is no longer loaded. I assume the gearbox failed with the sudden reduction in the rotor speed allowing the engine to rotate freely.
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as739x From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 5818 posts, RR: 23 Reply 6, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 4 hours ago) and read 2572 times:
Yeah, sounds like the engine over-speed as the pilot obviously shaken up didn't kill the engine. He actually looks like he was almost thrown from the chopper.
Thank goodness he is safe and will be around to celebrate the Holidays with his family.
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rcair1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2009, 917 posts, RR: 25 Reply 8, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2406 times:
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Quoting as739x (Reply 6): Yeah, sounds like the engine over-speed as the pilot obviously shaken up didn't kill the engine. He actually looks like he was almost thrown from the chopper.
I think I disagree - I never heard any increase in speed - only a slight decrease and increasing noise. I think, rather, that due to mechanical damage/distortion something started impinging on a rotating part of the turbine - think a playing card in the spokes of your bicycle. What we hear is the turbine - or some rapidly rotating part hitting something stationary. If you watch the second video - it runs for a few seconds, then starts to wind down as the engine quits.
Alternate explanation - that was the sound of the insurance company accountants screaming.....
dstc47 From Ireland, joined Sep 1999, 1347 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 6 days ago) and read 2338 times:
This is playing widely on early morning television here in Europe. No matter how often I watch it, I am still amazed the pilot walked away. One lucky guy, he got his Christmas present early this year!
B595 From UK - Scotland, joined Mar 2009, 299 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2258 times:
Interesting how the tail boom fails. I don't think the main rotor blades strike it, and I don't think it strikes anything itself. Just looks like the vibrations are too much for it.
NZ1 From New Zealand, joined May 2004, 2188 posts, RR: 27 Reply 13, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2240 times:
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Quoting B595 (Reply 10): Interesting how the tail boom fails. I don't think the main rotor blades strike it, and I don't think it strikes anything itself. Just looks like the vibrations are too much for it.
If you look at the 3news link, it's quite clear that the main rotor clipped the wire. There is a chap who pulls on it in an apparent effort to give more clearance; however his actions appear to be the cause.
kiwiandrew From New Zealand, joined Jun 2005, 8435 posts, RR: 15 Reply 15, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2219 times:
My office is just around the corner, we all heard the crash and wondered what it was, but there has been a lot of banging and crashing going on in our building due to refitting of the floor above us and another floor below ours, so although it was unusually loud we just shrugged and went back to work. It was a few minutes before we realised what it was that we had heard as we were not in direct line of sight, Very glad to see that the pilot was able to walk away and that no one else was hurt either. The news footage is amazing.
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B595 From UK - Scotland, joined Mar 2009, 299 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2216 times:
Quoting NZ1 (Reply 13): If you look at the 3news link, it's quite clear that the main rotor clipped the wire. There is a chap who pulls on it in an apparent effort to give more clearance; however his actions appear to be the cause.
I understand that, but it looks like the vibrations from the main-rotor wire strike then cause the tail boom to detach.
jeta380 From Australia, joined Nov 2005, 33 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1610 times:
Quoting NZ1 (Reply 13): There is a chap who pulls on it in an apparent effort to give more clearance; however his actions appear to be the cause.
I do not know to much about helicopters. But in the footage in reply 11 you clearly see the man under the helicopter pull a cable and then the chopper react at the same time to this pull. Can anyone shed some light on the possible link between the man pulling on the cable and chopper reacting and crashing, for me?
Quoting gasman (Reply 14): Not really. Yes, he wasn't killed or injured, but "lucky"? Hmmmm.
What would you call it. A rehersed staged performance? I think lucky is a very appropriate term.
DiamondFlyer From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 1293 posts, RR: 3 Reply 19, posted (1 year 5 months 3 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1574 times:
Quoting rcair1 (Reply 8): I think I disagree - I never heard any increase in speed - only a slight decrease and increasing noise. I think, rather, that due to mechanical damage/distortion something started impinging on a rotating part of the turbine - think a playing card in the spokes of your bicycle. What we hear is the turbine - or some rapidly rotating part hitting something stationary. If you watch the second video - it runs for a few seconds, then starts to wind down as the engine quits.
No, there is a definite increase in turbine speed (or at least pitch), from when the helicopter is flying to when the rotors are no longer functioning, but the the turbine does slow back down some. The Turbomeca (or any turbine of similar nature) makes a horrendous racket at high power, and that's exactly what you hear after the helicopter comes to a stop.
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