man machine and the flying meat bomb

[viking]

I recently purchased an Enstrom 280c shark (Great decision great helicopter) I picked it up from an airport in Victoria Australia and took a few days on a senic journey home to Brisbane in Queensland, great flight spectacular veiws. We have a property inland from the coast in a wooded area with areas of open ground surrounding where I hanger the machine it is also within reach of the local airport for fuel. I had flown in and out of the property a few times and was settling well to the differences between my training helicopters bell47 and r44.

 

My wife is new to helicopters and needs the conditions to be just right in order for her to contemplate a first real flight. The day arrives, beautiful blue Queensland sky, no clouds, 5kts breeze just perfect.

 

We do the daily, light the fire, and taxi out onto the grass ready for the take off, I glance across to see that my wife's fingernails were firmly locked into the upholstery on both sides of the seat like vicegrips, I smiled and told her to relax and enjoy the ride, that everything was fine and she had nothing to worry about.

 

I pull some pitch and head for our back boundary clearing the trees, bank left and start our climb out for our short flight to the coast and up to the northern beaches, we are on 32ins mp 340 rotor speed 55knts 350 feet all clear ahead.

 

I was just about to say something calming, like is this great, when a similtanious shotgun type noise in the cockpit along with a violent shudder took my breath away. I had no idea what had happened I immediately entered an auto and selected a small paddock on our left orbit and went for it. During the very short trip down I quickly looked at the panel and everything seemed to be normal controls seemed to be working ok so I flared close and pulled in some power and we set down just fine.

 

I was looking about and a bit baffled by the events of the last 20 seconds when my wife said, in a very normal voice, did you see that big bird that ran into us?

She said it seem to come in from her right side and she saw it just prior to impact. I shut the machine down and climbed out for a full inspection. Other than the obvious imbeded feathers on one of the main rotor blades and various meat and feather combinations stuck to various parts of the machine all was as it was prior to takeoff so I climbed back in and fired it up, everything normal we taxied hovered and jigged around the paddock for a while and I decided to do the short flight to the engineers who checked it out and said it was just fine, so we continued on our flight for the day and returned home without further incident. I did not go into the worst case scenario with my wife she seemed to think that striking birds was an every day event and walked away ready to fly again.

 

Thank you Enstrom I am not sure had I been flying a lighter bladed machine that this story would have been posted. From the feathercolor I suspect the bird was an ibis maybe weighs 2kg.

None of my pilot freinds that have many thousands of hours mustering have ever hit a bird, they have managed to hit the ground instead. Is bird strike really common

 

regards

Viking

[TomPPL]

Not too sure about how common bird strike actually is, but thought I would write to thank you for posting this well written post. What does the wife think about it now? Does she still plan on flying?

[Wannabe1]

I too enjoyed your post. Dang bird couldn't do it's business the week before when your wife wasn't on board? Her calm reaction and willingness to fly again would indicate you weren't screaming and cursing as you autoed in.

 

Good Job!

[rotorrodent]

I recently purchased an Enstrom 280c shark (Great decision great helicopter) I picked it up from an airport in Victoria Australia and took a few days on a senic journey home to Brisbane in Queensland, great flight spectacular veiws. We have a property inland from the coast in a wooded area with areas of open ground surrounding where I hanger the machine it is also within reach of the local airport for fuel. I had flown in and out of the property a few times and was settling well to the differences between my training helicopters bell47 and r44.

 

 

regards

Viking

 

Job well done mate. Darn Budgies! Hazard of flying about bayside is that you might find a pelican. Keep a keen eye out for them. Thank goodness that they usually fly very low.

Do you fly out of Redcliffe or Archerfield by any chance?

 

Cheers

 

Rotorrodent

[BOATFIXERGUY]

I've owned 3 - 280c's over the last ten years. We did rides at events and frequently those big blades would devoure and destroy birds, plastic cups, aluminum cans, etc, and never had an issue. Gotta love an enstrom!

[viking]

I fly out or Palmwoods, and yes my wife is undeterred after the event.

 

I am glad to hear that the Enstrom is capable of chewing up more that just birds, but if I dont hit anything again I will be happy.

regards

Viking

[helicopterdan]

I fly 2 Enstrom F models, and I love them! It's like flying a 4x4 truck- and don't you love the auto's? Seriously, has anyone on here ever flown a helicopter that auto's better than the Enstrom?

[rotorrodent]

I fly out or Palmwoods, and yes my wife is undeterred after the event.

 

I am glad to hear that the Enstrom is capable of chewing up more that just birds, but if I dont hit anything again I will be happy.

regards

Viking

 

Fair bit up the road from us...We are part time bayside Cleveland in Redlands Shire. The other part time is in Las Vegas USA.

 

Cheers

 

Rotorrodent

[BOATFIXERGUY]

Hey Viking, if you didn't know already, there's a really good ENSTROM Forum that is monitored by Enstrom for any questions you may have on your bird:

 

http://www.rockymountainrotorcraft.com/phpBB2/index.php

 

Enjoy!