Pilot Incident Reporting

[Jople]

I am in need of some data regarding in-flight incidents and am wondering how that works.

 

I am working on one particular incident, . . the occurrence of , "line swing", or the "pendulum effect",

 

The information for communications with appropriate persons such as will be found in FAA, and

Med-Vac Safety Guides, etc. The research is aimed at an automated compensation technology.

 

 

Therefore, please tell me, when a pilot incurs a, "line swing" incident is this reported and if so to who ?

[Gomer Pylot]

Probably not. If no damage is done, no report is made, in most cases.

[Jople]

OK, appreciated.

 

After seeing a news documentary way back in the early 20's,

involving a rescue helicopter deployed rescue swimmer in Flash flood, I saw the potential dangers that lurk in the immediate periphery of this phenomena.

 

At least one pilot, (a Med ER co.), seems to think, the incident doesn't occur frequently enough to warrant development of compensation technologies.

 

My opinion is that increased use of the helicopter in todays world, will associate itself with an increase incident rate.

 

Although pilots seem to correct the problem, " by the seat of their pants", I think that that opportunity will not always be available to them.

 

Therefore, Since, for the time being I believe for development in this area is essential, I want to encourage R&D,I seek to compile the evidence, I'd like to find, a good source of video's that have compiled this particular phenomena at different times, but am running into some difficulty for this.

 

[Gomer Pylot]

I think you're working on a solution for which there is no problem. Winching personnel is comparatively rare, and is only done by a few programs. The Coast Guard does it, of course, although they're now more concerned with law enforcement activities than rescue, and by a few local government entities. I would be amazed if it happened once a year in total, or even once a decade, and nobody is likely to pay the huge sums it would cost to certify such a system, nevermind the cost of the hardware.

[Jople]

Alright, it did seem to me per televised rescue shows when they were showing them,

that skier,mountain climbers and every other flash flood there were rescues,

I'm from south Jersey, and you can believe that the Coast Guard is involved in rescues

all the time, . . last one was last week, here in Cape May.

 

But the, "swing line" thing does seem a bit rare and is the reason

I wanted to count them per reports, etc.

 

I'll ease back a little for the time being, as there are other features

I will work on.

 

It's all it would take is to see a ski rescue on TV. with the problem and a near

miss and I'm back in business

 

Thanks, Catch ya later.

Edited January 2, 2011 by Jople

[Goldy]

Your animation assumes that the helicopter stays stationary as the swimmer passes under with the current. Current rescue techniques require that the helicopter move with the victim. This not only eliminates the "swing" but minimizes the impact of a stationary rescuer and a moving victim coming together.

 

It does mean however, that the attempt must be aborted when a power line crosses, or the pilot has to make a decision whether or not to fly under the lines. I know this may be a hot topic for some, but rescue ships fly under lines all the time...in fact, one incident locally last week where our H3 went under some during a night rescue.

 

Best if you spent your time developing a hoist system that keeps the litter from spinning, especially when using the larger 2 bladed ships.

[Jople]

My attention was mainly directed to the moving water being the dominant force

causing indirect retrieval or forces creating the pendulum, . .

The scenario represents an actual incident where the electric lines, I believe

actually replace a bridge where the victim was entering at the time when the rescuer

made contact.

 

The electric lines in this case were there mainly to represent one of the possible hazards

that may be encountered.

 

I have in my records somewhere, the news station that have the actual video.

 

I was hoping that I might find it on the internet, but it has been a little hard to find.

 

But, . . seeing it, only means to me regardless of how rare the incident is, that a definite

set of circumstances will cause the, "uncontrollable line swing".

 

There is also no doubt the amount of potential danger to the mission.

 

I do have a concept in place that theoretically will neutralize the swing,

is thought to be rather expensive, but since other technical improvement

are features in association, I feel that it may be possible that if the

technology were to become a reality, then possibly the application might be

considered for new models being manufactured.

 

I'll get the time to check into the litter spin, thanks.

[Jople]

BTW, . . .

 

What effect does the litter-spin have on accomplishing

 

the mission regarding the retrieval ?

[AngelFire_91]

BTW, . . .

 

What effect does the litter-spin have on accomplishing

 

the mission regarding the retrieval ?

 

Granted these guys should have probably had a tag line, but here is one example.

 

[Jople]

That is a rough situation to be in, . . .

 

My first thought is to use a vertical litter, that might fare a little better.

 

Thanks for your reply.

[Gomer Pylot]

A vertical litter? For lifting severely injured patients? There are good reasons those aren't used, even with the problems of the ones in use. In any case, using a helicopter to lift patients and do rescue is a last resort. Any other method is preferable, regardless of the equipment used.

[Jople]

Severely injured person, . . that may be dependent on the litter capabilities.

 

Take for example, . . one particular problem, is getting to a sail boat if there were

an injured person on board, . . when a helicopter air lift operation is needed, the

last time I saw a rescue of that nature, the victims on board had to enter the water

first then the were placed into a basket and these were persons without injury.

 

If you could get on board might a vertical litter be an advantage to a injured victim.