mil crash video

[warpig]

http://us.video.aol.com/video.index.adp?mo...&pmmsid=1645203

[Jaybird737]

Looks like the initial problem was settling with power.

[joker]

Judging by the coning, I'd say engine failure is more likely....e.g Low RPM.

 

Then just unlucky with the swell (which would cause a massive 'suction') when he tried to pick up.

 

Tragic...

 

Joker

[StuandJoy]

Just before touchdown on the initial water touch the tail rotor stopped dead. I saw it on TV and I could actually count the revs. What would make him try to pick it back up?

[joker]

StuandJoy,

 

You can't tell tailrotor rpm through on the TV unless you know the exact frame rate of the film being used.

 

Also, think to ppl training. Loss of Tail Rotor should cause a more aggressive yaw than we see. All we see is a tiny shuffle and then it is corrected. Coning was high, so pitch was applied.

 

Joker

[flingwing206]

Do you think the landing gear being down in the final segment of the vid might have contributed to the rollover? Perhaps it was inadvertantly extended in the hard landing, and not subsequently noted?

[warpig]

i dunno at first it looked like maybe a hover auto. i heard ont he news a helicopter pilot said it was a training exercise so that was my initial thought. then it appears that the nose porposed and submarined under the swell im guessing he was maybe doing a water taxi ? but it looks like the scenario with dynamic rollover, past a certain point, the aircraft is going to roll.. maybe too much forward cyclic then realizing what was happening eased off but it was too little too late. the forward speed and position of the disk gave it too much and was unrecoverable? not trying to speculate. just learn from the unfortunate mistakes of others..condolences to the family.

[Leftpattern]

I've seen a C-206 on amphib. floats nose over takiing around on the water, because he didn't realize that the gear was extended. After that my dad installed little mirrors out on the wings so he could see they were down!

[HH60Pilot]

Do you think the landing gear being down in the final segment of the vid might have contributed to the rollover? Perhaps it was inadvertantly extended in the hard landing, and not subsequently noted?

 

The landing gear being down is done to lower the CG and increase stability after a water landing. I've done numerous water landings in the HH-3E and it looks more to me that he had a hull breach and took on water to the point that there was insufficient power to take off. The lack of hull integrity mave have been caused by the less than subtle landing, or it may have already been there.

 

Just my two-cents...Doug