An interesting argument against helmets

Hedge36 · October 2, 2007

Having moved to the West Coast division of my school, I gear up for the first flight of the day with my instructor, who notices I'm carrying my SPH-4 and raises an eyebrow.

He expresses some trepidation about my having a helmet, as he's concerned that my heavy helmeted head will pose an impact danger to his unprotected cranium if we get into something ugly.

Hm.

Now, I'd heard of some schools throwing objections over helmets for fear of scaring away potential students, et cetera, and was geared up for a fight on this one - not that it was ever an issue at the East Coast facility - when I first started with the school, but I had to admit THIS concern was one I hadn't thought of before.

Of course, I shrugged and said I didn't fly without it - and since I wear prescription glasses, the double visor offered me not only impact protection with the doors off, but shade when I needed it as well. It never really escalated to the point where I felt I needed to dig in, but it was still strange.

Any thoughts on this one? I told him if we were in a situation where my helmeted head might come in contact with his with any force, we had bigger things to worry about... and that I was more concerned about bouncing off the windscreen than his head.

As it was, we ended up putting off the flight until tomorrow - I discovered my first broken droop stop retainer on a 300

Gomer Pylot · October 2, 2007

Another potential danger, which has happened, is the breaking of the wearer's neck from the weight of the helmet, which can just snap the neck at impact due to the inertia from the helmet weight. Over the long run, I think helmets take about the same number of lives as they save. Not everyone agrees with me on this, and many are vehement in their disagreement, but that's what I see from my reading of accident reports, admittedly not complete.

beckwith · October 2, 2007

Another potential danger, which has happened, is the breaking of the wearer's neck from the weight of the helmet, which can just snap the neck at impact due to the inertia from the helmet weight. Over the long run, I think helmets take about the same number of lives as they save. Not everyone agrees with me on this, and many are vehement in their disagreement, but that's what I see from my reading of accident reports, admittedly not complete.

How heavy is a helicopter helmet?

on a side note how many people wear them?

delorean · October 2, 2007

Well perhaps he should buy a helmet too, or be damn sure you don't get in an accident with you. Dumb argument on his part, while it may pose a hazard to him, he shouldn't have you neglect your safety by leaving the helmet you already own in the car. What happens when if you do get in an accident or take a bird through the windscreen? You get hurt, but nothing happens to him.....how dumb are you going to feel (if you're still alive)?

Like GP said, helmets *can* pose a hazards to your safety; but the benefits almost always out weight the negatives (just like seat belts.) I knew a guy that crashed a helicopter many years ago. His body absorbed most of the impact, but he was killed by his helmet. During the impact the helmet some how got pulled up over the back his head, the chin strap pinched his airway, and he suffocated. If that wouldn't have happened, there's no telling if he would have lived or not due to internal injuries (or perhaps a head injury.) That's why it's very, very important to have your helmet properly fitted with the correct pads and proper tension on all the straps.

Similar story......I picked a kid up off the highway a few months back that got t-boned by a 60mph+ semi while in his small convertible. He wasn't wearing a seat belt and was ejected about 30 ft into a ditch. After extensive x rays & such at the hospital, he had a couple of broken bones. Looking back, if he would have been wearing his seat belt, he would probably be dead from the impact and internal injuries. There wasn't anything left of his vehicle.

So, not wearing a helmet or seat belt may save your life 1 out of 10, 1 of 100, 1 out of ???? times. I'll take those odds and keep both on.

500E · October 2, 2007

HGU84 2.7\3.4 pounds without comms or screens standard Fglass, Kevlar extra $100 should be lighter

Elno =2.64 pounds French made I think

www.elno.fr/Eng/Products/Helmets/flight_helmet.htm

Paisley · October 2, 2007

I agree with Delorean 100%.

Edited October 2, 2007 by Paisley

Hedge36 · October 2, 2007

I agree with Delorean 100%.

As do I.

I belong to the school of ATGATT (All the gear, all the time) when riding my motorcycle and don't see any particular reason why I should treat my flying any differently. Being good at one seems to make me better at the other - and if helmets and gloves and such were good enough for the Navy to insist on, my daughter stands to benefit from me forking out the dough on decent protective equipment on my own now.

Besides, everyone present agreed that dinging your head on the door frame of the 300 while clearing the aircraft is really, really painful. Advantage: helmet

doanut99 · October 3, 2007

sorry for the double post

Edited October 3, 2007 by doanut99

doanut99 · October 3, 2007

Over the long run, I think helmets take about the same number of lives as they save..

You are an EMS pilot, correct? If so, do you wear one?

Gomer Pylot · October 3, 2007

I wear one, but I don't like it. It's loud and uncomfortable, and I would far prefer not to have it on my head, but I do what is required by the company.

Pogue · October 3, 2007

I wear one, but I don't like it. It's loud and uncomfortable, and I would far prefer not to have it on my head, but I do what is required by the company.

Gomer, you're not using the CEP with the helmet? It's well worth it.