Posted on 11/30/2009 12:17:54 AM PST by jsh3180
The helicopter that crashed near Robbie's Marina Saturday afternoon reportedly lifted off on its own before crashing into the water, according to both the Federal Aviation Administration and an employee at Robbie's Marina in Islamorada.
The pilot of the helicopter, registered to G S Helicopters Inc. of Islamorada, reportedly made an emergency landing on Indian Key Historic State Park around 2:30 p.m. Saturday because he was experiencing problems with the aircraft, said Kathleen Bergen, communications manager for FAA's Southern Region.
The uninhabited, 10-acre island is located several hundred yards south of U.S. 1 near Mile Marker 78 and includes a large open lot in the center, often referred to as the old town square.
When the pilot got out to inspect the tail rotor, the helicopter reportedly started to lift off on its own, Bergen said.
An employee at Robbie's Marina said the pilot told rescuers that he ran back toward the cockpit and tried to get inside before the helicopter lifted about 50 feet to 70 feet in the air. As he held on to the side, the aircraft's erratic movements knocked him off and he fell, breaking his arm.
The helicopter crashed moments later in about four feet of water near the dock at Indian Key.
The pilot was found laying in shallow water near the edge of the coral surrounding the island.
A boat from Robbie's Marina was dispatched to bring the elderly man, whose name and exact age were unavailable, back to shore, where he was met by emergency personnel and taken to the hospital.
The helicopter, an R22 model manufactured by Robinson Helicopter Co, will be removed from the water by the U.S. Coast Guard, Bergen said. The FAA is investigating.
“Islamorada”? Is this a real location in the US?
I’m not a pilot or anything, but it seems a tad dicey to get out of the cockpit to go look at the tail rotor while the mechanical stuff is in motion. At least, if you’re the pilot. OK, OK, I don’t know what I’m talking about.
LOL
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Was the Copter made by Glock?
Get it?
Because people claim that Glocks....
Oh never mind.
“Was the Copter made by Glock?”
Sudden acceleration syndrome (SAS), Must be made by Toyota.
“I’m not a pilot or anything, but it seems a tad dicey to get out of the cockpit to go look at the tail rotor while the mechanical stuff is in motion.”
Well, I am/was a pilot, and you are right.
You never leave the controls until the engine has come to a complete stop.
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Yeah I think so.
Yep. Florida Keys, about 60 miles north of Key West.
Looks like a conflation of ‘Islamo’ and ‘Ramadan.’ Very weird.
Isla as in Spanish for Island, I am not sure about the rest. Very beautiful spot if you are rich enough to live there.
... and there's the weight back so the throttle had to have been increased .... or he asked the passenger to goose it while he was checking the tail rotor
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OK, well that makes sense. It just stood out for me as strange.
The Mullet Wrapper would not lie. Would it?
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Islamorada was hit almost directly by the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, causing 423 deaths. A memorial, including the ashes of over 300 victims, exists today at Overseas Highway mile marker 82.
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Took a virtual trip down the keys a few months ago, courtesy of google street. I’ve always wanted to go to the keys, but probably never will now. (laid off and broke). So I decided to go via google street view. Saw that Island. Remembered it because of the unusual name.
Great trip. No mosquitoes and I could use the facilities anytime I needed to. Had the fan on also.
I’m going to throw down the BS flag on this one. If it is a stretch, it almost stinks on ice!
To create lift, the twist type hand throttle (Very much like a motorcycle’s) has to have torque applied to it. While the collective (Another device, very much like a fighter aircraft’s ‘stick’ designed to control the angle of the rotors) needs to be either pushed forward or drawn back as the rudder pedals are put into play AT THE SAME TIME!!!
Just sayin’.
Jack.
Or maybe Audi? :-)
Think I’ll send the link to this down to my son who is a helicopter pilot for the sheriff’s office down that way. He’s a pretty good diviner of the strange things that happen with helicopters!
Ditto’s to your post, this ole CH-53 Crew Chief/Mech calls:
BS!!!!!
sorry folks, seen ‘birds do alot of funny things, but take off on their on, not gonna happen!
I flew as a crew member in USAF rescue helicopters. I wouldn’t even go aft of the side doors if the tail rotor was still turning. That SOB would cut you to hamburger.
Here’s my take on it: He’s alone in the helo and lands it. The collective lever is in full up position and the throttle is between idle and full. 200 lbs lighter with the collective full up, it does what it’s designed to do - rise, and not well.
Me thinks someone is full of Pelosi here
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I’m betting he just forgot to set the parking brake ... ;-)
“Islamorada”? Is this a real location in the US?
I stayed there last year as a guest of one of the marina occupants. Even though I am a Florida native, this was the first time I’d visited the Keys. Had a great time!
Yeah I figured it was a twist. Nothing wrong with what you’re saying.
So then, he decided to crash it intentionally and jumped out?
It will be interesting to read the NTSB report to get all of the facts but if I had to guess based on the newspaper article I would have to say that it is possible with this particular helicopter.
The R22 has a governor on the throttle/collective. The manufacturer did this because it was very hard for students to maintain rotor RPM with this helicopter (No inertia in the blades); which is a story of itself. BUT, if the collective was not frictioned down and the pilot got out, the collective could have raised by itself (I have seen this happen in the H300 many times!!) once the collective begins to raise then the governor adds fuel to the engine in an attempt to keep the rotor RPM in the green. Granted if he was at flight idle the governor could not increase rotor RPM’s to 100% but it could increase rotor RPM enough that if a prevailing 10 - 15 knot wind was blowing over the rotor system that enough lift could be generated to lift the helicopter. I have flown in the Keys and there is ALWAYS a 10 - 15 knot wind blowing.
If he was standing near the side he might have tried to reach in and push down the collective but by then he would have been hanging on for the “E” ticket ride. I doubt he would have climbed as high as 50 to 70 feet but I am sure if it were me it probably would have sure felt like it.
He is lucky to have survived at all but stupid is as stupid does according to Forrest Gump’s mom :)
Again, I would like to see the NTSB report because they will gather information that was not included in the article but with the R22 I would say that it could be possible as wild as it sounds. (This never would have happened in a real piston helicopter like the Bell 47, LOL)
Now on the ground at engine idle you can friction down the controls and leave the aircraft. What happened to this unfortunate only he knows.
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