Posted on 01/29/2020 9:00:09 AM PST by BenLurkin
As federal investigators wrapped up operations at the crash site, the NTSB's Jennifer Homendy said preliminary information suggests the helicopter descended rapidly and was likely in one piece before it slammed into the hill.
"The descent rate for the helicopter was over 2,000 feet a minute, so we know that this was a high energy impact crash," Homendy said. "This is a pretty steep descent at high speed. So it wouldn't be a normal landing speed."
The crash occurred about 1,085 feet above sea level, missing the top of the hill by 20 to 30 feet, investigators said. Parts of the helicopter were found scattered around a crash site that stretched 500 to 600 feet, the NTSB said.
The helicopter did not have a terrain awareness and warning system -- a safety feature which provides the pilot with information about the terrain, Homendy said. The NTSB recommended that similar helicopters be equipped with the system after a fatal Texas crash in 2004 that killed 10 people.
(Excerpt) Read more at ktla.com ...
I think it was just a combination of too low altitude and fog. Plain and simple................
YES!!! you could be spiraling down and think you are straight and level, your senses play tricks on you in a cloud!
Like when you’re drowning and you think you’re swimming to the surface, when you are in fact swimming further down.
But he was descending and quickly
Why?
Something was amiss besides being lost
He was having some sort of event ....disorientation or less likely mechanical or nav issues
When you are flying into a hillside at over a hundred miles per hour it appears as though you are descending at that speed...............
Is it possible that because of “spatial disorientation” the pilot thought he was climbing when in fact he was descending?
...
It’s called a graveyard spiral, and that’s what happens when pilots revert to flying by the seat of their pants in the clouds or darkness.
The pilot’s last transmission was that he wanted more altitude to clear the clouds (not terrain). He had plenty of height to clear the terrain provided that he remained in control.
The helicopter was diving toward the ground. It doesn’t matter that it was just below the hilltop. It was going to hit the ground eventually on the path it was flying.
How fast were they going?
Morning fog in Southern California is a regular occurrence - like nearly every day, and usually burns off by noon.
That seems to support the reports from nearby people that said they heard it sputter before crashing. Perhaps it lost power and went down hard.
Cumulus granite
That speed in those conditions? LAPD not flying. So far, it’s all pointing to the pilot.
YES!!! you could be spiraling down and think you are straight and level, your senses play tricks on you in a cloud!
...
It’s called a graveyard spiral. It’s possible to recover if the plane or helicopter breaks through the bottom of the clouds with enough altitude, and the pilot knows the proper technique.
With all the money he had, he could've had such equipment. Someone wasn't looking out for him. Morning fog isn't at all unusual in Southern California due to onshore flow. It's also hilly.
JFK JR incident was similar in that he was using sight and got disoriented..or some such thing.
And he fact that he was descending like a dropped hammer...a fact that any pilot would have instantly been aware of. Why? The descent rate was far in excess of normal procedures.
And first indication you are about to hit the hill is when your pitot-tube out front begins to crinkle. . .(what. . .too soon?)
Do not think it was his helicopter. One of the Kardashians had rented the same helicopter. SOme kind of drama going on with brothers kid who she took up in the helicopter and mother is having a fit.
Or the pilot actually reverts to instrument flying when IMC and glues his eyes to the instrument panel.
Down...at the rate of nearly 1/2 mile a minute. You virtually never do that in normal flight.
The pilot suddenly increased speed to try and get altitude to make it over the hill, but too late.
They probably had maybe 5 seconds at most..........
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