/https://public-media.smithsonianmag.com/filer/e0/f8/e0f861ae-e083-4f17-8349-b4068a0fd8b3/blackhawk_nyc.jpg)
Helicopter pilots flying over cities have to be extra cautious, as the pilot of this UH-60 (photographed
over New York in 2014) undoubtedly was. (Maine Army National Guard)
Posted on 09/29/2017 3:28:42 AM PDT by LibWhacker
The first confirmed mid-air collision involving a U.S. drone.
Helicopter pilots flying over cities have to be extra cautious, as the pilot of this UH-60 (photographed
over New York in 2014) undoubtedly was. (Maine Army National Guard)
History was made and prophecies fulfilled last week when a quadcopter collided with a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter over Staten Island in New York. According to the FAA, the event represents the first confirmed inflight collision between a drone and a piloted aircraft in the United States, although there have been other unconfirmed reports. The Black Hawk, which carried a crew of four, suffered light damage and landed safely. The drone was destroyed.
The damaged Black Hawk was one of two helicopters flying in formation around 7:30 pm on September 21 near Midland Beach. The incident occurred approximately 40 minutes after sunset, and the crew was not using night vision goggles as they flew at a reported altitude of 500 feet. The helicopters were providing security for a meeting of the U.N. General Assembly, according to Army spokesman Lt. Col. Joe Buccino. Buccino said both aircraft are part of the 82nd Airborne Division based at Ft. Bragg in North Carolina.
Because the aircraft were involved in security operations, the Secret Service will lead the investigation of the incident, with the FAA and the New York Police Department assisting. The Army will also conduct its own investigation. The NYPD has not yet identified the drone pilot.
The helicopters were returning to Linden Airport in New Jersey, and were about seven miles from their destination when the collision occurred. The crew radioed air traffic control to say they had hit something, but did not declare an emergency. It wasn’t until they discovered quadcopter parts during their postflight inspection that the crew was sure they had hit a drone.
The quadcopter was shredded in the collision, resulting in damage to several areas of the helicopter. The Black Hawk was quickly repaired and returned to flight status, however. Buccino confirms that one rotor blade had to be replaced and that one of the Black Hawk’s doors had drone parts embedded in it. According to Buccino, approximately 50 percent of the drone was recovered, including at least one of its motors.
Video and photos from New York area TV stations offered clues as to the type of drone: a DJI Phantom 4 quadrotor, one of the most common consumer drones available. Asked whether they could confirm that the motor came from a Phantom 4, DJI referred Air & Space to a written statement saying that the firm is assisting the National Transportation Safety Board and the U.S. Army in the investigation.
While the NTSB considers the event an accident, the Army considers it a “mishap.” The FAA still hasn’t decided how to classify the event, because different rules can apply depending on the circumstances.
Mostly overlooked in the incident is another first of significance to researchers. The event marks the first opportunity to study drone impact dynamics with a manned aircraft under real-world conditions. “We’re already talking to the NTSB and others to collect as much data as we can so we can analyze it,” says David Arterburn, a former Army Black Hawk pilot who now heads the Rotorcraft Systems Engineering and Simulation Center at the University of Alabama at Huntsville. Arterburn says the collision could have been much worse for the Black Hawk. “The way the [drone] hit them...was in somewhat of a benign orientation. I think they got fortunate.” It appears the drone hit the left side of the aircraft and bounced up into the retreating blade, where it was struck again. If it had hit an advancing blade, it could have done major damage, says Arterburn. Even worse, it could have hit the windshield, or jammed up critical mechanisms that control the Black Hawk’s rotor. Arterburn says the Black Hawk, being a military helicopter, is built to withstand significant damage, and that a civilian helicopter would probably have faired much worse.
Pilots occasionally file reports claiming to have struck a drone, but such collisions don’t typically leave much evidence behind, as the small parts fall to the ground, and so have been impossible to confirm.
Mr. Arterburn needs to brush up on his helicopter dynamics.
There is nothing different about the advancing or retreating blade from a drone strike perspective. The relative velocities between the drone and the blade are identical.
The difference between the advancing and the retreating blade is only aerodynamic while in forward flight, where the apparent wind speed of the retreating blade is slower than that of the advancing blade, thus affecting the lift generated by the blade.
If you don't have a drone now and want one, I'd give it 24 - 48 hours before the shelves are empty.
Other than being easier to fly, a so-called drone, as the media likes to call them, is nothing more than a radio controlled aircraft; and radio controlled aircraft have been around for over 50 years. Perhaps people have less common sense now to avoid operating an R/C aircraft near real aircraft.
https://www.amazon.com/DJI-CP-PT-000312-Phantom-4-Quadcopter/dp/B01CFXQZD0
DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter
$965.00 & FREE Shipping
Perhaps it’s a variant that is different from your model, perhaps prices have gone up based on demand, or perhaps you’re a better shopper, but this was my source.
Agree completely. It’s going to get worse, I think a lot worse, before it gets better. What’s surprised me is just how quickly the drone problem has deteriorated. I thought we had more time, but hadn’t counted on the widespread availability of what are apparently fairly highly capable commercial drones. I was thinking, oh, terrorist nations will have to develop their own, and that isn’t easy... Nope, they’re buying them off the shelf! Now this incident looks like it was probably an accident, but it’s easy to predict a lot worse is coming.
I got one of these drones in June, but I haven’t flown it yet. I didn’t realize when I got it that the controller had to be purchased separately for about $150. I’ll get one, but I wish I’d known about the controller being a separate purchase when I bought it.
> All of this stuff is mandated now, but very few drone operators are even aware of the rules.
Thanks. I didn’t know about the test.
There was nothing mentioned about it when I bought one.
I guess I haven’t broken any law yet as I don’t have the RF controller to fly the damn thing, yet. I didn’t know the controller was a separate purchase.
That's the one you have. There are drones that cost far, far more than that.
A few years ago my nephew got my brother-in-law an RC helicopter for his birthday. He smashed the hell out of it the first and only time he tried to fly it..........LOL!
The drone pilot was probably a whacked out mussie trying to bring down any aircraft he could ram his toy into...
The civilian helicopter would have FARED much worse.
Do they teach English in journalism schools these days?
Difference is that a plane can at least make something of a controlled crash without an engine.
A helicopter is SOL when those blades stop.
Auto-rotation. All helo pilots have to demonstrate competence, else all they fly is a desk.
Planes can’t fly without power unless airspeed is maintained over the wings, same idea as auto-rotation.
True the 200 range is arbitrary. But it’s better than your seemingly throwing up your hands and saying it’s the people’s fault who operate the drones. Of course it’s the people’s fault who operate the drones, we all know that but if they are not going to be responsible and act in a proper way then action must be taken to make sure that they cannot kill other people.
Was it an Amazon delivery drone?
#18 Did you lose it recently in New York? : )
One of those little hand-sized drones, or something bigger?
Question answered- 8 pounds plus.
Yes, neither drones nor “air cars” in the future will be able to avoid or ignore “traffic lanes”.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.