Ircha crowd crash

[mahbouni]

The BMFA guideline of 30m is quite an old one from when models were not pushing 15KW peaks. Today's 3D models are ridiculously powerful and can accelerate rapidly over long distances. I think they need to make it at least 50m but the problem in the UK is many clubs just don't have the space. Compromises have to be made but the risks should not be ignored. Public events are a different kettle of fish though. I too have no problem standing next to pilots on the flight line, but I'm watching the heli at all times. At least I have some chance of running away. If I'm in the pits area helping setup a friend's heli, I might not be aware until it's too late.

[waveydavey]

It is an old one but surely the fact that the clever people haven't seen fit to change these with the advent of powerful models is testament to how relatively safe our hobby is and how rare these types of accidents are. Even IRCHA is full with hobbyists not Joe public so again the risk is mitigated somewhat even with this kind of size of event. As I said above it's difficult because you see something like this and first thoughts are we're not safe, but in reality it's a very rare occurrence.

[mahbouni]

It is an old one but surely the fact that the clever people haven't seen fit to change these with the advent of powerful models is testament to how relatively safe our hobby is and how rare these types of accidents are. Even IRCHA is full with hobbyists not Joe public so again the risk is mitigated somewhat even with this kind of size of event. As I said above it's difficult because you see something like this and first thoughts are we're not safe, but in reality it's a very rare occurrence.

Rare maybe but I have personally seen two 700 size helicopters come over the flight line and land in or as far back as the spectators area. One of them crashed on top of a camper's tent. These incidents do occur but are often forgotten because no one was injured. I agree that the hobby is relatively safe compared to other activities. I'm just saying that public events could be made even safer. An extra 20m can't do any harm can it?

[dillwhacker]

An extra 20m can't do any harm can it?

I was at Old Warden today.
The Hurricanes were flying within about 100 metres of the crowd line, and I loved it.
I'd trade 50 metres of my excitement for your 20m of safety anyday you worthless snivelling swivel-eyed wretch...
Just saying, like...

[trillian]

One alternative would be for anyone within 30 meters of the helicopter to wear full body armour. Prob not the most practical or popular option though.

[mahbouni]

I was at Old Warden today.
The Hurricanes were flying within about 100 metres of the crowd line, and I loved it.
I'd trade 50 metres of my excitement for your 20m of safety anyday you worthless snivelling swivel-eyed wretch...
Just saying, like...

100m is pretty far and 50m is most likely safe too. If you want to stand closer that's up to you. Anyone who enters the flight line area should be aware of the risks, but when you organize a public event you have a duty to ensure the safety of spectators.

[leckylee]

A guy at our club crashed a heli on the flight line and the tail boom landed in the cab of my van, the van was at least 50 meters away, we all saw the crash but none of us saw the tail boom

[jimmyhorns]

One of the big differences between the flight line at a club, and the flight line at events is the amount of attention people are paying to the helis.

Events are social by their nature, and when you look around probably less than 50% of people are watching the flying, especially if its part of the funfly rather than the comp.

i've watched it a couple of times, and I cant quite work out why it starts coming towards the crowd at high speed after the tail hits the deck, unless it was being 'saved'

[GIXERMAN]

Apparently quote from youtube.

MSH Protos pilot Ryan Langston crash Heli into crowd. Guy walks away with only minor lacerations to leg and will be fine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6jv0incCO4

[Nick B]

i've watched it a couple of times, and I cant quite work out why it starts coming towards the crowd at high speed after the tail hits the deck, unless it was being 'saved'

If you have ever lost a tail before you will know that the next few seconds are not quite that simple....in the video it looks like the heli slows up after throttle hold was engaged but inertia had set in.....not many pilots would have done any better imho.

[cycled]

2.5 seconds between tail strike and hitting the crowd. That's not a lot of thinking time considering it probably takes about half a second to realise you've lost it. Only instinct could have saved the heli hitting the crowd and you would have to train for loss of control scenarios repeatedly on a simulator so that it becomes instinct before you could have saved that.

Yep, instinct has a lot to do with this, and most of us don't fly in front of crowds most of the time and our first instinct is to fly up away from the ground. That pilot had two choices given the rapid piro: towards the crowd and up or down towards the ground. I can't really fault him for making the wrong choice in such a short space of time, and besides, just passing the blame doesn't make good safety.

Nets would seem like a good answer to me. They hardly detract from the experience much and should add quite a lot of safety (although until people start flying into them that's all speculative).

(Actually, there's a third choice when you lose your tail. My experience with Spirit's SL/rescue is that it copes pretty well with tail-loss. But I ain't saying someone should use it so close to a crowd.)

[Pj1969]

Just came across this picture, defo tail belt snapped by the looks of it, not the best on belts is the V2 Max.

[Rachel]

the belt snapped because he stod the thing on the tail rotor, it was not a mechanical failiure ,....

[Granpappy]

the belt snapped because he stod the thing on the tail rotor, it was not a mechanical failiure ,....

Yep, that's right. There are some posts about it on HF from people who were there. Could have been a hell of a lot worse. They are talking 'nets' for next year. It even made the local newspaper in Muncie.

[j2tgw]

I hope no one was hurt ?in this incident nobody seems to have mentioned that ?