Helicopter Crash in Vauxhall

Being put under pressure by the company and/or clients can cost lives. Two days ago a helicopter crash in similar weather in the USA claimed 4 lives and it will be interesting to compare the reports when the latter report is finalized.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=182196

I used to fly a night freight operation on the Shorts Skyvan , one night we refused to go because of the weather. During that night a charter flight flown by an ex airforce pilot disappeared, they found the wreckage 6 months later in mountains, probably 100 miles off course.

The AAIB report

https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422f5d7ed915d1374000581/3-2014_G-CRST.pdf

Inquest jury decision and some previous reports on the inquiry.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-35073689

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34964962

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-34910256

I will wait until the AAIB final report before commenting further …………….

http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources.cfm?file=/AAIB%20S1-2013%20G-CRST.pdf

I think the crane is a red herring for want of a better phrase.
You could have lit up the crane like Christmas. Human error is the cause here.

It always is when the guy isn’t around to speak for himself.

I will wait until the AAIB final report before commenting further other than to say its a great shame that two people lost their lives in this and the person on the ground can have no blame attached to him!

Disagree. This incident was caused by a respected and experienced pilot discounting the risks; he ought not to have been flying VFR in those conditions. Why he chose to do so will probably never be known, but as I said in an earlier post rotary and fixed wing aircraft quite often fly over or near to my house in North Harrow, scudding in very marginal conditions with Harrow Hill just to the south. The practice ought to be stopped.

Regards

Oh I do love an arm chair expert.

Whilst this accident does raise interesting questions we should remember that very sadly two people lost their lives and we should be sensitive to the feelings of relatives and friends. Perhaps we should only discus facts in evidence and general concerns whilst we await the conclusions of the accident investigation.

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This is just an unfortunate accident and nothing more.

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Disagree. This incident was caused by a respected and experienced pilot discounting the risks; he ought not to have been flying VFR in those conditions. Why he chose to do so will probably never be known, but as I said in an earlier post rotary and fixed wing aircraft quite often fly over or near to my house in North Harrow, scudding in very marginal conditions with Harrow Hill just to the south. The practice ought to be stopped.

Regards

and I totally agree with you hampden98.

Reports that the obstruction lights on the crane were only switched on at night. If so they should be on 24/7 but whether the pilot would have seen them in the visibility that morning would be greatly reduced . Are they stroboscopic ? that would catch the attention,particularly in a high cockpit workload environment getting ready to land at Battersea.

I think the crane is a red herring for want of a better phrase.
You could have lit up the crane like Christmas. Human error is the cause here. Mistakes happen. You can try to make a situation as safe as possible but life and human nature intervene. This is just an unfortunate accident and nothing more. We are all human. We are all fallible. Situations in life occur and accidents happen. It’s life. Well, that’s my opinion anyway.

Reports that the obstruction lights on the crane were only switched on at night. If so they should be on 24/7 but whether the pilot would have seen them in the visibility that morning would be greatly reduced . Are they stroboscopic ? that would catch the attention,particularly in a high cockpit workload environment getting ready to land at Battersea.

The latest news item is a load of rubbish.
The pilot flew into a crane. Mistakes happen.

From the report it says “Mr Caring said he (the pilot) was a “very dear friend”” which would, no doubt, have influenced the nature of the conversation.

I have a good line of sight of Crystal Palace TV mast from here from a couple of miles. I do not know how to describe visibility correctly but as a layman I would say it was fair with haze. The mast is visible with its warning lights on at 09:30 which is obviously well after sunrise.

I saw the report on the news, and can’t help but feel that pilot Pete Barnes (who was very experienced) is not here to defend himself when the client supposedly suggested ‘not to take off’. How can someone suggest not to take off, surely cancelling and rescheduling the flight was an option, not just suggesting. We only hear one side of the story.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21163428

Two eye-witnesses on last night’s BBC News said that the helicopter was in trouble with one saying that that the machine didn’t sound right (or words to that effect).

I think it’s most unlikely that a pilot as experienced as Pete Barnes would be flying VFR in those conditions but on the other hand I regularly see both rotary and fixed wing pilots scudding southwards here in Harrow with Harrow Hill less than a mile away due south.

All most regrettable.

Regards

And even then, it struck me that the light (if it is on the highest point, which would seem logical) might well have been hidden firmly in the overcast

Moggy

It was reported on the BBC yesterday that there is no requirement for a light on the crane during daylight shours, these being given as 30 minutes before sunrise. As the helicopter crashed approximately 15 minutes before official sunrise then there was apparently no requirement for any lights to be showing.

Regards,

kev35

Even if there was a light on the crane I assume it would be one of those constantly on red lights. They must have very limited range visibility in misty conditions and it must be difficult for a pilot to judge his distance from the obstacle even if he sees it.
Is there any reason why flashing strobe lights are not used on tall structures? They are visible for miles.