Rotor Breaks, Pilot Injured, Logan County US

[Time Out]

The rotor of a rescue helicopter in Logan County broke apart as the engine was being started and the pilot was injured.

The accident happened Saturday night as pilot Thomas Kuwahara began takeoff procedures.

The Air Evac chopper had been tied down by the previous pilot, as a precaution against high winds. The company says it was dark when Kuwahara boarded the aircraft and likely didn't see that it had been tied down.

Kuwahara sustained a cut to his head and has been released from a hospital.

The company says the problem is uncharacteristic. A spokesman says Air Evac has flown 72,000 patients.

No one else was on board the aircraft, which sustained heavy damage.

source (http://www.arkansasnbc.com/Global/story.asp?S=1546015&nav=F8n2JPfX)

[Autorotate]

"Didnt see the blades were tied down" :mad:

Give me a break, isnt that part of a preflight.

Autorotate.

[Autorotate]

Flungdung - shouldnt have made any difference if it was hailing, snowing or the darkness of night. A good preflight is mandatory EVERY time you get into a helicopter to go fly.

Also you would think that as he hit the igniter he would have noticed that the RPM gauge wasnt moving and the blades werent going around.

Hasnt been reading Pprune lately - would agree with that. Also have to add that he probably doesnt read an unamed magazine as we devoted six pages recently on the importance of doing a good preflight.

Still you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink. So whose fault is this one. Companies for not ensuring he did a proper preflight or the pilots for not doing a proper preflight.

Autorotate.

[PPRUNE FAN#1]

Autorotate:Also you would think that as he hit the igniter he would have noticed that the RPM gauge wasnt moving and the blades werent going around. You have obviously never flown a turbine helicopter at night, Auto. You would see nothing of the sort as you "hit the igniter." There are many indices that this pilot should have noticed. Dumb pilots who are in a hurry sometimes do overlook all of them.

[Autorotate]

Flungdung - I did take it as that. Just got wrapped up in my post :(

Autorotate.

[407 Driver]

May those perfect pilots that have NEVER made a mistake cast the first stone.
Ever missed that cowl latch?, a seatbelt out? a hundred other small but deadly items?

I for one will not be picking up any stones here.

Live and learn, and be very thorough and diligent, you may be next?
The last thing that I do before sitting down in the front is to do a final walkaround...every time proir to a start.....

[B Sousa]

Seen more than one crew jump through their ass to SAVE someone.....Thats when these things happen. I have mentioned before about an experienced Huey crew that really strained the tiedown before they realized. They were lucky
Never rely on the other Pilot. Its YOUR responsibility. That last walkaround saves a lot of problems. For old guys like me, its Mandatory.