Pax walks into the tail rotor while going to take a selfie

[NutLoose]

I haven't seen this posted before.
GM Finance Controller of UCADA, Shri Jitendra Kumar Saini, got caught by the tail rotor of an aircraft at Kedarnath helipad. He unwittingly walked into the tail rotor. According to some sources, He went across with the intention of taking a selfie, RIP, very sad and unfortunate.

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/08/05/video-of-ucada-officials-fatal-helicopter-accident-is-nowhere-to-be-found/

https://apnlive.com/india-news/uttarakhand-official-selfie-kedarnath/

The clip shows it happen,It happened in April and was filmed from the front, so just posting the link as a quote, view at your own discretion, horrid sound :(

I have removed the link, if you wish to see it, google his name, at least it was quick, and he probably never felt it, other reports say he went around the back to board from the other side..


..

[Sir Korsky]

Well he won't do that again.

[MechEngr]

" the UCADA official was attempting to board the helicopter from the wrong side despite the pilot’s instructions" not a selfie.

That seems one of the common passenger death causes - tail rotor or walking into a propeller. I looked for the other recent one that a passenger supposedly ran from the building and into the tail rotor, but appeared to be the same sort of case. I suppose that staying under spinning main rotor blades is unnerving and going around the tail gives the appearance of greater safety than scooting around the nose.

[NutLoose]

I did add that later in the blurb as there are 2 different reports on the cause and by the time I added the other, one could not correct the title.

Other link I posted above.

In a tragic mishap, an Uttarakhand government official died on Sunday after being hit by helicopter blades while clicking a selfie in Kedarnath.

[MechEngr]

Saw that too. At least it was quick and surprising.

[twinstar_ca]

every driver's nightmare... feel that in the pedals.. :(:yuk:

[MechEngr]

I guess stickers or paint with heads and hands being severed put along the tail boom is bad for business?

[212man]

I guess stickers or paint with heads and hands being severed put along the tail boom is bad for business?
Pretty sure people that don’t see 2m rotating blades don’t notice stickers

[Bell_ringer]

Pretty sure people that don’t see 2m rotating blades don’t notice stickers

It’s hard to see anything if you’re staring at your phone.
If the number of videos of people walking into glass doors while on the phone is an indicator, it is surprising this doesn’t happen more often.

[212man]

It’s hard to see anything if you’re staring at your phone.
If the number of videos of people walking into glass doors while on the phone is an indicator, it is surprising this doesn’t happen more often.
I think more people walk through doors than fly on helicopters (or not fly, in this case). I must say, it’s a very distinctive noise 😳

[MechEngr]

"Times of India reports (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/toi-original/fatal-helicopter-accident-in-kedarnath-govt-official-dies-after-being-hit-by-choppers-blade/videoshow/99732868.cms) the UCADA official was attempting to board the helicopter from the wrong side despite the pilot’s instructions."
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/08/05/video-of-ucada-officials-fatal-helicopter-accident-is-nowhere-to-be-found/

At some point in readying to take the passenger to the aircraft I think the operators being able to point to the visible warning would encourage most people to avoid going that way. A grey blur may not stand out enough as a warning. Perhaps the remaining and future UCADA (Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority) members will consider this.

Their Mission:

To develop a self-sustainable civil aviation sector in the state of Uttarakhand which can provide safe, secured and convenient travel to any part of the state thereby enhancing trade, tourism & economy of the entire state.

My bolding.

[EEngr]

"board the helicopter from the wrong side"

Not a helicopter passenger/expert here. By "wrong side" do they mean approaching from the rear? Or is there a preferred side left/right, possibly to keep boarding pax in pilot's view?

[[email protected]]

Just takes one member of ground crew to prevent this - they stand in the way and direct the pax, not really rocket science is it?

[SASless]

No matter how simple and clearly worded.....signs only work if you see them, read them, and do what they advise.



https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/540x540/full_54774_140014_helicopterwarning_8bc2ca8ab0fb103526f4c5db 62005a4de20bc4d5.jpg

[Devil 49]

"board the helicopter from the wrong side"

Not a helicopter passenger/expert here. By "wrong side" do they mean approaching from the rear? Or is there a preferred side left/right, possibly to keep boarding pax in pilot's view?


The correct side to board is in the direction the pilot indicates. That means, of course, that one establishes visual contact with the pilot and watch for a signal. If there's ground crew escorting, directing the boarding follow their instruction.
You only have to be wrong once...

[Tickle]

Sorry to learn about this.

Perhaps tail rotors need to be kept noisy rather than find ways to quieten them.

Kind of like the saying, "loud pipes save lives" in regards to vehicle exhausts.

[Bell_ringer]

Sorry to learn about this.

Perhaps tail rotors need to be kept noisy rather than find ways to quieten them.

Kind of like the saying, "loud pipes save lives" in regards to vehicle exhausts.

Considering all the other noise from an idle helicopter I am not sure you could make it noisy enough to have any real effect on a distracted passenger.

[Nescafe]

Considering all the other noise from an idle helicopter

My boss reckons that more noise comes from an idle pilot.

[Flyting]

Unfortunatly this happens every year.
Some manufacturers in the past have made it a little more safe by adding the safety bar at the bottom half of the TR disk - H125, Bell 47 & Enstrom or the R44 which has an extended bar.
Hopefully sooner or later they´ll all add something similar. I can´t image how it must feel for the pilot thereafter irrelevant of good a briefing he did...

[Evil Twin]

Darwinism at work

[helichris]

Darwinism at work
Was waiting for some low-life to grab the low hanging fruit.

[Lonewolf_50]

The correct side to board is in the direction the pilot indicates. That means, of course, that one establishes visual contact with the pilot and watch for a signal. If there's ground crew escorting, directing the boarding follow their instruction.
You only have to be wrong once... I bolded that bit for the benefit of the non aviators who have chosen to participate in this discussion.

My other thought on this boils down to "...: life's hard, but it's harder if you're stupid"
As most pilots know, one moment of stupidity can kill you.
Also brings to mind some advice from a maintenance chief when I was first on an aircraft carrier:
When walking near helicopters or other aircraft with their engines turning, keep your head on a swivel.

[Bell_ringer]

Was waiting for some low-life to grab the low hanging fruit.

At least you've had your daily dose of offence. With a little more exposure you may even build up a resistance and be able to calmly go about your own business ignoring things you don't like.
Modern science has shown that being offended leaves no permanent injury and is rarely fatal.

Spare a thought for the pilot, who will have to live with this experience, and for little else than a phone obsession.
If there is something to be annoyed about, that would be it.

[CGameProgrammerr]

The correct side of a helicopter is the front. The correct side of a single-engine airplane is the rear.

[SASless]

Not quite accurate.

Other factors add to what is the "correct" direction and method.

Alpine Rescue operators make some pretty interesting Toe In Landings for example.



https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/495x371/92c8846d710dbf0ef628c0b71c9e2ed5_7cb3c3a2d4e97aa5550ac494e6c 58cebadbb9bf3.jpg




Or say a Chinook doing the opposite......



https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/720x480/helo_9303e66519bc3538d96a06c284342fcf32046207.jpg

[SLFMS]

Darwinism at work

It was a bit callous ET. While I don’t tend to feel sorry for real darwinians a tail rotor is a bit insidious and people just do not realise how much so. T/R’s have got enough experienced crew that know the dangers so it is not fair to expect a member of the public to understand.

Rotors turning pax change need ground crew to supervise otherwise shut down.

[Bell_ringer]

It was a bit callous ET. While I don’t tend to feel sorry for real darwinians a tail rotor is a bit insidious and people just do not realise how much so. T/R’s have got enough experienced crew that know the dangers so it is not fair to expect a member of the public to understand.

Rotors turning pax change need ground crew to supervise otherwise shut down.

In a third world country, the pilot is the ground crew. Helicopters are the chosen method of transport for a reason, and yet, generally, tail rotor accidents happen in more developed areas and frequently involving a mobile device.
There are some videos involving electioneering which will amaze you, yet no fatalities.

[Evil Twin]

It was a bit callous ET. While I don’t tend to feel sorry for real darwinians a tail rotor is a bit insidious and people just do not realise how much so. T/R’s have got enough experienced crew that know the dangers so it is not fair to expect a member of the public to understand.

Rotors turning pax change need ground crew to supervise otherwise shut down.

Indeed however, taking yourself out of the gene pool taking a selfie is not one of those situations.

I have not a shred of sympathy for the individual. The people I feel for are the pilot, the operator and the emergency services team that have to deal with the aftermath.

[megan]

Posting the video because of the lessons it may provide, my take away is inadequate control of personages on the pad, not evident here, pilot doesn't, and can't, have control of what is going on outside his running helo.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1650538696964464640

[MechEngr]

It looks like he was paying attention, ducking down under the tail cone tip, and did not see the tail rotor or realized too late. I can see his knees buckle before the tail rotor impacts him.

Possibly he was around small planes just enough and was told to never go around the nose, regardless of the reason.

With this photo as an example, there would be nearly none of the tail rotor disk visible from the direction of the deceased and it would be almost entirely hidden on the walk back there:
https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/10761473

Am I right that the tail rotor primarily pushes air to the port side and so would not have blown air at the deceased?

[DogTailRed2]

As a stupid passenger can someone explain why the helicopter isn't shut down for boarding?
I've only flown on a helicopter once but it was shutdown for boarding and egressing the aircraft. Egressing even more important because the elation of a flight makes you even stupider.
It's not for the passenger to be expected to be competent around a live aircraft, that's where the operator and crew come in.

[Sir Korsky]

Shutting down in remote areas without ground support is often a no no. Bad starter or weak battery and you could be stuck, especially for HAA guys landing on highways. You'd want to be ready for a quick load too.

[212man]

Indeed however, taking yourself out of the gene pool taking a selfie is not one of those situations.

I have not a shred of sympathy for the individual. The people I feel for are the pilot, the operator and the emergency services team that have to deal with the aftermath.
At what point do you suggest this individual was taking a selfie? I saw the video before it was posted here, and I see no evidence of selfie taking by anyone, just uncoordinated ground handling.

[Bell_ringer]

At what point do you suggest this individual was taking a selfie? I saw the video before it was posted here, and I see no evidence of selfie taking by anyone, just uncoordinated ground handling.

As I understand it, the inference was that he was on his way to take a selfie when he walked into the rotor.
No one said he was taking one at that exact moment.

[ShyTorque]

The correct side of a helicopter is the front. The correct side of a single-engine airplane is the rear.

Definitely NOT so with all types of helicopter. For example, approaching from the front of an SK76 is extremely dangerous because of the low height of the turning rotors and the only safe approach is from the side. Similarly with a Chinook, where the safest place is to the rear.

[ShyTorque]

Am I right that the tail rotor primarily pushes air to the port side and so would not have blown air at the deceased?

That depends on what the pilot is doing with his feet (and for general info, which type of helicopter).

I’ve experienced helicopter passengers (both military and civilian)doing illogical and very dangerous things, despite having been warned about the specific dangers and the correct procedures in a pre flight brief. Years ago, on being dined out from my first helicopter tour (Army Support, in RAF Germany) and being required to make some sort of a formal speech I remember making comment that I’d spent much of my time over the previous four years training troops to embark and disembark safely (would have been many hundreds) yet every time we picked up or dropped off someone was likely to have brain fade and either forget or ignore the safety brief given only a short time before, sometimes putting themselves in danger.

[212man]

Definitely NOT so with all types of helicopter. For example, approaching from the front of an SK76 is extremely dangerous because of the low height of the turning rotors and the only safe approach is from the side. Similarly with a Chinook, where the safest place is to the rear.

Conversely, some types you could walk back and to under the tail for a month of Sundays and be in no danger!

[RVDT]

It seems that the environment around helicopters for the unaware can lead to brain overload and subsequent dysfunction.

Noise, expectation, excitement, uncertainty / fear, proximity to large fast rotating parts, exhaust gas smells, dust etc etc seems to overload normally sane people.

You can lecture them until you are blue in the face, but you just can't trust that any of it has been taken in.

Maybe pax need to be told that they will probably lose the plot? All ground crew I have worked with have been warned to treat all pax as sheep regardless of who they are as they will do dumb **** in a millisecond as they are basically unconscious.

If you have the slightest uncertainty or any reservation about the experience of the pax - shut down and remember it applies whether loading or unloading .

[FH1100 Pilot]

In 1982 or so, when I was a mere lineboy, I witnessed a man walk into the tail rotor of a Bell 222 at the E60th Street Heliport in NYC. This, despite the fact that there were *two* customer service reps loading the pax and their hand luggage. It was a very gruesome death. At the time, Pan American Airlines was running a "free" shuttle service from Manhattan to JFK for their First Class passengers. It was ostensibly a FAR Part-91 operation, and Pan Am didn't want to bother the pax with trivial things like safety briefings. That obviously changed.

Then one day in the late 1980's (when I was then an actual pilot) another pilot and I were in a 206, flying Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall into the city, again landing at E60th Street. He and she had been given the standard Part-135 briefing....in the ship, while it was running, of course. We landed and pointed the ship directly at Operations so they had the most direct path. With the other pilot holding the controls, I hopped out. But simultaneously, Mick hopped out of the left-rear seat and started walking back and I mean right toward the tail rotor. I grabbed him by his boney little shoulders and redirected him to the front. That was the day Mick Jagger almost died.

It's true that people act stupid around helicopters. The excitement of helicopter flying, plus the cacophony of noise from the engine and rotor blades seems to disorient them. In a perfect world, we'd all just shut down for loading and unloading. In the real world, pax are never patient enough to wait for the engine(s) and rotor to stop turning.