NZFF

Unattended chopper takes off without pilot
http://www.odt.co.nz/news/queenstown-lakes...s-without-pilot

Funny mentioned that across our TS just recent leaving engines - rotors and dangle things you don't do running .. guess it proves a point , the ole Cowboy attitude don't work , not sure shut it down .

It's scary how often this happens, reading through the accident archives at least 2-3 times per year it would seem!

I used to get out with the blades turning all the time. Most helicopters in nz have a collective lock so they can't do that. If it doesn't have a lock then you shouldn't really get out when it's running. It's pretty simple really.

The collective lock can vibrate loose though....

Timmo wrote:

QUOTE (Timmo @ May 16 2013,9:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The collective lock can vibrate loose though....

Or .. the best off the best to bite ya arse , can't find the Utube vid .. who needs to walk away from a disaster ready to happen ..... buy a helicopter and say this is easy ...

Not if you do it properly.

Actually reminded me of this chopper company in Queenstown which took us for a tour with an almost mute pilot, and at top of the Remarkables he left the chopper unattended (while engine running) on a spot which I would not call a perfectly suited spot for helis. at that time I was wondering if it was a legal move or he could risk everyone's life at that point?

Never seen a chopper to be left while engines running and the pilot is out.

Happens all the time in the real world. Things like Hughes 500s and 300s have a spring loaded collective that tends to pop up if let go so they all have a 'kiwi guard' that hooks over the mechanism. Most Robinsons in NZ have something similar. In Australia it is written into the rules that your not allowed to do it but in a lot of companies, it is written into the operations manual that the pilot does a walk around after the engine / engines have been started. As a rule, if I'm flying in NZ with passengers, Ill check all the hatches and doors are closed after the engine has been started. If you do it properly then there is no danger.

I think the trail of wreckage and insurance premiums probably suggest this practice is risky if not downright dangerous. Interesting article [url=http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS:STANDARD:c=PC_101358]http://www.casa.gov.au/scripts/nc.dll?WCMS...D:c=PC_101358[/url]

Incidentally I wouldn't leave a fixed wing aircraft running unattended which is arguably less prone to upset than a chopper. Still PIC makes the call.

Walter Fletcher Happens to fixed wing aircraft too!

I was working in Queenstown when this happened. Was a brand new machine with a metallic paintjob. The pilot must have felt sick watching it roll over the cliff.

I've been doing it for my entire career and I maintain that as long as you lock everything up and have the engine at ground idle, it is safe. If you cant lock the collective then you shouldn't do it. I don't do it on machines that don't have a collective lock.

chopper_nut wrote:

QUOTE (chopper_nut @ May 30 2013,5:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't do it on machines that don't have a collective lock.

Straight from the civil training helo pro ... , after the years in engineering myself, you get to understand and no where you and what you can safely do - as Nick mentioned if your not sure - you shut it down .... I moved into another industry , LARGE company with all these so call OHS rules .. i stuck by what i knew and teached and i was a new-boy - FACT is you get idiots that simple dictate and rule and WHOOPS they love to point finger , this case one lost a finger .

Same in any industry , fact is you get people who simple do not follow there OWN set of safety rules - Learn to respect the tools you work with .. then you get really get good at it .

I posted this years ago, at CBFS I think. Not a helicopter, but a good example of why you need to "check manually that mouth is open before inserting toothbrush"
There is an element of slapstick comedy to it, but it was a very lucky escape.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources/dft_a..._pdf_500049.pdf