Mexican Navy helicopter crash lands just after takeoff in Mazatlan, Sinaloa
Posted by FirebirdWS6dude@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 271 comments
Posted by FirebirdWS6dude@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 271 comments
Goofball1983@reddit
Wow. That could've been a lot worse.
totensiesich@reddit
Smoke from the top of your main rotor is never good. But kudos to the pilot for keeping it relatively under control, not rolling it, and keeping things in one piece. Kind of seems like the crew knew something was bad and just did their best to get it on the ground as quickly as possible.
slingcodefordollars@reddit
Are you an AI bot?
totensiesich@reddit
What do you think, goofball?
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
I'd say this is the best possible outcome for a catastrophic failure. Props to the crew. Some good flying and some good luck. Glad no one was injured.
El_Halcon0341@reddit
This is a flame out right? Crashed due to sudden loss of power/lift.
YugeWaterBottle@reddit
That's not a flameout. Thats a catastrophic engine failure. A flameout is a benign engine failure when combustion suddenly ceases (flames out). NOT when the exhaust spews hot metal, flames, and smoke.
dick_for_rent@reddit
Is that Mi-8?
DrySpring4881@reddit
Mi-17
Lower-Annual3314@reddit
Why's the Mexican navy buying Russian helis?
redditsublurker@reddit
Found the military industrial complex boot licker.
Thebraincellisorange@reddit
there isn't much else like it on the market.
Newsdriver245@reddit
Guessing at the time (breakup of soviet union) they got quite good deals
TotalAgreeable@reddit
Yup, They were bought between 1999 and 2012 to around 30 to 35 in but maybe 20 remain in operation.
Any-Computer-5981@reddit
Also easy to get spare parts for as well since it does operate in a lot of countries.
joshuatx@reddit
Mi-8/17s are reliable and affordable. Even the US was buying them for Afghanistan's military.
mtnbike2@reddit
Price probably
edelweiss_ch@reddit
Because they needed helis and the Russians sold them for a good price. Most countries don't care about the origin of their equipment as long as they can buy it and the price is right.
Taskforce58@reddit
Tail rotor on left: Mi17
Tail rotor on right: Mi8
TunaCuna@reddit
Well that's interesting, do you know why they switched the tail rotor to the left side on the 17? Seems like a massive pain for what I thought was mostly an export variant of the 8
Samolet4ik@reddit
Only the very first Mi-8 generation (Mi-8T) had a "pusher" tail rotor on the right-hand side. All later generations (Mi- 8MT/Mi-17 and modern Mi-8MTV) moved this to the left-hand side, acting as a "tractor". And rotation is also reversed. It's aerodynamically much more effective as the tail rotor downwash acts against the main rotor's one improving overall balance and controllability.
dick_for_rent@reddit
Thanks
karateninjazombie@reddit
It's a pile of scrap now regardless.
Practical_Sample6313@reddit
The MI-8 was build in the USSR, and first fielded about 1967. I wonder how old this helo was? I'm also surprised, for some reason, that Mexico is buying Russian military hardware, which again, makes me think that this helo was probably 40 or 50 years old. Maintenance for ANY helo is no joke, and the older they get, the more slightly neglected or shoddy maintenance, will bury a helo crew. These guys were lucky to bring it down, though I thought he was going to make it intact. I wonder if the crew lost both power and hydraulic control.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Your comment or post has been automatically removed from /r/aviation. Posts/Comments from new accounts are automatically removed by our automated systems. We, and many other large subreddits, do this to combat spam, spambots, and other activities that are not condusive to the sub. In the meantime, participate on Reddit to build your acouunt age and this restriction will go away. Also, please familiarize yourself with this subreddit's rules, which you can find in the sidebar or by clicking this link. Do not contact the moderation team unless you feel you have received this message/action in error. We will not manually approve comments or posts from new accounts.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
grain_farmer@reddit
Im not a CPL but I always find it an interesting choice to not do a rearward takeoff when you need a vertical departure.
Trooper_nsp209@reddit
Just a hard landing
Parfilov@reddit
Speedrun helicopter loss any%
Light_and_Sun_8377@reddit
If all crash landings ended like this...btw I did not know Mexicans use Mi helicopters.
zerbey@reddit
That's probably the best possible outcome in this situation.
ilikelegoandcrackers@reddit
Well that could have gone much worse.
Mysterious-Dirt-8841@reddit
Preliminary report suggest a failure
NighthawkCP@reddit
Yea with everything around the landing pad, I assumed it wasn't going to be a good outcome. Helo is toast but I think everyone can probably walk away from that one and hopefully no injuries on the ground either.
Chiadungz@reddit
Is the helicopter totaled or can it be salvaged. Can’t imagine an uncontrolled drop to ground followed by wobbling is good for precision machinery.
jgmiller24094@reddit
Well it's a Russian built helicopter so precision machinery is definitely a relative term.
VoiceActorForHire@reddit
Nice casual stereotyping
hoppertn@reddit
I’m kinda surprised they’re using Russian Hardware. I would have thought the US would give a decent discount to have neighbors using US made equipment.
Sacharon123@reddit
Do you really believe thats how the USA works? ;D
9999AWC@reddit
They do use American helos. Hell, the US also uses Russian helicopters :P
BleedingUranium@reddit
There's a Black Hawk in this very video, and it loses a blade to one from the Hip. :(
mikeg5417@reddit
"From hells heart, I stab at thee.... For hates sake, I spit my last breath at thee!" -the Hip to the Hawk, probably. (And Melville, too, of course)
9999AWC@reddit
That should be repairable, but I assume it'll require a full inspection of the engines and gearbox at least
Available_Ad2661@reddit
Complete write off
9999AWC@reddit
There's absolutely no way the Blackhawk is a write-off just for a blade strike
quietflyr@reddit
The Black Hawk that just had a blade strike (from one of the Hip's blades)?
No way. It will almost definitely be repaired.
Parking-Fortune-222p@reddit
sudden estoppage inspection to power train/main rotor systems
Parking-Fortune-222p@reddit
power train/rotor systems
usaf5@reddit
Fuck yea sudden stop inspection!
Parking-Fortune-222p@reddit
That's right
unrebigulator@reddit
You can only call them helicopters if they are Russian. Otherwise they are sparkling hovercrafts.
9999AWC@reddit
Ah I see, please excuse my ignorance on the topic 😵💫
SoulOfTheDragon@reddit
Old Soviet/Russian gear was extremely affordable for a good while. Yeah, they are rough, loud, bit on the inefficient side and old designs... But they tend to be robust and just work.
Captain_no_Hindsight@reddit
Russian "precision" machinery.
My new favorit term.
TheRealAndroid@reddit
In Fairness they did get to space first and the Rocket motors on the atlas v and antares rockets were russian. They can do it- just not every day
RoutineTraditional79@reddit
Were? Atlas V rockets still are Russian, it's what Elon is using as a basis to fuck over ULA (his only true competitor)
Captain_no_Hindsight@reddit
The USA did not know it was a competition until the Soviet Union declared itself the winner of the first stage.
TheRealAndroid@reddit
Yes, It must've come as a bit of a shock- Luckily y'all had Wernher Von Braun to assist
mnztr1@reddit
12000 built and in use in 60 countries, must be a terrible POS. 🙄
jgmiller24094@reddit
I never said it was BAD equipment, just that the USSR wasn't known for precision their older stuff definitely can take a beating.
NedTaggart@reddit
They managed to develop the most reliable way to get to space. Precision isnt always necessary when shit just works.
quietflyr@reddit
Do you have a source on that? I'd never heard about it and would like to read more
scratchyNutz@reddit
I can't imagine there are many spares for them kicking about.
quietflyr@reddit
... They're still in production. Spares are plentiful.
hgwelz@reddit
The MIL is like an old tractor - rugged, simple, & easy to fix in the field, while the US competitors are more high tech, high maintenance, and more expensive to maintain,.
TypicalRecon@reddit
They are tough as hell and probably half the cost an hour of a newer Blackhawk. IIRC Mexico bought these from Kazan in the 90s and have given them upgrades from there. I think Mexico operates about the same number of Hips and Hawks.
Own-Entrepreneur7339@reddit
It doesn’t take much to total aircraft but assuming the major structures are in tact and the damage is limited to replaceable components (transmission, driveshafts, engines, blades, actuators, landing gear) and the lower skin - it could be rebuilt and have a long life. If Russian aircraft are anything like American aircraft it may have increased inspections/life limitations but I’ve definitely seen worse aircraft returned to service.
Kind of depends on how bad they want to fly it again and if they’re willing to spend the money on it.
WhichWall3719@reddit
It made a full recovery and was sent to live on a farm in the country
swisstraeng@reddit
To determine that the entire fuselage has to be tested for cracks. It is possible it's not worth the repairs.
G25777K@reddit
Totaled lol maybe spare parts at best.
peroxidase2@reddit
Walk away with wet pants.
tropicbrownthunder@reddit
Actually there's a lot of stuff within 1 mile around. Used to live very close from there.
The cruiseline terminal is right next to it. Some huge tanks to receive oil tankers are also within a mile in the same dock. There's a lot of civilian houses across the street. and a small town right across a small channel. With lots of civilian vessels crossing most of the time
Here
luv2ctheworld@reddit
Was thinking that as the blades hit the ground. First thought was pieces of those blades flying right towards people. Or a possible fire/explosion.
not_ElonMusk1@reddit
Why would rotor blades hitting the ground cause an explosion? 🤔
Highly dangerous, for sure, but not going to explode. Lol. This isn't a bugs bunny cartoon.
luv2ctheworld@reddit
Lol... Reread the post. You're missing or not understanding the word "or".
not_ElonMusk1@reddit
Your comment began by talking about the blades then you started a sentence with "or" (which is improper English) implying that the subject in question (the blades) were either going to fly towards people OR explode.
I think you are misunderstanding the proper usage of the word "or" and basic English syntax.
luv2ctheworld@reddit
Sounds like you making things too complicated.
Blades as shrapnel. Or an explosion from crashing. That's what it means.
But you die on that hill of yours, random Redditor who likes to try and correct people out of some weird inferiority complex. I doubt you can just leave it at that, you seem like the kind of rando who must have the last word. Let's see if that tracks.
not_ElonMusk1@reddit
Did I meet your standards?
You sure failed mine, rando Redditor.
Learn English before you correct others on it. Touche Douché.
not_ElonMusk1@reddit
Sounds like you don't know how English works.
You used the blades as the subject then continued with "or" implying the blades were still the subject.
Then you tell me I don't know what "or" means 😂
CodeNameCobra666@reddit
Much much worse
notusuallyhostile@reddit
I like how the big puff of smoke from the rotor housing didn’t phase the guys in the foreground, and they didn’t bolt until just before it hit the deck!
noncongruent@reddit
Looked like a ball of orange flame out the left side engine exhaust to me.
notusuallyhostile@reddit
I think you’re right! Although, that makes their non-reaction even funnier.
HAV816@reddit
I was going to say the same thing he didn’t panic and did the best he could.
battlecryarms@reddit
Came here to say that he flew the aircraft and got her down safely
Insanereindeer@reddit
First think I thought as well. Throw it away, grab another and try again.
StellaBean_bass@reddit
Yeah, I'm glad it was a soft landing although when it got out of balance I was afraid it was going to get ugly.
drewid5185@reddit
That is exactly what I came here to say that they were about 6 in from total disaster
Vaugely_Necrotic@reddit
I too came here to say I came here to say this.
LPNTed@reddit
MUCH!
828jpc1@reddit
Much much much worse
Wabbit_Wampage@reddit
I'm glad no one got sliced in half by a flying rotor blade.
Imlooloo@reddit
Just thought the same!
Cognonymous@reddit
Helicopter crashes often do.
Deadluss@reddit
tbh safest looking crash
Cake-Over@reddit
The shaking at the end reminds me of my perpetually unbalanced washing machine during the spin cycle
Thebraincellisorange@reddit
that gearbox and rotor mast must be strong as fuck.
stayed in one piece after the rotors smashed into that shed, and the mast held together with the rotors turning completely out of balance after taking that hit.
bloody strong
fumanchudu@reddit
Does anyone have a source on the cause?
Thebraincellisorange@reddit
well, the left hand engine decided not to be an engine anymore.
on a twin engine helicopter, that means not enough power to continue the take off, you just sink back to the earth.
the rotors hit the shed and that was that.
Vau8@reddit
Left hand turbine switched to engine-rich-combustion in a very wrong moment: To high to simply cut off, to low to aviate properly.
DonCenote@reddit
Avoidable somehow or just have to make the best of a crash landing?
Thebraincellisorange@reddit
that was always going to be a crash.
this is coffin corner for a twin engine helo.
they need both engines to takeoff and hover. losing that engine at 75 feet after takeoff is the worst possible timing for that to happen.
no forward momentum to autorotate, no altitude to trade for forward momentum, and not enough power in the single remaining engine to hover.
it was an inevitable sink to the earth and crash.
they did really well, if it wasn't for the rotors hitting the shed, the aircraft may have been undamaged.
Danielovando@reddit
That pilot tried his best to keep it from a torque rotation and ended saving the day
mikpyt@reddit
absolutely not. His tail rotor and transmission systens never faileeld here. Mi-17 natyrally drifts nose left, CW main rotor. The yaw you see at the end is tye pilit releasing right pedal to save some main rotor RPM and prevent dropping out of the sky.
He lost left engine, if he kept the nose straight he would bleed NR (main rotor RPM) due to insufficient power
BleedingUranium@reddit
That, and I'm pretty sure they were trying to not end up in the water, or maybe worse, half on the dock-and/or-boats and then tumbling into the water from there.
It's a bit hard to judge with this perspective, but with the rotor was hitting stuff on that boat there, the right wheel seems like it ended up maybe a couple feet from the edge.
Danielovando@reddit
Agreed, the one thing I noticed is as soon as his engine fails he pulls the stick to try and back up the helo to the LZ
the_real_hugepanic@reddit
looks like a school book application of this chart....
Imposslen@reddit
Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing lol
jax3580@reddit
American Made quality
Substantial_Tap_2493@reddit
Idiot made comment.
Bookworm10-42@reddit
It’s a Russian made MI-17.
Fearless-Ad4298@reddit
Todo bien?
Horror-Primary7739@reddit
Pilot was as cool as a tamale from abuelas icebox.
Mass_And_Sass@reddit
They shouldn’t have bought Russian equipment.
The_Pharoah@reddit
Well done to the pilot on the autorotation. Could've ended badly.
Intelligent-Snow-190@reddit
My dad has an awesome set of tools. I can fix it.
edchavez@reddit
Not bad all things considered
Farfignugen42@reddit
When the video started my first thought was dang, that heli gas a lot of wheels. But then many of the wheels turned out to be on the trailer behind the heli.
I'm glad that was as gentle a crash as it was and I hope the crew and any passengers are OK.
GetOffMyGrassBrats@reddit
If I'm ever in a helicopter crash landing, I want it to look just like this.
eruditeimbecile@reddit
Why the fuck would you ever willingly get in a helicopter?
iksbob@reddit
Med-evac?
GetOffMyGrassBrats@reddit
I probably wouldn't, but many thousands of them make completely safe flights every day.
Excellent-Two-4605@reddit
Because they're cool...
Worshipme988@reddit
Man after that helo crash on that beach. Remember the one where he comes in off the water and tail strikes in 1st land attmpt and then touches down again but in the water so pilot shoots way up and crashes and kills people?
That video looked so casual until all hell ripped open. Im always very nervous in helo videos now.
mnztr1@reddit
Well I would hope for better, but I would certainly settle for this!!
GetOffMyGrassBrats@reddit
Anything less would just be a hard landing.
mnztr1@reddit
I have seen helos autorotate to a 100% perfect landing, but you need some forward speed or a lot more altitude for that.
gnartung@reddit
Wouldn’t really qualify as a crash landing then.
mnztr1@reddit
I think any emerg landing is considered a crash landing. Just 'cos it turns out ok does not mean it wasn't terrifying.
FlyMePerson@reddit
I think we should call this by the correct term of “forced landing” since “crash landing” is a sensationalized term.
gnartung@reddit
Perhaps by authorities, but colloquially and semantically I feel like a “crash” is a prerequisite for a crash landing. Even Merriam-Webster defines “crash” as “to damage (an airplane) in a landing.”
A perfect autorotation is no more a crash than an airplane gliding down gently to a runway since neither result in any damage (at least in my mind).
Emergency landing != crash landing.
showersareevil@reddit
They should not have let the magic smoke out, and the crash would have been avoided!
GetOffMyGrassBrats@reddit
I'm sure they would appreciate that feedback.
BigTintheBigD@reddit
Always bad idea to release the factory installed smoke.
i8bb8@reddit
This comment is obviously a joke but, as a certified Helicopter Expert I can safely say that the reason for the failure was that the magic required to make it work ran out.
OtterGlint@reddit
Well, they shoulda expected that, this being the Old Mexico Navy. They shoulda used the New Mexico Navy instead! 😄
tob007@reddit
burst hydraulic line? def looks like high pressure.
PocketSizedRS@reddit
Looks like it came out of the left hand engine exhaust. My guess is that the left engine failed and the remaining engine didn't have enough power to maintain the hover. Hard to say without knowing the payload, fuel, and density altitude (also more importantly i am not a pilot)
Steamcurl@reddit
I can hear the Russian "generator disconnect" warning in my head from many hours of flying the Mi-8 in DCS.
PocketSizedRS@reddit
You and me both brother 😂 i haven't played dcs in several years but I remember the Mi-8 startup sequence like it was yesterday. I loved that helo
ClydeThaMonkey@reddit
I could sit for hours starting it up and shutting it down 😅
privatefries@reddit
Single engine failure seems like a good bet. Most dual engine helicopters can continue forward flight with one engine but they can't hover, hence the slow but building descent
Ddreigiau@reddit
Unless the newer models are different (don't think they are), the Mi8/17 engines cannot do rapid changes in power. Maximum collective change during normal ops is 1 degree per second (of ~14deg), exceeding that means the engines can't keep up with the load change.
At higher loads, one engine can't maintain lift, but even if it could, I can't imagine the engine had enough time to spool up to the new loading level.
PocketSizedRS@reddit
It's very hard to say, and the discussion of engine spool time is made more difficult due to the fact that turbine engines typically go from 50-100% much faster than they go from idle-50%.
Jessie_C_2646@reddit
If one engine fails, the other engine has just enough power to fly them to the scene of the crash.
(Okay, we used to say this about S-61s, but it was definitely true here).
Jim2shedz@reddit
I think you are right.
usaf5@reddit
Whether its electronic or mechanical, you never let the magic smoke out.
katrk824@reddit
Every machine is a smoke machine if you operate it wrong enough
(I don’t know anything about helicopters but that doesn’t seem like an operator error)
Inner-Thought9665@reddit
At least there’s no fireball 😮💨
DynamiteWitLaserBeam@reddit
...
[firey explosion]
pickyprick@reddit
Typical Russian piece of shit aircraft.
FirebirdWS6dude@reddit (OP)
UPDATE: According to the Mexican Navy Twitter there were no injuries or fatalities in this incident.
SoulOfTheDragon@reddit
Good to hear. Even this kind of crashes can be really nasty for pilots as the leg area can get crushed up badly.
Not_Daniel_Dreiberg@reddit
I once met a heavy machinery operator who used to be a heli pilot in the Mexican Air Force. He was retired because he crash landed and his spine got badly compressed.
SugarBeefs@reddit
Modern day version of arrow to the knee.
Kaiisim@reddit
Thankfully it was a big boy.
subpoenaThis@reddit
Now they just need to award the solid brown service ribbon to everyone on board.
Not bad. Not great, but not bad at all. Like the clip of the Cessna landing on a golf course and going through a sand trap and not even clipping the prop the other day.
Erebus2021@reddit
Dumped hydraulics
Strong_Quiet_4569@reddit
Needs a new twirly bit.
Shudnawz@reddit
And a slight readjustment of the undercarriage.
FixergirlAK@reddit
And new upholstery.
Remarkable-Ask2288@reddit
New pants for the passengers too I imagine
jkozuch@reddit
Arm rests could use some love.
ScottOld@reddit
Get the panel beaters in
Nonions@reddit
A bulk order for the base laundry too.
insbordnat@reddit
Maybe a new Jesús nut.
nuusain@reddit
Pilot earned his wage and then some
whoop_whoop_pullup@reddit
This is comical, half rotor copter without tail bobbing about.
T-MoneyAllDey@reddit
Reminds me of trying to fly that fat POS in Arma.
DependentStrike4414@reddit
Sucked in a little white bam bam dust!
niconpat@reddit
pity about the shed, looks like he could have landed it without any damage if it wasn't there. But overall good outcome I suppose.
jedensuscg@reddit
I want to know who built that shed. Looks like it just said "that tickles"
Ariochxxx@reddit
Buildings: 2 Aircraft: 0
That building in Brazil took the airplane hit like a champ.
TotalAgreeable@reddit
I had to take another look, you are right. It looks like the shed could've held it together if it landed on top of it lol.
MetroBR@reddit
bad day to be a shed fan
Vindicated0721@reddit
And that my friends is the exact reason why you don’t drift in any direction during a max performance take off.
Pristine_Barber976@reddit
Don't you need nose forward to get clean air?
Vindicated0721@reddit
You nose forward at your TDP in a max performance take off. It’s not a slight drift. And you don’t nose forward till you are high enough to fly away on single engine in case of this exact scenario (twin engine of course). You go straight up and stay above your LZ so you can come straight back down in case you lose an engine. Imagine this was a roof, this was a been a much worse ending.
What you are thinking is a normal take off. Which isn’t done from confined spaces.
Pristine_Barber976@reddit
IIRC from reading chickenhawk they had to get overloaded Huey's moving to get any lift
Vindicated0721@reddit
Not to just hueys. Overloaded anything or even close to max. You are forced to do that little movement to get some better lift. But as we can see here. That sometimes ends in suck.
quietflyr@reddit
Actually you usually drift backwards so you have visibility of the landing zone.
Vindicated0721@reddit
Actuallyyyyyy (pushes up glasses up). Some people drift back a little bit on purpose. Many don’t. There is a very recent video of a ec145 drifting backwards into some trees and crashing. If your always drift backwards its becomes habit. And whether you know an obstruction is behind you or not. Sometimes with habits and a quick lapse in memory. Disaster can strike. Also again what happens if it’s a roof top and you don’t make it back.
Yes some people drift backwards. Many don’t. I do not see the benefit. The ground isn’t disappearing from below you.
quietflyr@reddit
When I say drifting back, I don't mean immediately after lift off and I don't mean by much. Still very much within autorotation range from the given altitude. Just enough to keep your emergency landing zone within view, usually from a chin window.
The benefit is especially true on a rooftop because you might not have another place to set down, and if you lose visual reference to the helipad, you probably don't have time to reacquire it before it's too late.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Your post/comment has been automatically removed due to Low Effort. I am an automated system.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
juvandy@reddit
TiL Mexico has russian helicopters.
scotsman3288@reddit
So is this the max altitude you would settle for main gearbox failure?
CaptainA1917@reddit
“Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.”
McCrazyJ@reddit
Okay was the white smoke from an engine or the transmission?
FlyingRed@reddit
Engine
mrwilliams117@reddit
Can you link where you read that
FlyingRed@reddit
I fly twin engine helicopters and that’s exactly what it looks like when the engine gives out. If it was transmission, they wouldn’t have had a chance to land it.
ApatheticInvestor118@reddit
New pope
jeremiahfelt@reddit
First one, and then the other.
Bartybum@reddit
Probably the engines, gearbox failure would likely be far more catastrophic
Strong_Quiet_4569@reddit
Yes.
f101b-90-mc@reddit
Somebody done broke a hip, I reckon
Cinci_ink@reddit
You can’t park there.
1320Fastback@reddit
It let out the magic smoke
Great_Ganache_8698@reddit
That’s some quick action there; right after hover hold too. Mad props for that quick shut down too!
IntroductionDry5380@reddit
thank god it didnt happen at a much higher altitude.
slopit12@reddit
The thing about flying is speed and altitude are life. They give you energy (velocity and potential energy through altitude). It's too early to tell in this accident. But if an aircraft is flying at cruise speed and at plenty of altitude, a safe landing is far easier to achieve because you have lots of energy, which gives you time and control.
The problem here was a critical failure during the vertical lift (zero forward speed) segment of the takeoff, before the transition to gain forward momentum. This means the only outcome if you no longer have sufficient power to gain height is to come straight back down where you lifted from.
All that's to say, we pilots like altitude!
Inside-Finish-2128@reddit
I've always heard the goal is at least 30 knots and 300 feet. Otherwise it requires reactions too fast.
Da_hoodest_hoodrat@reddit
Fixed wing pilots like altitude. All lift is generated from those rotors. If you’re 1000ft AGL in a rotor wing, and you lose your power plant, your ass is grass.
jeremiahfelt@reddit
Autorotation is a thing.
narcomoeba@reddit
Not really, it's more complicated than that. If your rotor remains intact, you can auto-rotate to the ground. As the saying goes though a helicopter is a million parts rotating rapidly around an oil leak waiting for metal fatigue to set in.
Da_hoodest_hoodrat@reddit
I know what auto rotation is but a power off landing in a rotor wing is more than likely going to be more violent than any fixed wing.
i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit
Not true at all, especially if there are trees or other obstacles. You can auto pretty safely to a small area, a fixed-wing needs enough to roll out from above their stall speed, which is usually more than the 50’-100’ of clearing a helicopter needs.
slopit12@reddit
If you're in an 'out of ground effect' hover, you'd be correct. Because without forward momentum, a helicopter is unlikely to recover from a critical loss of power.
However, if you had good forward momentum (i.e. cruise speed), you can 'autorotate'. This involves transferring that forward velocity energy into rotational energy in the rotors. So, as the helicopter begins to descend due to the lack of power, the air flow through the rotors will allow you to maintain rotor speed and, consequently, lift generation. It's not dissimilar to gliding a fixed-wing aircraft. Although the margins for success are smaller.
scmerrim@reddit
Ever heard of autorotation?
Da_hoodest_hoodrat@reddit
If you’re not in the dead man’s curve sure lol but a rotorwing power off landing is not pretty at all. High energy and no way to bleed it in a lot of cases.
i_should_go_to_sleep@reddit
But they said 1,000’. That’s outside of every helicopter’s dead man curve
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Your post/comment has been automatically removed due to Low Effort. I am an automated system.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Dry_Complaint_3569@reddit
Hip to be there🎶
GrahamCrackerCereal@reddit
Shout out to the pilots tho they saved TF outta that
pencilsharper66@reddit
A roll of speed tape and it’s again good to go.
penywisexx@reddit
That and they need to put the magic smoke back in the engine.
Analogsilver@reddit
Good landing.
the_jetset@reddit
I wonder if Russia is having a hard time providing service, spare parts and support for equipment purchased from other countries. Kind of cool to see a Blackhawk off to the right ... same government using both US and Russian equipment side by side.
Famous-Cobbler-8756@reddit
Made in Mexico
colin8651@reddit
Made in Russia
SomolianDaycare@reddit
The crash was Made in Mexico.
Atholthedestroyer@reddit
Oh they let out the EXPENSIVE smoke...
RawkitScience@reddit
Lost hydro and couldn’t control the swash plate?
FlyingRed@reddit
Lost engine 1
Bartybum@reddit
Nah engine failure, this is a textbook autorotation. Look at how much energy's taken out of the rotor - by the time it lands it's barely spinning
Jimi_Hotsauce@reddit
30,000 PARTS LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO CRASH
cruisin_urchin87@reddit
If it’s something you can walk away from, it’s not a bad landing
DisastrousEnd3381@reddit
He hit an air brake and thrust at the same time and caused an engine malfunction is what it looks like. Improper training.
DestoryDerEchte@reddit
But... why?
Torkin@reddit
Didn’t roll, didn’t explode, didn’t panic. Great job!
shermanhill@reddit
I really thought that was going to be bad.
Seems like just about the best possible result.
SnooDoodles4807@reddit
Looks like the engine took in FOD, since I didn't see any birds my best guess is a Philips screwdriver 🪛🪛🪛🪛🪛🪛🪛
Bonanzapilot@reddit
That’s why you never let the magic smoke out of a helicopter.
FrankieRoo@reddit
From flying to cuatro sinko muy rápido!
cannasuer4@reddit
Now that is how to crash land a helicopter
ducatination@reddit
Seems to me someone didn't cinch down a control surface actuator hydraulic line, high pressure spray from the fluid leak and then loss of control. Ouch, they got lucky! Someone's losing their job.
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Your post/comment has been automatically removed due to Low Effort. I am an automated system.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
colin8651@reddit
Oh Mexico, our trading partner.
Your Russian helicopter failed
k12pcb@reddit
Pilot did really well there that could have been a very bad day
domesystem@reddit
Ahh a bad Hip
Remarkable-Ask2288@reddit
That tends to happen on older folks
Important-Spring3977@reddit
Getting old, broke a Hip.
General_Specific@reddit
Navy is supposed to be boats. Rookie mistake.
Forsaken_3sgtej25_2@reddit
This how i feel flying helicopters in battle field
Spacebotzero@reddit
Everyone safe tho so that's good.
SharpPhilosopher3734@reddit
Engine shelled.
realdjjmc@reddit
Great landing to be honest
__JRoc__@reddit
Looks like they lost the L/H engine
deleted_by_reddit@reddit
[removed]
AutoModerator@reddit
Your comment or post has been automatically removed from /r/aviation. Posts/Comments from new accounts are automatically removed by our automated systems. We, and many other large subreddits, do this to combat spam, spambots, and other activities that are not condusive to the sub. In the meantime, participate on Reddit to build your acouunt age and this restriction will go away. Also, please familiarize yourself with this subreddit's rules, which you can find in the sidebar or by clicking this link. Do not contact the moderation team unless you feel you have received this message/action in error. We will not manually approve comments or posts from new accounts.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Haunting-Eye-7146@reddit
Was Pete driving?
Separate-Evening-986@reddit
What's that uneven spin usually called on the blades?
onil34@reddit
Fucked?
FixergirlAK@reddit
A lot of the time I won't even watch videos tagged as helo crashes because they're so gut-wrenching. Kudos to that pilot, he did a fantastic job of keeping it spinny-side up.
gvntlr@reddit
It just ran out of helicopter juice?
StillinICT@reddit
Those blades are going to be a bitch getting back in track.
james51453@reddit
Next on Mythbusters: Can we fix this Soviet era helicopter with duct tape? Then can they blow it up? Will Tory finally get a date with Kari??
MagpieSkies@reddit
As far as helicopter crashes go, 10/10 would do again.
BleedingUranium@reddit
Well that could have been much worse. What's left of the rotor continuing to spin makes it look extra terrifying to be anywhere near.
On that note, one of the big chunks took out that Black Hawk's rotor too. Easier to fix than hitting anywhere else on it though I suppose. :(
rygelicus@reddit
That could have gone a lot worse.
Cristinky420@reddit
Best case scenario.
flightwatcher45@reddit
Hope they pulled their legs up! Wow.
notyouraveragepandaa@reddit
As they say, "Any landing that you can walk away from, is a good landing"
Icy_Pineapple_4456@reddit
POS MI-8
dangledingle@reddit
Wibbly wobbly
Strong_Quiet_4569@reddit
The twirly part broke.
_Nippler_@reddit
The pope saved 'em.
post-explainer@reddit
Please provide a source by replying to the message that was sent to you. Failure to respond to that message will result in the automatic removal of this post. Please feel free to reach out to the mod team through modmail if you have any questions or concerns.
r/Aviation is trialing new measures to prevent karma farming. Please feel free to provide feedback through modmail. Thank you for participating in the community!