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[RC] Pilot Error - k s swigarthttp://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20001212X22192&key=1 This is the NTSB report of the helicopter accident I got to be a part of when I was airlifted out after my horse accident at the Grand Canyon ride in October 2000. If one reads the full narrative, it is noted that though the actual altitude at the take off site was ~7500 ft, because of the weather conditions it was as if the altitute was 8,850 feet. And it is also entertaining to note that the helicopter became too heavy only after they put ME on it (my vet was kind enough to point this out and make a joke about it when I told him of the outcome of the final report:)). To quote the final report's probable cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's in-flight loss of control during liftoff DUE TO HIS IMPROPER PLANNING AND DECISIONS. Related factors were the high density altitude and helicopter weight condition, and the lack of a suitable takeoff area. (emphasis mine). So, despite the fact that pilots obviously cannot control the weather, nor did the pilot have any control over my weight, the cause of the accident was still deemed to be pilot error. Helicopter pilots are expected to check the weather conditions and determine in advance whether the equipment they have brought along is suitable for what they are planning to ask of it. The cause of the accident was not put down to "bad luck" but pilot error. And last week Tracey Lomax said about the SA jumper rider at the WEG: He was clear in the first round until three fences from the end when his rein broke and he had the last three fences down. Meaning no disrepsect to the total stranger who is this rider; however, this incident would (I am pretty damned sure) also come under the heading of "pilot error." Reins do not just break on jumper courses through bad luck, they break because somebody didn't check in advance to make sure that the equipment being used was suitable for the task being asked of it.* I actually consider not checking your tack in advance to be a pretty novice mistake; however, this does not mean that I have not been guilty of the same thing myself...TWICE. At the Descanso RAT in 2004, about 10 miles into the ride the stitching on my stirrup leather gave way (the way stitching on stirrup leathers has a tendency to do when it gets worn, especially at an event like a ride & tie where you are using the stirrups all the time for mounting multiple times during the course of the event). We lost about 15-20 minutes while I gerry-rigged (with a leather punch and some string that I was prepared enough to have brought along) some new stitching and continued on our way--probably cost us best condition (from loss of time points). A little over a year later (at the Manzanita RAT in 2005), the exact same thing happened again, this time a scant 300 yards from the finish. This time, there was no point in fixing it to go less than 1/4 of a mile; but this time, it cost us first place to the people we were running neck and neck with for the last 5 miles. Yes, equipment failures can happen to anybody; but almost invariably they happen to people who are making dumb mistakes. There are extremely few things that can be attributed to "circumstances entirely beyond my control," and the NTSB understands this well enough to blame the pilot for an accident arguably caused by the prevailing weather conditions. He should have brought a better helicopter (which is what the helicopter pilot who DID get me to the hospital did), he should have left off either the paramedic or the flight nurse (or some other heavy thing/s); or he should have chosen a place to land (and therefore take off) where there were fewer trees in the way of him recovering (although this probably would not have been my first choice, since then we might have run into problems further into the flight...like actually OVER the Grand Canyon with much more than 80 to 100 feet to fall :)) kat Orange County, Calif. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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