wow, holy... looks like the ship's aft end kicked up just enough to send the chopper off balance and gone with the wind, as it were. i can't believe he was able to land it back on the boat without going overboard. incredible.

That was close. I was looking for a spray of blood the first time --that guy was lucky.

oh my god!

The pilot = Hardcore, managed to recover with a tail rotor failure in the back.

I may have said this before but this is why I don't trust helicopters. Obviously taking off from a moving platform doesn't help much either....

Old Spider: I know what you mean. I cringed the whole way.

Sc

More info from YouTube:

This is a Turbine Enstrom Helicopter on the Heli Pad of a Greenpeace ship some where off the coast of Ireland. One of the deck straps has not been released correctly, with what was very nearly disastrous consequence. Pilot skill and quick thinking saved the day.

This take-off phenomenon is called parametric diving. It happens when the deck is descending and angulating. The wind doesn't much help either. The best defense is full throttle straight vertical.

This made me extremely tense. Even though it said "close call" I expected to see a red mist when those rotors tipped towards the deck hand.

I for one will be happy to go my whole life without ever riding a helicopter. Hell I'll never even get on a motorcycle unless it's an emergency.

Ha! Ecologists!

You mean, Ha! Irish!

Even if there was a spray of red mist, it wouldn't be on the sift, it would have been classed as a snuff.

What i want to know, is why almost everyone who is runnign towards a helicopter ducks. The rotors are always above head height, only pilots seem to stand up and walk straight.

"What i want to know, is why almost everyone who is runnign towards a helicopter ducks. The rotors are always above head height, only pilots seem to stand up and walk straight."

The rotors tilt on 4 axis, if the rotor were to tilt it could chop your head off. The safest way to approach a helicopter is from the side. Also, after an accident like this, the skids could have bent causing the rotors to be closer to the ground. The reason you only see pilots walk standing up is because usually when they walk to/from the helicopter, its not running.

I tried to find an NTSB accident report for this, but there probably isn't one since it happened in international waters. I did find that this helicopter is for sale if anyone is interested.

2003 ENSTROM 480B For Sale by Connection Aviation - N480KP
Type: Turboprop
Make: ENSTROM
Model: 480B
Serial #: 5053
Registration #: N480KP
Year: 2003
Status: For Sale
Asking: Make Offer
Date Listed: 2/21/2006
AFTT: 260

Avionics
* ADF: King KR-87 w/RBI
* Communication Radios: King KY-96A
* Compass: Vertical card
* Radar Altimeter: King
* Transponder: King KT-76C Mode C

Addl Cockpit Equipment
* Crew Accessories: Provisions for Bose headsets
* General: Skyforce moving map w/terrain information, fuel flow computer

Exterior
* Colors: Black w/red
* General: Exterior is in very good condition as reported 02/21/06

Interior
* Carpet: Dark gray carpeting
* General: Custom black leather interior in very good condition as reported 02/21/06
* Seating: Seating w/cloth inserts

Maintenance
* Inspection: FAA Annual to September as reported 02/21/06.

Aircraft Features
* Damage History

Click here if interested.

Unbelievable recovery. Mad skillz and there must've been some luck in there, too.

Several reasons for ducking actually.. in THIS case it is for balance. That ship is all over the place and standing up will just result in falling over. This is most apparent when the blades are almost stopped and still all of the crew are on their knees.

Normaly it is for balance against the wind from the blades, and also because the blades can and may need to tilt (in this case, after the coper jumped, the pilot prolly had the blades tilted foward, pressing the nose/base into the deck until the blades slowed to a speed unable to lift it anymore. This would have made standing infront of it very unwise) so its allways better safe then sorry.

*Removed for the miserable people in this world*

Tail rotor failure is easy... compared to main rotor failure....

ducking while walking under hellies.....If you have ever walked under one, you will know why you duck....it is a reflex action of the survival circuit....the great winds created by the prop, compell one naturally to stoop down.....happpens every time with me....

*wings *eia

Adding video to channels (Eia, Wings) - requested by kulpims.

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The duration of this video has been updated from unknown to 2:12 - length declared by cricket.