Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation ... and now motorcycles

2muchcoffeeman · Jan 19, 2009

I am concerned at this sudden outbreak of anger and dissent in the avian community. Surely they realize violence and self-immolation solves nothing.

(CNN) -- A bird struck an Arkansas hospital's helicopter Saturday, tearing a hole into the aircraft's nose and prompting the pilot to land early, according to officials and pictures taken after the landing.

The chopper's pilot made a "safe landing" in that state after hitting a bird while returning to Baptist Health Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, hospital spokesman Mark Lowman said.

"I think the pilot just made a judgment call to set it down," Lowman said of the landing, which happened at 6:15 p.m. Saturday near Forrest City, Arkansas.

Video footage taken by CNN affiliate WREG showed a bird hanging out of a hole torn into the paneling on the chopper's nose. Part of the helicopter's windshield also was broken.
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http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/18/helicopter.bird.strike/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

alleyallen · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

The birds are back and they're intent on retaking the skies.

Grimace · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

I knew this day would come.

21 · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

Armchair_QB · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

Remain calm. All is well.

three_bags_full · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

Bird strikes are certainly no laughing matter.

From the Army's safety site. This happened at Rucker in 2004.

WO1 Andrew F. Smith and WO1 Jamie T. Naquin B Co., 1/223 Aviation Regiment Fort Rucker, AL

While on a cross-country visual flight rules (VFR) training mission, an instructor pilot (IP) and two Initial Entry Rotary Wing (IERW) students, WO1 Andrew F. Smith and WO1 Jamie T. Naquin, spotted three large birds in their flight path about a half-mile ahead. The IP, who was at the controls in the left seat, gestured with a “thumbs up,” shook his head, and continued with his radio call. Both student pilots were on flight training Day 29. W01 Smith, in the right seat, had a total flight time of 32.9 hours. WO1 Naquin, in the right rear seat, had a total of 32.7 flight hours.

The TH-67 was cruising at approximately 1,400 feet mean sea level (MSL) and 93 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS) when a fourth large bird, a 15-pound black vulture, suddenly appeared in front of the aircraft and struck the left front windscreen. The bird exploded through the windscreen and struck the IP full in the face and neck area, immediately rendering him unconscious. The IP fell forward onto the cyclic and slumped to the right, pushing WO1 Smith’s collective down. The bird flailed inside the cockpit, knocking WO1 Smith’s radio pin switches down, and eventually came to rest on the right side of the console.

The aircraft pitched down violently in an estimated 60- to 70-degree nose-low attitude while rolling right 30 to 40 degrees. WO1 Naquin yelled to WO1 Smith: “Get it, Get it.” WO1 Smith immediately grabbed the controls and attempted to regain control of the aircraft, but was initially unable to move the cyclic or collective due to the weight of the unconscious IP on the controls. WO1 Naquin quickly assessed the situation, unbuckled his lap belt, grabbed the IP, and pulled him away from the controls. Seconds later WO1 Smith announced, “I think I got it, I got it.”

The aircraft was level but still losing altitude. The loud noise of the impact and the wind noise had caused WO1 Smith initially to think they had had an engine failure. WO1 Naquin called out to check the gauges. WO1 Smith checked the gas turbine speed (N1) and turbine outlet temperature (TOT) gauges and saw they were stable, and the torque gauge was indicating 10 percent. As he pulled up on the collective, the rate of descent began to decrease. WO1 Smith finally regained control of the aircraft at 900 feet MSL.

Looking ahead, WO1 Smith saw the runway of a local airport and placed his radio pin switches back to the up position. He made a “Mayday” call while starting an approach to the airport. Both WO1 Smith and WO1 Naquin began searching for traffic while landing at the airport. WO1 Smith looked over at the IP and shouted, “Sir, are you OK?” The IP did not talk, but did raise his hand off his leg. He continued to drift in and out of consciousness.

WO1 Smith landed the aircraft on the runway, and he and WO1 Naquin completed the aircraft shutdown procedures by the checklist, with WO1 Naquin reading the checklist so they would not miss any steps. They then began administering first aid to the IP and made sure he was breathing. The IP was still in and out of consciousness and showing signs of shock, but he did give a “thumbs up” to WO1 Smith and WO1 Naquin when they asked if he could breathe. The IP was MEDEVACed shortly after landing and taken to a local hospital, where he was diagnosed with a broken palate, broken nose, and fractured jaw. The IP’s injuries could have been much worse had his visor not been in the down position.

WO1 Smith and WO1 Naquin’s superior airmanship (in spite of their lack of experience), remarkable crew coordination, and risk management in response to the emergency thrust upon them is reflected in their pivotal decisions and actions. The outstanding manner in which they worked as a team during this emergency is displayed in the successful outcome of this event, especially for student pilots of their experience and hour level. The presence of mind and quick actions WO1 Naquin displayed to unfasten his seatbelt and pull the IP off the controls helped save the lives of all aboard the TH-67. WO1 Smith took the controls and continued to fly the aircraft until he had regained control of a potentially deadly situation. Both student pilots displayed remarkable poise and composure above their experience level in a very serious situation that easily could have become a catastrophic event.
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alleyallen · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

You only cover us when we get sucked into turbines.

Football_Bat · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

Everybody's heard about the bird.

MartinEnigmatica · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

I don't get these birds! They're breaking the deal.

Armchair_QB · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

dooley_womack1 · Jan 19, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

Statues everywhere could give a crap about what birds are doing to us.

2muchcoffeeman · Mar 8, 2009

Re: Terrorist birds continue assault on human aviation

The birds' assault on both flying humans and the Geneva Conventions continues ...<blockquote>Four people were flying aboard the Shandscair helicopter Thursday night when an airborne duck shattered the windshield and landed in the cockpit.

Quick thinking and the steady hands of the unflappable pilot, Don Irving, undoubtedly saved the lives of everyone aboard, Shandscair personnel said Friday. . . .

The Shandscair emergency transport helicopter was a few minutes from the hospital around 8:10 p.m., preparing to land on the rooftop helipad, when it encountered the duck. The helicopter was flying at an altitude of 700 feet and a speed of 160 mph.

The duck shattered the windshield, then struck Irving, cutting his face and injuring one eye. The pilot was wearing a helmet and glasses, and was seated in the right-hand seat.

The bird clipped off several switches on the overhead instrument panel before landing on the foot of one of the medical crewmen in the rear of the helicopter.</blockquote>http://www.gainesville.com/article/20090307/ARTICLES/903071014/1002?Title=Pilot-who-landed-after-duck-strike-hailed

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