exit a helicopter

Got a good idea for Bladeslapper? Suggest it here.
annitah
New Member
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: May 2013

exit a helicopter

Postby annitah » Thu Jun 13 2013, 09:43

What is the safest way to exit a helicopter that is about to crash into water? Consider this scenario; you are in the back of an open helicopter that is about to crash into the Atlantic Ocean. You know that the helicopter is about to crash because there is only a minute of fuel left and there is no land in sight. Fortunately, you have a life vest and a transmitter that will help the coast guard find you. What would be the safest way to enter the water?
Last edited by annitah on Sat Jun 15 2013, 07:39, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
pohm1
3rd Dan
3rd Dan
Posts: 542
Joined: Apr 2006

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby pohm1 » Thu Jun 13 2013, 10:58

Gently.
J-C
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 35
Joined: Jan 2012

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby J-C » Thu Jun 13 2013, 11:04

Lube up with Tuna oil too. It helps to maintain body heat in the water ........
RHO Aviation
New Member
New Member
Posts: 7
Joined: Oct 2009

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby RHO Aviation » Thu Jun 13 2013, 11:17

Attend this course and find out: http://rhoaviation.com.au/trainingservices/huet/

RHO.
User avatar
Twistgrip
4th Dan
4th Dan
Posts: 1169
Joined: Sep 2006

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby Twistgrip » Thu Jun 13 2013, 11:22

Remember to deploy your parachute "outside the helicopter" :)
"You can watch things happen, you can make things happen or you can wonder what happened"
Ah6j
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 18
Joined: Jun 2013

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby Ah6j » Thu Jun 13 2013, 11:26

Wind the throttle off at 1000ft then pull full collective
nana yabiznus
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 98
Joined: Oct 2006

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby nana yabiznus » Thu Jun 13 2013, 11:53

Lube up with Tuna oil too. It helps to maintain body heat in the water ........


Only if you think you can out swim a shark! :shock:
" Opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one, so we don't have to share them"
trgbox
Silver Wings
Silver Wings
Posts: 48
Joined: Oct 2007

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby trgbox » Thu Jun 13 2013, 12:19

Loss of orientation is the real danger. Orientation through trg allows you to remain restrained until the machine stops then sort yourself to get out of harness/seatbelt and which exit to use if not the first of two if first choice is blocked as well as skull dragging necessary survival equipment with you then survive until recovery. Knowledge of how to and then put it into action as well as with simulated practise by doing the HUET (heli underwater escape trg) course is as previously stated Invaluable. One of our crews ditched (controlled flt into the water!) a heli at night (no Moon and sea fog up to 200ft 90nm offshore) the machine ended up inverted in 4m of water, the pilot had his feet jammed under the tail rotor peddles and took quite a while to egress while the crewman in the rear wrestled with a 30kg life raft and buggar all doorway opening from the L/H side rear sliding door being jammed three quarters closed due to the airframe twisting on impact. The crewy never had HUET training and managed to get out and both waited to be picked up 4 hrs later at first light by second recue chopper.

The crewy had been thoroughly briefed by pilots that had HUET trg. Lucky he listened to the briefs!

I hope that enlightens you a little. Think of worse case scenario and train for it. Dark night over water and landing inverted with restricted exits!
User avatar
Nawty
2nd Dan
2nd Dan
Posts: 484
Joined: Feb 2010

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby Nawty » Fri Jun 14 2013, 12:10

Depends which way the blades are turning.
Quick Release
Gold Wings
Gold Wings
Posts: 167
Joined: Apr 2009

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby Quick Release » Fri Jun 14 2013, 12:50

Hover exit crew etc prior to running out of fuel.... pilot ditches clear of crew.
User avatar
Yankee
2nd Dan
2nd Dan
Posts: 344
Joined: Aug 2008

Re: exit a helicopter

Postby Yankee » Sat Jun 15 2013, 18:35

Given the Scenario, Deploy floats and land helicopter. It's always a good idea to Jettison all doors or lock them open (sliding doors in the rear). We always used to ask our crews if they wanted to ride it in with the pilots or if they wanted to be dropped prior to ditching... They would always say they wanted to ride it in... Regardless, ditching a helicopter is not to be taken lightly. HUET training will save your life.
Don't think of yourself as and ugly person. Think of yourself as a beautiful monkey.

Return to “Bladeslapper Suggestions (and gripes)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests