Mayday!, Mayday!

[Pte.Butt]

http://www.vocm.com/news-info.asp?id=25901

Both people on board a helicopter which went down in woods off Kenmount Road this afternoon survived the crash. 

Eyewitnesses say things didn't look right. The helicopter was swaying and tilting back and forth before it plunged down. Two people on board were airlifted to hospital, both conscious and alert. The chopper apparently landed upright. Emergency officials are expected to remain on scene well into the evening.

Meanwhile, Kenmount Road from Wyatt Boulevard to Topsail Road remains closed in both directions.

Wow, thats really something, the crash site is no more then 10 minutes from my home! I'm interested to know what caused the crash. I heard on the radio earlier that it may be an engine failure, and the pilot did an emergency ''Hovering Autorotation'' maneuver. Not quite sure what that means, could one of you Helicopter guys out there enlighten me?

 

[xo31@711ret]

Pte Butt, check out the telegram site; lots of info (more to come). Yeah, me too, I use to live up behind the 'Village'

 

[Loachman]

the pilot did an emergency ''Hovering Autorotation'' maneuver. Not quite sure what that means, could one of you Helicopter guys out there enlighten me?

Yes.

Try your favourite search engine - it saves us from typing lots of stuff and we're lazy. A few that came up when I did so were:

http://www.search.com/reference/Autorotation

http://www.copters.com/pilot/autorotation.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je1gI4-OLx8&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phaWRjAVnes (and other videos)