For the helicopter pilots here

[..]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10995433/Shocking-moment-helicopter-bursts-flames-nosediving-rocks-French-lighthouse.html

[Rams]

Hmm, interesting................

I didn't see any flash or fire so, I'm thinking the rotorwash is what caused that dust storm on the rocks.   As  to why the aircraft nosed down like that, could have been some severe wind the pilot was surprised by or, he momentarily lost control due to something happening on board.   If, something broke in the aircraft, he would not have been able to recover as he did and keep it under control.   I'd really like to see the official report on what happened.

Rams

[..]

Hmm, interesting................

I didn't see any flash or fire so, I'm thinking the rotorwash is what caused that dust storm on the rocks.   As  to why the aircraft nosed down like that, could have been some severe wind the pilot was surprised by or, he momentarily lost control due to something happening on board.   If, something broke in the aircraft, he would not have been able to recover as he did and keep it under control.   I'd really like to see the official report on what happened.

Rams

Look again under the helicopter. Maybe a larger screen if you viewed on your phone?

[POPS 57]

Maybe the smoke was from oil getting into the combustion chamber.

[Rams]

Hmm, interesting................

I didn't see any flash or fire so, I'm thinking the rotorwash is what caused that dust storm on the rocks.   As  to why the aircraft nosed down like that, could have been some severe wind the pilot was surprised by or, he momentarily lost control due to something happening on board.   If, something broke in the aircraft, he would not have been able to recover as he did and keep it under control.   I'd really like to see the official report on what happened.

Rams

Look again under the helicopter. Maybe a larger screen if you viewed on your phone?

Can't say much, have watched it several times now on that bigger screen and I have no explanation other than what I've already stated.   I'd love to take a look at that bird up close or at least read the official report on what occurred.  It appears the engine exhaust may have ejected the smoke although, I still don't see any flames as the headline suggests.   I don't have an explanation for the smoke or the nosedive.   Had the engine failed, that bird would not have recovered as it did.   The nose down attitude would have most likely been pilot induced IMHO.   Had the swashplate or flight control malfunction occurred, a recovery would be very unlikely.   These things don't fix themselves.

Rams

[..]

Hmm, interesting................

I didn't see any flash or fire so, I'm thinking the rotorwash is what caused that dust storm on the rocks.   As  to why the aircraft nosed down like that, could have been some severe wind the pilot was surprised by or, he momentarily lost control due to something happening on board.   If, something broke in the aircraft, he would not have been able to recover as he did and keep it under control.   I'd really like to see the official report on what happened.

Rams

Look again under the helicopter. Maybe a larger screen if you viewed on your phone?

Can't say much, have watched it several times now on that bigger screen and I have no explanation other than what I've already stated.   I'd love to take a look at that bird up close or at least read the official report on what occurred.  It appears the engine exhaust may have ejected the smoke although, I still don't see any flames as the headline suggests.   I don't have an explanation for the smoke or the nosedive.   Had the engine failed, that bird would not have recovered as it did.   The nose down attitude would have most likely been pilot induced IMHO.   Had the swashplate or flight control malfunction occurred, a recovery would be very unlikely.   These things don't fix themselves.

Rams

At 15/16 seconds as the helicopter turns towards the lighthouse it looks like the right "pontoon" is on fire along its length.

Aha!!!

Unless it's sunshine reflecting off metal?

[Patrick]

I'm not a rotary wing pilot, just used to be a passenger.

I too would have liked to see what happened before the video started.

I give the pilot kudos for the recovery. I think he has been doing this for awhile. 

[Rams]

I don't know much about inflatable pontoons, have never been around them but, I have to suggest that what some think they are seeing is the near instant inflation of half the system.   Both pontoon skids did not deploy.   I thought it was "cute" how the writer described the smoke and being ejected from the rotors.  

I still have no idea what caused the nose down attitude other than pilot flight control input or error.

Rams

[Oldfishguy]

Looks almost like the ship caught a wire; it does not appear to be wires in the area though.

Rams is right though about mechanical, not likely recoverable, and definitely not as graceful immediately after the recovery.  As a former helicopter mechanic there are a lot of moving pieces in that machine and once a critical piece fails it is a snowballing continuation. 

I'm guessing something stupid happened in that cockpit.  Probably something like, carrying a non pilot in the other front seat and they slipped forward out of the harness momentarily and in to the cyclic.  Stupid things have brought down many aircraft. 

[Rams]

Looks almost like the ship caught a wire; it does not appear to be wires in the area though.

Rams is right though about mechanical, not likely recoverable, and definitely not as graceful immediately after the recovery.  As a former helicopter mechanic there are a lot of moving pieces in that machine and once a critical piece fails it is a snowballing continuation.  

I'm guessing something stupid happened in that cockpit.  Probably something like, carrying a non pilot in the other front seat and they slipped forward out of the harness momentarily and in to the cyclic.  Stupid things have brought down many aircraft.  

I tend to agree on the "Stupid" part.   The only obvious malfunction I see is that when the inflatable pontoon deployed, only half the system worked.   Don't have a clue as to why on that.   Could have been something as simple as a short to ground.   But, what caused the system to deploy in the first place is what I want to know.  The only explanation I have at this point.  I am not able to identify where that cloud of smoke/dust came from.

Rams

[Patrick]

The statement about 'stupid things' is surely true.


I believe Rams is on to something. I didn't think about the pontoon inflation.

[semo97]

I would say there was a malfunction in the flootation. They are inflated by gas charged cylinders aboard. if one went off which it did could have caused air turbulance that kicked the tail up or forced the nose up which i did not see. I would say it was pilot induced as a counter measure that was over agressive. He is very lucky those rocks are unforgiving.  I think there was no problem with the helicopter. Been in one of those situations with engine failure at 30 ft up landing a huey. Wrapped the skids around it, bent the structure had to scrap it.

[Rams]

I would say there was a malfunction in the flootation. They are inflated by gas charged cylinders aboard. if one went off which it did could have caused air turbulance that kicked the tail up or forced the nose up which i did not see. I would say it was pilot induced as a counter measure that was over agressive. He is very lucky those rocks are unforgiving.  I think there was no problem with the helicopter. Been in one of those situations with engine failure at 30 ft up landing a huey. Wrapped the skids around it, bent the structure had to scrap it.

Impossible for me to state factually what occurred with just this video but, there's no doubt about the pontoon issue.   You may be correct about the pilot's reaction and that seems logical.

I've been in a similar situation a few times but, it was related to strong tail winds while hovering and the nose down wasn't nearly as steep.   Regardless, love that time of my life.  

Appears to me that the pontoon issue occured after the nose down attitude (indicating to me that the pilot may have pulled the trigger thinking he was going to hit the deck or water in this case).
It's also possible that while attempting to correct the severe nose down, the pilot's reaction or control inputs caused enough blade flex for the main rotor to glanced off the tail boom.   Lucky it didn't hit the tail rotor drive shaft.   A whole new set of problems would have been presented.  

Those blades can flex a huge amount.   While at Ft. Hood saw an AH-1 that had an engine failure resulting in a very hard landing, the main rotor blade flexed down far enough that the gunner/co-pilot was decapitated.   Wasn't a pretty site.

Happy Trails.

Rams

[Patrick]

8 engine failures ! Holy cow ! In 16K hrs I thought 4 [ piston] complete failures was bad.


I've been in rotary wings when engines have failed, not a big fan of rotating.

[Rams]

8 engine failures ! Holy cow ! In 16K hrs I thought 4 [ piston] complete failures was bad.


I've been in rotary wings when engines have failed, not a big fan of rotating.

Yeah well, that's the life of an MTP.   All I can say is, it takes a special person to strap on an OH-58 (or whatever) that someone else has flown and wrote up a problem so I could go out and verify it.   Not all of those occurred while in flight but, it pays to practice Auto Rotations, I can assure you of that.

If we ever get the chance to talk in person, remind me to tell you about the AH-1 landing with total hydraulic failure.  

Rams

[Patrick]

8 engine failures ! Holy cow ! In 16K hrs I thought 4 [ piston] complete failures was bad.


I've been in rotary wings when engines have failed, not a big fan of rotating.

Yeah well, that's the life of an MTP.   All I can say is, it takes a special person to strap on an OH-58 or whatever) that someone else has flown and wrote up a problem so I could go out and verify it.   Not all of those occurred while in flight but, it pays to practice Auto Rotations, I can assure you of that.

If we ever get the chance to talk in person, remind me to tell you about the AH-1 landing with total hydraulic failure.  

Rams

  Kinda sounds as if it had your full attention.