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So, we were all getting ready to go to work the other day, standing inside the helicopter hanger. First Aid attendant was standing outside. Helicopter makes it's aproach, and the FA Attendant decides it's too windy outside, so she darts inside through the door. Guys are chatting, I'm watching the Helicopter come in.....
Something black flashes up past the window......
Nobody else saw it........
I blurt out "What the F...."
BANG
Something makes contact with one of the chopper rotor blades.
I flinch back (Who wouldn't), but still see that the chopper is about 2-3ft off the ground yet. Huge "Speed Wobble", but the pilot manages to regain some control before the bird hits the deck.
We are all just inside the building, 30-40ft from the helicopter, tin wall and glass between us
My co-workers eyes...... (Passenger side in the chopper), Big as saucers, and could have been knocked off with a stick.
*Mayhem*
"WHAT THE EFF", "HOLY SHI...", "SOMETHING HIT THE CHOPPER", "EVERYBODY BACK UP, MOVE BACK" "WHAT WAS THAT?"
Choppers winding down, Blizzard of white fluffy stuff blowing around it......
I said to the FA "Where's your Jacket?"
She said " I don't have a Jacket?"
I said "Not anymore, you don't"
She dashed outside, chopper blades slowing, but still spinning wildly, grabs something and comes back in with.................. What's left of her Jacket!
[IMG]
[/IMG]
It's all OK though, everyone calm down, don't worry about it, everythings fine, the FA said, and I Quote:
"I hated that jacket anyway, teehehe"
.
.
.
.
.
Me "ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT JUST HAPPENED, OR COULD HAVE HAPPENED?"
I had to back off before I blew a gasket or something. Went out to look at the chopper, picked up a bunch of jacket "guts" from around the Hanger.
Now, I fully understand that some people don't have a lot of experience in some fields, and I'm not mad at the FA, but really?
The chopper is now grounded, and has to be pulled apart for inspection, that means, Tail Assembly, Engine, Gearbox, Rotor Head, ect. Rotor Blades have to be replaced, to the tune of 30k each........
One of the Rotor Blades. You can see where the jacket zipper penetrated the underside of the blade, and the jacket insulation embeded in it.
[IMG]
[/IMG]
Close up
The leading edge of these blades, and the trailing edges are made of a thin but very strong metal, but the "Middle" of the blades is thin fiberglass.
I went and spoke to the pilot, expressed my admiration for his landing, under the circomstances. Shook his hand, ect. Nice guy.
So, that's how my work week started. Now I'm out here at site, just dreading to hear the FA, once again, tell the story of:
"OMG, *Squeel*, I Broke the helicopter "thingy" coming to work this week"
{Sigh}
Sorry for the RANT, but I do feel better now.
RD
Something black flashes up past the window......
Nobody else saw it........
I blurt out "What the F...."
BANG
Something makes contact with one of the chopper rotor blades.
I flinch back (Who wouldn't), but still see that the chopper is about 2-3ft off the ground yet. Huge "Speed Wobble", but the pilot manages to regain some control before the bird hits the deck.
We are all just inside the building, 30-40ft from the helicopter, tin wall and glass between us
My co-workers eyes...... (Passenger side in the chopper), Big as saucers, and could have been knocked off with a stick.
*Mayhem*
"WHAT THE EFF", "HOLY SHI...", "SOMETHING HIT THE CHOPPER", "EVERYBODY BACK UP, MOVE BACK" "WHAT WAS THAT?"
Choppers winding down, Blizzard of white fluffy stuff blowing around it......
I said to the FA "Where's your Jacket?"
She said " I don't have a Jacket?"
I said "Not anymore, you don't"
She dashed outside, chopper blades slowing, but still spinning wildly, grabs something and comes back in with.................. What's left of her Jacket!
[IMG]
[/IMG]It's all OK though, everyone calm down, don't worry about it, everythings fine, the FA said, and I Quote:
"I hated that jacket anyway, teehehe"
.
.
.
.
.
Me "ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT JUST HAPPENED, OR COULD HAVE HAPPENED?"
I had to back off before I blew a gasket or something. Went out to look at the chopper, picked up a bunch of jacket "guts" from around the Hanger.
Now, I fully understand that some people don't have a lot of experience in some fields, and I'm not mad at the FA, but really?
The chopper is now grounded, and has to be pulled apart for inspection, that means, Tail Assembly, Engine, Gearbox, Rotor Head, ect. Rotor Blades have to be replaced, to the tune of 30k each........
One of the Rotor Blades. You can see where the jacket zipper penetrated the underside of the blade, and the jacket insulation embeded in it.
[IMG]
[/IMG]Close up
The leading edge of these blades, and the trailing edges are made of a thin but very strong metal, but the "Middle" of the blades is thin fiberglass.
I went and spoke to the pilot, expressed my admiration for his landing, under the circomstances. Shook his hand, ect. Nice guy.
So, that's how my work week started. Now I'm out here at site, just dreading to hear the FA, once again, tell the story of:
"OMG, *Squeel*, I Broke the helicopter "thingy" coming to work this week"
{Sigh}
Sorry for the RANT, but I do feel better now.
RD
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