The Hudson Helicopter Crash

[Just a civilian pilot]

RIP.

Very , very sad.

 

[edyvw]

This is a good explanation. B206 and R44/46 are especially susceptible to this:

 

[GrumpyCat]

Just asking those that are in the know: What is the “Jesus nut”, and what is its functionality on a Helicopter?

is the nut on top of the rotor assembly which is the only thing between you and Jesus.

 

[2005jettatdi]

This is a good explanation. B206 and R44/46 are especially susceptible to this:

The official FAA report is going to be interesting.

 

[john_pifer]

This is a good explanation. B206 and R44/46 are especially susceptible to this:

This is a good explanation. B206 and R44/46 are especially susceptible to this:

If that were the case, sure would seem like the main rotor blades would have shattered or broken.

In the photo, they seem relatively intact and still attached to the gearbox.

But then that begs the question of how it lost the tail boom.

Maybe they’ll be able to determine if the gearbox seized.

 

[loneryder]

I flew on a Huey while in the Army and the pilot would check that Jesus nut before he even got in the copter. It had a paint stripe applied after torgueing it down to show any movement.

 

[BusyLittleShop]

Another high profile aviation tragedy...seems like there have been an increase in their numbers...I hope it is just a phase.. a brief phase.

I think the rate in which we witness has increased due to over six billion smartphones in the world and
everybody can take a high resolution still frame or video camera...

 

[Skippy722]

I saw this too...sounds like an instantaneous and catastrophic mechanical failure. LIke a very important component seized. Another high profile aviation tragedy...seems like there have been an increase in their numbers...I hope it is just a phase.. a brief phase.

I try to tell myself that it is just a side effect of living in the digital age where everything is recorded and everyone knows everything almost instantly. At least that's what I tell myself.

I guess I could dig up the data somewhere to see if it is happening more often or not.

We’ve actually been getting safer, it’s just the media hungry for clicks/viewers and almost everyone has a smartphone with a decent camera now.

From the DOT:

 

[ctechbob]

Not a lot of new information from Juan.....but.

Place was in bankruptcy... First thing they probably cut is maintenance. That and the CEO acting like a child doesn't say good things about his operation.

 

[E365]

 

[Dodgetracker]

Looks like this could be barrel nut failure or improperly torqued mount hdwr. Not surprised the tail was cut off after xmsn and rotor head separated. 1 piece tail shaft flopping around after separation would do that. Tail is only held on by 4 bolts if I remember correctly.

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

Juan Browne:

 

[edyvw]

I think the rate in which we witness has increased due to over six billion smartphones in the world and
everybody can take a high resolution still frame or video camera...

100%.
When I teach terrorism class, I always point that out on the graph. There were far more terrorist attacks in Europe in 60's and 70's than 10yrs ago. But 5- 10 years ago, one would think Armageddon had hit Europe.

 

[Exhaustgases]

It was very sad news hearing about it when it happened.
When the chopper did that violent twisting action, made me think that it likely knocked everyone out pretty fast.
Seems like much more than just a tail rotor failure. They should know by now if it was a transmission lockup or?