Quote:
Originally Posted by pmax
Interesting that was my first question I had in mind.
https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Report-Kobe-Bryant-pilot-may-have-been-15347525.php
One of the 40 documents posted by the NTSB includes a 215-page safety report that concludes with an article written by the former president of the Helicopter Association International titled “Land the damned helicopter.”
The late Matt Zuccaro wrote the commentary in 2013 after becoming frustrated reading NTSB crash reports and noting that most could have been prevented by a pilot deciding to land as fuel ran low or weather deteriorated.
“Why don’t pilots exercise one of the most unique and valuable capabilities of vertical flight — namely, land the damn helicopter!" Zuccaro wrote. "In a high percentage of crashes, this simple act would break the chain of events and prevent the accident.” |
Seems like a reasonable question. However, just because a helicopter has VTOL capability doesn't mean that it can do so safely in all conditions/instances. IIRC (?) in this case he was attempting to clear mountainous terrain. Probably not many suitable "off airport" LZs there, especially in zero viz. Plus, (from the reports so far) it wasn't a fuel starvation or mechanical/engine-out issue. The weather certainly seemed to be a factor though, and I would'n't be surprised if he at least thought about or suggested an abort/return/alternate plan. But, who knows what demands and/or pressure the passengers put on the pilot to potentially make him push past his comfort/experience/proficiency level.
I did note the following from the above article:
"John Cox, an aviation safety consultant, said the helicopter’s erratic flight path — the aircraft slowed, climbed, then banked to one side while sinking rapidly — are telltale signs of a pilot becoming disoriented in conditions that make it hard to see terrain or the horizon."
The "banked to one side while sinking rapidly" part makes me think it may have been a low-RPM retreating blade stall, from trying to pull too much pitch to clear terrain. That's usually hard to do, but if that "bank" was to the left, it would fit.