Apache crash in Afghanistan

[james84]

Not able to judge, but I think the pilot has been way too brave. In fact, there might be some criminal charge against him as stated in the video description
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=3c6_1332299048

[MIKE JG]

I'm guessing at that elevation, she doesn't handle as well as he thought she would......

There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old bold pilots......

[Joecoastie]

It said both crew survived. I bet it was a wild ride there right at the end with the spinning fuselage.

[Victory103]

Just like wild fire this vid is spreading, I really thought this would be pulled already as the investigation is ongoing. Now, I do like to show off for the ground guys when I can, but doing something like this while heavy at high altitude is never good.

[CelticWarrior]

It looks to me that it was initiated too low, at high altitude and recovering down wind in what was probably a heavy aircraft.

That crew met that age old phenomenon - when your ambition is greater than your ability. "Oh ye of little faith", anyone?

However, as the investigation is ongoing, it's only fair to say that it might have been authorised and legal and the aircraft may have malfunctioned.

There but for the grace of whoever you call holy go I. The first time I taught that manoeuvre to a student I nearly met the same fate, I experienced jackstall during the recovery and only managed to pull out at 25ft. So I can't really judge those guys, but what I did do was go out with someone far more experienced than I (the team leader of the Blue Eagles at the time) and made damn sure I could do manoeuvres like that to perfection before I taught it again.

The AAC went through a spate of wingover "mishandling" incidents in the 80s and early 90s with at least one Cat 5 and now it's taught as an integral part of the pilot course.

There's another video floating around of an NH90 (I think) in Asia that met a similar fate after attempting a 270 wingover over water. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the crew didn't survive that one.

[delbydoo]

I bet they were dizzy after that......

[ronniegj]

The few things that you 'can' deduce from that video, for certain, is that the air frame is pretty solidly built, cockpit features are well designed for safety, and those guy (although probably out of flying for good) are exceptionally lucky!

Ron

[CelticWarrior]

The few things that you 'can' deduce from that video, for certain, is that the air frame is pretty solidly built, cockpit features are well designed for safety, and those guy (although probably out of flying for good) are exceptionally lucky!

Ron

Yep, agreed, but it's one hell of a way to prove it!

I think I'd rather not be a crash test dummy.

[maverick69]

There's another video floating around of an NH90 (I think) in Asia that met a similar fate after attempting a 270 wingover over water. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and the crew didn't survive that one.

it's this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsnH2OzNPzo
it's an Italian's Army NH90 over Bracciano Lake. only (sigh!) one crew member died.

[Victory103]

The few things that you 'can' deduce from that video, for certain, is that the air frame is pretty solidly built, cockpit features are well designed for safety, and those guy (although probably out of flying for good) are exceptionally lucky!

Ron

I have seen the aftermath pics and yes, the cockpit structures did the job to save the pilots. Heavy, power limited at that altitude (9000') is not a good recipe for return to target (RTT's) maneuvers. The general public thinks the Apache is so fast and powerful, not so much when loaded with weapons and fuel, well above sea level.

[jetmax]

Just like wild fire this vid is spreading, I really thought this would be pulled already as the investigation is ongoing. Now, I do like to show off for the ground guys when I can, but doing something like this while heavy at high altitude is never good.

It's too late to pull it. It has been all over the national media for the past couple of days.

[CelticWarrior]

I have seen the aftermath pics and yes, the cockpit structures did the job to save the pilots. Heavy, power limited at that altitude (9000')

10,000ft+ density altitude, I'm led to believe, as well!

The general public thinks the Apache is so fast and powerful, not so much when loaded with weapons and fuel, well above sea level.

*Should have upgraded to RTMs

*Added tongue in cheek, before any gets a stand over that comment.