Helicopter crash

[Banshee7]

At about 6a.m. this morning, a Medical Helicopter crashed about 20-30 minutes away from my home.  The crash is being investigated, but witness accounts say lightning struck the helicopter just a few miles from it's destination.  Three were onboard, the pilot and 2 nurses; all were killed. 

If you remember back last summer, I posted about one of my friends dying in a car accident.  Well, it turns out that the helicopter and crew in the crash happened to be the exact ones that lifted my friend to the hospital.  Please keep the families and friends of the crew members in your thoughts and prayers.

Story here:
http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/dpp/news/local/032510-apx-3-killed-in-medical-helicopter-crash-near-brownsville

#S#



Banshee7

[fudgums]

 

[Coog03]

 

[Serenity]

Wow... It's horrible to hear they were so near their destination, only to meet with such a fate. My thoughts and prayers go out to the crew and their families. RIP, clear skies and tailwinds forever. 

[Lepape2]

 

On a side note, I know helicopters are designed to resist major lightning strikes but there seems to be some cases where... well, its not the case (if its what caused the crash). Whether it was a really huge lightning strike or there was a bad electrical bonding, I'm sure the investigators are all over it.

By the way, anyone happened to know the tail number of this craft?

[Banshee7]

I don't, Lepape, but I'm sure I could find out.

[Wolfala]

On a side note, I know helicopters are designed to resist major lightning strikes but there seems to be some cases where... well, its not the case (if its what caused the crash). Whether it was a really huge lightning strike or there was a bad electrical bonding, I'm sure the investigators are all over it.

By the way, anyone happened to know the tail number of this craft?

There has been at least one Cirrus struck by lightning in the air - I have seen the results. The strike was to the spinner; "exit wounds" were on the right main wheel pant and the lower COMM antenna. I don't know the specifics of the avionics damage, other than "most of it was fried". I must not have had my camera with me - I just looked for photos but found none.

Now as for EMP,

When a typical pulse can generate radiant intensities of 50,000 volts per square meter - unless our electronics were hardened like that of a B-52, I wouldn't bet on everything surviving unscathed.

Now, if anyone remembers - one of our OC guys at Lockheed took these from his parking lot of a car having been hit by a bolt. So much for being safe.

[bravoa8]

 

[BiPoLaR]

The lightening here in Nashville was bad last night. My girlfriend and I were driving back home. And Watched lightening strike the same radio tower 3 times within 2 mins. The last time we were about 200 yards from it when it hit. We both went temp blind and felt the heat from it.