Arnhem Land - Helicopter Bird Strike - 14 July 2025

[SGM]

One passenger fatality.  A telecommunications technician.  Tragic.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-14/nt-police-investigating-fatal-helicopter-incident-in-gapuwiyak/105531216

[facthunter]

 Could happen toa fixed wing also.. Nev

[danny_galaga]

Just came here to post this. What an unlucky accident 😔 

[onetrack]

Gee, that must have been some decent sized bird. Poor bugger, how unlucky could you be?

 

I can recall a pilot operating a Cessna twin from the W.A. mainland to Koolan Island, way back in the early 80's, or perhaps even the late 70's, hitting a Sea Eagle (Osprey) that came through the windscreen on him.

 

It hit him smack in the face, knocked two of his front teeth out, and actually knocked him unconscious for a short period. The worst part was the bird carcass partly shredded and the cockpit filled with feathers and blood and guts.

 

He managed to keep control of the aircraft, he then turned back to the mainland and landed it successfully. It must have been a very stressful experience.

 

Edited Tuesday at 09:53 AM by onetrack
punkchewation.....

[IanR]

On 15/07/2025 at 10:48 AM, facthunter said:

 Could happen toa fixed wing also.. Nev

Happened to me a couple of months ago in the middle of the Nullabor ! Lots of damage

[BrendAn]

59 minutes ago, IanR said:

Happened to me a couple of months ago in the middle of the Nullabor ! Lots of damage

it would have scared  sh#t out of you wouldn't it.  did it come through your windscreen.

i have heard of a truck in wa that had  a wedgetail eagle come through the windscreen and was still alive in the cabin. 

trouble with them is they feed on roadkill and don't move fast enough when you get near them.

[IanR]

33 minutes ago, BrendAn said:

it would have scared  sh#t out of you wouldn't it.  did it come through your windscreen.

i have heard of a truck in wa that had  a wedgetail eagle come through the windscreen and was still alive in the cabin. 

trouble with them is they feed on roadkill and don't move fast enough when you get near them.

The one that hit me was in attack mode. Hit the wing near the fuselage. Wakes you up. Pushed the leading edge back quite a way.

[facthunter]

I saw a C-180 where the bird went back to the Mainspar. Over Griffith in a Beech A-36 I only just missed a Large wedgetail at 8000 ft  Seemed as though it was asleep in a thermal. They will easily go through most  light aircraft's windscreens.  Nev

[Litespeed]

Definately a good reason for Lexan screens if you can afford it.

 

Or a open face helmet with bubble screen.

 

I hit a Galah at 120 kmh on a bike 35 years ago and still remember feeling been hit by a gorrilla with a sledge hammer.

 

The helmet screen took a direct hit, not cracked just scratched.