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Advantage Hobby . Revolution Models . CarbonXtreme

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Safety - RC Helis are not toys > Death by Helicopter?
 
 
Phoenix-IT
Senior Heliman
Location: Dallas, TX

I'm just curious.....

Has there ever been a confirmed death caused by a model helicopter?

Chad
05-02-2002 Over year old.
 
 
heliraptor
Key Veteran
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK

I'm not sure

But these lovely planks that fly around killed a young boy in the UK a couple of years ago.

Details here:-

Death of Adam Kirby - Rest in peace

Lee
05-02-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
omurru
Veteran
Location: Australia

I have heard that a young child was killed by a heli at a comp that went into fail-safe during a competition, not exactly sure what happened but it was programed to go to full throttle when it went into fail-safe. Never actually seen anything conferming this, have just heard about it
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Buzzin Brian
Elite Veteran
Location: College Station, Texas

Not that I have heard anything about that. But I must wonder. Why would anyone set a failsafe to go to full throttle? Of course it (if indeed it did happen) was probably a mistake on the pilots behalf (the programing). But it still seems stupid to me. Just goes to show, check it, check it, and oh yeah, check it again. Saftey is paramount.

Build it, fly it, crash it. Repeat as often as needed.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
ed vega
Key Veteran
Location: nyc, queens

not a heli but a planker at Shea Stadium (queens nyc )during a mets baseball demo many years ago. r/c air only Illegal in queens nyc. brooklyn, staten island, bronx & long island ok.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Twobeers
Key Veteran
Location: Toronto, Canada

I read a post last year.

It was about R/C helicopter and airplane crashes. The post was written by a fellow who was a US Navy doctor. This occured a few years ago while he was stationed in Korea. After not having any time off for a considerable period of time he finally got the opportunity to go flying. He inquired as to where the locals were flying their heli's and borrowed a vehicle to get there. When he got there he noticed that there seemed to be no control or organization of any sort. A 60 size heli was screaming away with a super high head speed tearing up the sky practically out of control. A couple of minutes later while removing his heli out of the back of his vehicle he glanced up just in time to see that same heli decapitate some one. In his post he remarked that even though he was a surgeon it was obvious that no matter what medical training anybody had it was pointless to even go over to see if he could help, the head just fell right off of the unfortunate individuals body. He simply put his stuff back into the vehicle and vowed to never return to that flying area again.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
rcpilotsteve
Senior Heliman
Location: BC Canada

ouch

I bet woodies would have just broken!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
scroller
Senior Heliman
Location: Paradise, CA

death by helicopter

I think if I don't stop spending so much money my wife might kill me. Does that count?
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

Twobeers, I would doubt that story a bit. I am not saying that the potential is not there but it sounds like a urban legend. Korean legend?
05-03-2002 Over year old.
 
 
scroller
Senior Heliman
Location: Paradise, CA

I'm sure the pilot must have been using those new samuri blades.
05-03-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Stet
Elite Veteran
Location: Long Beach CA

yes

I was told today by someone who would know that indeed a man was killed in Europe when struck in the head with a blade. I believe it happened in Germany, but will say no more to protect my source. This is a touchy subject. Furthermore I was told that one European country has banned heli models. Finally, I understand that the people involved were quite experienced and well known.

Given that, it is a miracle that more have not been killed. Let's all keep treating these things like loaded guns, and hopefully we will continue to be so lucky. More men are killed on a monthly average basis here at the port of Los Angeles than in our hobby. Be nice if the authorities would keep that balance in mind, but don't count on it.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

These stories always come from Europe. The one serious accident that could be confirmed involved a very serious injury to a guy's hands. That actually did happen in Europe.That traveled the internet fast and actual names were attached to the story. That is why I doubt some of the other stories. I really doubt a real US Navy doctor would just pack up and leave when he saw a someone's head get cut off. No matter how it was cut off or what could be done for the injured man. Unless you have actual names and places that can be confirmed, these stories don't have much weight and certainly do nothing for the hobby.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Stet
Elite Veteran
Location: Long Beach CA

I don't know that naming names does a whole lot for the hobby either. I got the impression that the principles did not want the incident publicized. So whatever, sorry I mentioned it.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
SemiArticulate
Veteran
Location: On Location

It helps us determine if it is true or not. I am not attacking you or saying that you are wrong. I was talking about the type of responces in general. I am just saying that we need a little more info than 'a friend of a friend of a friend said so'. If we don't get the exact facts then by the time it gets to the end of the grapevine it turns into 'HELI KILLS FIVE PEOPLE AND DESTROYS A BUILDING BEFORE EXPLODING AND CUTTING PILOTS THUMB!'. After all, this IS the internet.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
ScottG
Veteran
Location: Ft Wayne, Indiana

well guys, a little off the subject but, I have been hit in the back of the head and sholder by a super hots with an O.S. 70 four stroke running full throttle when the pilot lost it in the sun and the plane flew into the pitts. Also been hit in the side of the arm with an X-CELL 60 with woodies at hover speed. Hay! I'm still here! I must be a magnet...

Scott
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Keeder
Senior Heliman
Location: Saint Louis

Remind me not to stand near you in a thunderstorm.

However... Ever thought about playing the lottery?

05-04-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Stet
Elite Veteran
Location: Long Beach CA

SA

No offense taken. My contact knows the principals. But we'll not elaborate. Hopefully we won't have anything more certifiable any time soon.

Being the safety officer of our club, I fret constantly about safety, and have seen more than my share of close calls. Actually I'm relieved they closed our main field because we were not able to fully control who did what when we were not there. Plenty of dive out of the way of "INCOMING" events, and over the years at least one very serious injury (multiple slashes across the back caused by a locked out 60). At our other field one bobo actually dumped a 60 in the middle of an occupied tennis court. Needless to say, one more event, we will lose that field too, my last place to fly without driving 1.5 hours.

Please be careful, and try to help others manage their helis safely if you are bothered by dangerous flying.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Wayne
Senior Heliman
Location: Davidsonville, Maryland

I (and many others) saw Ray St. Onge at a Bakersfield Fun fly in the 92-93 time frame or so get his hat knocked off his head. Did not touch his scalp, but sliced his hat. Another pilots heli went out of control while he was flying. He kept right on flying, while my heart was in my mouth.

Wayne
05-04-2002 Over year old.
HOMEPAGE  
 
 
Brutus
Heliman
Location: Langley B.C. Canada

The Korea story is probably the one from the webpage of www.heliguy.com and it said that the uncontrolled heli hit a spectator at his head but the innocent used his hands to protect himself. All in all the guy lost a digit and broke both arms, any injury is a bad injury.
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
Phoenix-IT
Senior Heliman
Location: Dallas, TX

Yea, I've seen the Korea story before without the decapitation part.

Hollywood would have us believe that any half-assed swing with a samuri sword would take off a human head. The neck is a critically important area of the body and nature has given us very good protection in the area of bones and rubber band like tendons and ligiments.

When I lived in Chicago I read a story in the paper about a grounds keeper. The man slipped and fell while cutting wood with a chainsaw. The chainsaw landed squarely across his neck cutting it about 1/3 through. The older gentlemen told police he was angry and threw the chainsaw into the woods before driving himself to the hospital. The doctors noted had it taken him a split second longer to remove the saw, one of his jugular veins would have been ruptured and he wouldn't have made it.

We are both tougher and weaker than we think we are.

Chad
05-04-2002 Over year old.
 
 
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