Two Police Helicopters Destroyed In Catastrophic Rotor Collision

Holy cow.
On November 17, 2012 a Pasadena Police Department (PD) helicopter struck a stationary Pasadena PD helicopter while maneuvering to park at the Pasadena Police Benedict Heliport in Altadena, California.
More details follow, but first a brief comment: In the aftermath of this accident the Pasadena Police Department was quoted by news sources reassuring the public that the accident would not impact police coverage, primarily because the department had four additional helicopters. No mention was made of the fact that in the split-second accident you see in this video taxpayers lost millions of dollars. That I could find no record of the city addressing the financial impact of this event is concerning. Remember the Chicago Transit Authority train crash, where the operator fell asleep and her ride collided with a bumping post? She was only sixty days on the job and had already fallen asleep while operating a train at least one other time, careening through a station where she was supposed to have stopped. Her last nap as a train operator cost the taxpayers of Chicago well over six million dollars, and she wasn't even fired from her job immediately. The Pasadena Police Department has acquired at least one new helicopter since this accident, and it comes as no surprise that they seem to have been less-than-transparent about its cost. Demand accountability and transparency from the officials who spend your money, and don't let the drama of transportation accidents overshadow their often immense financial burden.
Onward: N911FA, a Bell OH-58, was attempting to park on Pad 2 at the Pasadena PD heliport, and N96BM, a Bell OH-58A, was on the ground adjacent to Pad 1 with its main rotor blades turning when the collision occurred. Pasadena PD operated both helicopters under the provision of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, as public-use flights. Both helicopters sustained substantial damage.
The commercial pilot and two passengers of N911FA received minor injuries. The commercial pilot and tactical flight officer (TFO) of N96BM received minor injuries. Also, one person on the ground received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plans had been filed.
According to Pasadena PD, N911FA was providing traffic support for a college football game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The flight departed at 1552, and flew toward the Rose Bowl; the intent was to be gone for a 1 hour flight. At the time of departure for N911FA, weather at the heliport was not a factor. At 1555, about 3 minutes later, N96BM was moved out of the hangar in response to an in-progress call, and placed on the outside edge of Pad 1, in between Pad 1 and Pad 2 facing to the south. The pilot of N96BM had started the engine, and begun the startup sequence.
At 1558, N911FA returned to the heliport due to diminishing weather. The pilot of N911FA made a normal approach from the north to the main pad. From the main pad, the pilot performed a left pedal turn turning the helicopter to the east, and hover-taxied toward pad 2. The pilot then made a right pedal turn, turning the helicopter to the south. As she lowered the collective to land on pad 2, the main rotor blades came into contact with N96BM's main rotor blades.
The air support Lieutenant (Lt.) was interviewed on November 18, 2012. He had observed that throughout the day prior to the accident, the weather had been spotty; clear one moment, cloudy and overcast the next. As N911FA took off, he observed from his office marginal weather conditions. A couple of minutes later, he looked out his window, and noted that the weather was closing in, and that N96BM was on Pad 1 preparing to take off. He walked out of his office toward N96BM, with the intent of telling the flight crew to stand down. He stated that he had been standing by the left door on the outside of N96BM. He observed N911FA returning to base, and thought that was a good thing. He recalled hearing a loud bang, getting knocked to the ground, and then running away from N96BM.
The complete NTSB accident report can be found at tiny.cc/helichop
~~~~~
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(Keep in mind that we don’t publish footage that has already been published elsewhere.)

[@WhatYouHaventSeen]

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[@whateveritwasitis]

I HATE YOU TUBE and its fascist dictatorship. censoring speech, censoring content. white washing the world as if this is helping anyone. hopefully Musk buys google next. its not hard to do to make a platform the same. but google stuffs them, blackballs them. ive tried a few but its like wow they suck so bad. thanks for the post my dude. long live freedom of speech

[@fn0rd-f5o]

Thank you for what you do! Nobody else I've seen provides this level of footage. Indeed youtube has gotten over the top with Censorship it is extremely irritating. I'm a big boy ,I can handle it don't try to sugar coat and cover up reality KZbin! Life isn't sugar coated and covered up in a white washed world! This is especially true for combat footage because you know we have to keep people hidden from the gruesome fact of reality and live in a make believe world.

[@fn0rd-f5o]

@@turbo-brian corporate greed never fails.

[@AlbertHess-xy7ky]

You hate free enterprise?@@whateveritwasitis

[@IncredulousIndividual]

imagine having to explain to the sgt. how you lost the entire air unit in 5 seconds

[@JoshOnGuitar]

Lmao

[@Andrew-13579]

Well, what happened was... Tackleberry, Mahoney and Hightower had just rolled their chopper out and started it up. Meanwhiles, Hooks, Jones and Zed were approaching to land on the other pad... :)

[@knotweed1953]

I am Cringeman The investigation will turn up nothing.

[@Kerber0s34]

@@Andrew-13579 Another man of 80s culture I see.

[@aRYANz88]

What really bothers me is that a police department has not 1 but 2 helicopters.What a waste of $

[@kojack635]

When I went through helicopter training it didnt matter where other aircraft where parked. “See and avoid” were the rules

[@TeemarkConvair]

exactly.. second pilots didnt notice the parked one was not on the "marks" and the crew who parked it paid no attention to where it was placed.

[@Andrew-13579]

Complacency - "A feeling of contentment or self-satisfaction, especially when coupled with an unawareness of danger, trouble, or controversy." But "DANGER" is painted quite obviously in multiple places on the pads. Difficult to see from the camera's angle, but I would think there would be lines painted on the pad for each spot. Helicopter 1's skids must be somewhere between this line and this line. Note those words, "must" and "between". They are important words. Helicopter 2 must be between this here line and that line. If the two conditions are always met, there will be no trouble. Pilot of helicopter 2, on approach, "Those dumbasses parked their helo over the line. I'm not going to be a dumbass like them."

[@RogerthatEric]

That seems to make a lot of sense to me.

[@rede2use]

AGREED

[@killerassel707]

Rules don't count for cops

[@MidnightHabit]

Most avoidable helicopter crash in history.

[@Ford_Raptor_R_720hp_V8]

Cops usually show excellent judgement

[@MasterMayhem78]

Escape for Mankind is Keith Johnson Yes they do, you fucking asshat. 🖕🏼

[@ElementofKindness]

Poor taxpayers . . . .

[@billoxley5315]

Abject incompetence at all levels will eventually destroy this nation.

[@justinmyslive4108]

Escape for Mankind is Keith Johnson no one ever said you had to be overly intelligent to be a cop

[@eggss2]

this is the perfect example of what happens when I try to get close to someone

[@enzicalabs6166]

Brutal.

[@TheLifeBoat]

That sucks, but I love the comment. Well played

[@omnigar9611]

get a dog and rent your hoe's, then watch happiness blossom

[@Tetragramix]

No wonder

[@eggss2]

@@Tetragramix :(

[@stokepogue]

A New Police song: 'Don't Land So Close to Me'

[@charleshughes9396]

stokepogue hahahahaha,absolutely

[@spencer886]

haha. very clever

[@americanparser]

stokepogue This made me laugh so hard I choked on my own spit. Thank you?

[@Toekneepowers]

stokepogue Good one 😁

[@nicklythall]

Fucking brilliant

[@42lookc]

That was so preventable in so many ways it just boggles the imagination.

[@joesmoe71]

@Antonio P. del Hierro-Valdés And replace them with WHAT exactly? What possible organization composed of human beings of any kind with the capability to take on armed criminals is going to always be perfect at every individual level, with every one of its tens of thousands of members guaranteed to be saints and every branch of it incorruptible? I hear a lot of mindless hate directed at cops lately, but no alternate solutions purposed that aren't idiotic to the point of mental illness and or even seriously expected by those pushing them to ever be implemented, at least in their neighborhoods.

[@HarryL2020]

@Antonio P. del Hierro-Valdés police are needed BLM fascist

[@warntheidiotmasses7114]

We could do without this ridiculously expensive war on drugs which after all, most of these copters are used for. There'd be fewer criminals and fewer drug dealers if you took the profit out of drugs, but then those folks over in DC there would be pissed.

[@CrispyOkra]

@@joesmoe71 Robots & cyborgs will be next, but we'll quickly find the lack of true emotion is even more dangerous.

[@IMABOSS191]

Andrew Tornadoboy well maybe if our government actually gave a fuck about ppl their wouldn’t be as much criminals. But your government is money hungry and they neeed protection. We don’t need federal+state+county. Arm the good people of California and America itself and let’s see if crime is still at a high.

[@srcastic8764]

“Attention to detail.” That was preached to us daily in the military. The guys pulling the first helo out of the hanger didn’t have it. They parked it off center.

[@spreadeagled5654]

Not My Real Name, It’s obvious that they aren’t military veterans, but stooges.

[@WolfsH0ok]

yeah they are too close together You can tell by the smashed bits everywhere

[@jaspernemesio3816]

Man I noticed that too but I wasn't so sure. It's the first helicopters fault

[@danherrick5785]

The pavement markings were wet - they were harder to see and pay attention to!!!!

[@ups350]

@@danherrick5785 the marks are hard to see in the video, but not when you walk out the helio out of the hangar!

[@eddy2561]

As a former Vietnam helicopter door gunner this sends chills up my spine....I was involved in a similar accident in 1969....our crew survived but the crew that caused the accident did not.

[@pretzelogic2689]

Glad you and your crew are safe. Thanks for being there for us. C 1/7 1st Air Cav.

[@goldenstatefreeway9737]

Seen from this camera perspective, there seems to have been enough space for two helicopters on this area. But the 2nd helicopter that then landed apparently wanted to get nice and *close* to the *marked* landing site, while the 1st helicopter that was already parked was parked much too far *outside* the area *marked* for this (1st) helicopter. 😟 🚁💥🚁

[@Daniel-ex6kp]

My hometown still mourns a fellow who left the family and all his younger brother to fight in Vietnam, only to be killed in a helicopter training exercise. He was hit in the head by a landing helicopter's rotor.

[@robertaccornero7172]

Welcome home Brother! I was at Phu Cat 69-70 USAF, it still seems like it was just a few days ago.

[@eddy2561]

@@robertaccornero7172 Yes

[@Gino_567]

I think the problem was one helicopter got too close to the other helicopter.

[@karlstrasen4758]

lol

[@Dukesthenics]

Nope. The first heli hasn't been positioned correctly on the platform

[@prltqdf9]

You know, Dylan, I think you might be onto something.

[@dc-pv3qh]

Dylan Lester that might be it... hmmm

[@Huma270490]

Dylan Lester No shit, Sherlock!

[@rickdaystar477]

The first helicopter was not parked on its" H" mark. Sloppy ground staff.! . The second one " assumed" the grounded chopper was in its proper location. Always check.. and check again. Two stupid acts,one by ground crew, the other by the second pilot. Careless lack of attention can kill. They should have been fired. All involved.

[@louislorenzo360]

Indeed

[@js4187]

Fired ? For a couple of insured helicopters? Hell these idiots KILL people by shooting them in the back and they keep those cushy jobs . Fired .....lolol

[@glennroberts461]

Heli pilots sit in the right seat, not the left seat. From her position it would be very hard to see where that other one was parked and assuming the ground crew had done its job correctly is not unusual. If anything the air support Lt has some of the blame since he distracted the commercial pilot while the other was landing - the commercial pilot should have been watching the other helicopter.

[@mjames2117]

Totally sloppy ground crew. Pilot incoming is on blind side and it is wet. Should a landing be taking place when a Copter is already spinning up (unpredictable). Agreed pads are far too close. Does need accountability for this as stated above.

[@DIABULUSKIRA]

@Heads Mess It just happend few times in Avganistan when two balck hawks collide in desert while in action. One black hawk crashed next Osama Bin Laden house when seal team was going to kill him. This kind of shit happens. And that pilots looked like it wanted to see what's going to happen if rotors collide hahaha

[@slayer8actual]

Not too many people can say they got spanked by a spinning rotor from a crashed helicopter, and then walked away.

[@maryslittlehelpers8163]

Dude. I thought you were joking. I just slowed it down and yes, sure enough, Lt. Spanky took a spanking plain as day. Good thing the blade was vertically aligned or he'd have four a$$ cheeks today!

[@jamescooke3763]

@@maryslittlehelpers8163 then he fucket toffed and left his mates to fend for themselves

[@CcCARLOKE]

Milagrosamente!

[@coldblackice]

@@jamescooke3763 Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go.

[@DerickMasai]

😂😂😂

[@RellyOhBoy]

CRAIGSLIST AD: 2 used PD helicopters, low miles, slight damage, great project vehicles. Priced to move.!!

[@RellyOhBoy]

Jimmy Garrett No shit Sherlock, like the average person on Craigslist knows about airframe hours. Don't spoil the joke.

[@TheVFXbyArt]

RellyOhBoy oh these two choppers go by miles... just look... theres a piece over there, another piece there...

[@Tony24kSPK]

TheVFXbyArt 😁😁😁😁

[@edina7631]

lmao....

[@9thSapper]

NO LOW BALLERS!!!

[@carbon60unit]

"Better check our clearance, Clarence." "Roger, Roger. What's our vector, Victor?"

[@TDB.AO.]

😂

[@jamesanakin]

Surely you can't be serious.

[@nickhale117]

@@jamesanakin "I am serious, and don't call me Shirley"

[@DowntownCanon]

It's a different kind of flying altogether.

[@MichaelAxelKlose]

Hilarious haha!!

[@mustangflyer6878]

Even though there were other contributing factors involved, it's still the responsibility of the pilot to ensure the safe operation of his/her aircraft, that's one of the first things they teach you in flight school and using an aircraft marshaller would have been a good idea given the close proximity to other aircraft and the weather conditions also. Colliding with a stationary object is pretty cut and dry.

[@andysmith6824]

Even though your comment is over a year old, it's still worth commenting on. You are 100% correct. As you know, as a pilot, there is NEVER EVER one single reason for a catastrophe to happen. Never. Instead, it is a series of small (sometimes not so small) errors that lead up to the tragedy. In this case, having absolutely no personal knowledge of anything other than watching the same video that everyone else has, I can see things here and there leading up to it. And I'll bet you that when the NTSB investigated this crash, they found training errors and/or omissions from their helicopter unit. But the one huge error that sticks out like a sore thumb to me is that the incoming helicopter that lands was working off of muscle memory and routine. I'll bet he's come in that way and landing and taxied exactly that way a thousand times, so in his mind, why would this be any different? I know that sounds crazy, and why would someone do that? The simple answer is that we are human, and humans make mistakes. It's who we are---we make mistakes in everything we do at some point. And that is why, in flying, there are lots of things that you learn and get trained on and practice repeatedly so that the odds are increased of never having any type of accident or mishap. This might have been the end of their shift, and they had just finished working overtime in a park, orbiting in circles looking for a lost child. Or, and this is a real thing, perhaps one of them has to use the restroom like NOW. I've had that happen to me, not while flying, but in a job where you sometimes can't just walk away and take a leak (law enforcement). And if the PIC (Pilot In Command) was in a hurry to go number two, maybe he just wanted to get that thing parked so that he could run inside and take care of Mother Nature, then come back out again and go through the process of tying it down and putting it away into its hangar. That's just one guess of hundreds---I don't know what happened here. But there is one thing I can promise you: Following this expensive accident that wiped out their air unit in seconds, new policies were enacted to prevent this from happening again. It's unfortunate but true. We have a saying in law enforcement about new Stop Signs and/or Traffic Signals: the contracts to get these items were written in blood. (In other words, someone had to die first before they would fix an intersection with known problems). It looked like everyone was okay, but I'm not sure of that. I'll do some DuckDuckGo'ing to search for the story behind this. (Don't use Google for searches, they track everything you do!).

[@andysmith6824]

Okay, I did some quick searching. This crash happened in 2012. It was right after the Rose Bowl football game in Pasadena, CA. The bird landing had just returned from there, assisting with traffic control as the cars left the stadium. In all, six people were injured, including one on the ground. They were all treated and released that night. I can't find the NTSB report online. Maybe because it was over 10 years ago? If someone finds it, please post the link. I'd like to know what they found. Thanks.

[@illumiNOTme326]

@@andysmith6824 Check the description. It has the NTSB link at the bottom.

[@MZ-bl6wg]

Agreed and the report actually stated as you can see stormy conditions and a crosswind that as it hit ground effect pushed it into the other helo. Obviously something that a trained pilot can steer clear of but it’s not as simple and stupid as it spears.

[@89turbomk3]

The helicopter that was pulled out of the garage was not on its designated assigned parking spot, the 2nd helicopter pilot vision was impaired due to mist and caused vision to be compromised. The 2nd pilot out landed the helicopter where it usually suppose to park not realizing the position of the other

[@teknical100]

CNN: Helicopters mostly landing OK.

[@ShuffleboardJerk]

@Earl James Evidence? They do that on fox now?

[@wwrite]

@Earl James You forget they defunded the police already.

[@RJDJ-tz2hd]

Fox makes ur brain turn to mush

[@-John-Doe-]

@@RJDJ-tz2hd any of those reality tv shows do.

[@ScallopHolden]

No evidence of a crash here

[@mikaelabowen5781]

They weren't joking when they painted "Danger" on the concrete, were they!

[@anthonyraj3777]

Mikaela Bowen You're spot-on ! 😛

[@leonteflorinel8808]

Mikaela Bowen Americans can't read or they are just way too lazy to do it!

[@georgiamule]

Second pilot needs to be parking cars for a living.

[@ad4lingmail]

The first helicopter should park on H sign. Stupid that they did not do it.

[@mikaelabowen5781]

Ken Rascon. Gosh, what a great joke...zzzzzzzz

[@thetruth2795]

Time to write more tickets cuz they need some new helicopters.

[@jimmyculp8756]

Need a much larger heliport!!!!!! or better pilots.

[@shindrithargriethrat8408]

@John Alarcon Nope, not even. Those helos were surplus military, they were given to the department for free. The only cost associate would be for whatever parts and equipment would have been added after they were acquired, and paint.

[@pizzafrenzyman]

I guess that part of the tarmac where it says "DANGER" is spot on.

[@14goldmedals]

"Hey guys, shouldn't we be further over on top of the yellow H?" "No kid, just push rookie" "Yes sir"

[@estellemelodimitchell8259]

That’s what happened when you don’t observe social distancing, literally.

[@pjford1118]

They were 2 meters apart ;)

[@snapcutter9596]

They will investigate themselves and find they did nothing wrong.

[@Milkman69ner]

Social distancing is A. A fallacy and B. Retarded

[@birdflipper]

Still funny a year later.

[@jdl2444]

Nothing 50,000 bogus traffic tickets won't fix.

[@iron-farmer]

yup

[@dimitriymirovsky]

😂😂😂

[@2332Stephen]

Good one, buhahha

[@Name-ps9fx]

There are very few “bogus” traffic tickets...but a whole lot of dummies who think it’s ok to speed or run red lights because “Don’t the cops have something better to do?” Quit blaming the cops for enforcing the law.

[@LarsDennert]

Pasadena has an entire division of meter maids just for parking tickets. The regular police don't issue them.

[@Dawt_Calm]

In the long tradition of police unions. Two weeks paid leave for everyone while we investigate ourselves and find no wrongdoing.

[@bizzop69]

ColtDeltaElite10mm you realize to be a police officer in most areas you only need a GED and a clean record? How do you figure cops are more intelligent than your average citizen?

[@Dawt_Calm]

+ColtDeltaElite10mm You're so right. Those "cop tests" are too hard. Glad I went to medical school where they conduct testing in crayon.

[@fpscanada3862]

ColtDeltaElite10mm i would rather not have health care than be a complete piece of garbage full of shame

[@kman-mi7su]

How long do you get paid leave to investigate just how dumb you really are?

[@kman-mi7su]

Because unlike your parents, they would have insisted on an abortion rather than deliver you to the world.

[@aussie8114]

They should paint a yellow square on the concrete so they know exactly where to park it 😂

[@freebird7284]

you mean like the ones on the ground!

[@davidedmundson8402]

Should be an "X" with the words, "Park on the X, Stupid".

[@carlwilliams6977]

@Nombre Apellido they turned the first chopper into a convertible in a millisecond!

[@carlwilliams6977]

@@davidedmundson8402 Maybe they can go into a little more detail like:: Please park here. There are big whirly things over your head, and that of your neighbor. If they touch, it will be BAAAAAD! However, you will still receive your participation trophy!!

[@MarcTBG]

Nombre Apellido Seen it, very gnarly entirely preventable and sad: A guy approaching a heli from the front during spool down.

[@jomomma8754]

It"s the airborne helicopters fault. It doesn't matter where you're supposed to land, it is your responsibility to make sure that landing area is clear. If you can't put it down where you want and you have to put it in the grass, so be it. It is a lot cheaper to dig the skids out of the mud than replace TWO helicopters. The parking pads being too close is irrelevant, a good pilot knows how far his rotor disk extends out to and will make sure not to land within that range.

[@StormsparkPegasus]

Yep, agreed. What if it wasn't an improperly positioned helicopter on the ground? What if a kid, or an animal or something wandered into the landing area? Are you just supposed to land on them? Yes, the other helicopter should've been positioned properly, and the people should be disciplined for failing to do that, but the lion's share of the blame should go to the other pilot who obviously failed to even look to make sure the landing area was clear. It's not like a plane where you can't really abort once you're on the runway. Helicopters can hover, and this one was moving VERY slowly. The only time I could MAYBE understand is if there was severe weather with low visibility, or heavy fog or something, and they were mostly depending on instruments. That definitely wasn't the case here.

[@azdgariarada]

There was low visibility. Read the full NTSB report. www.ntsb.gov/about/employment/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief2.aspx?ev_id=20121118X14342&ntsbno=WPR13GA044A&akey=1

[@stijnvandamme76]

That's even more reason not to put the bird down in a tight spot. That's like blaming an accident on the fog. "Sir i know i plowed right in to the back of that other car without even braking, but hey, there was low visibility, it's not my fault !"

[@Filmpilot]

Jo Momma If you read the NTSB accident report, the pilot hovering over said she was looking through the chin bubble, yet hover taxing at a height where that’s physically impossible. She also stated she couldn’t see. No one in their right mind is going to hover taxi next to an aircraft which you have no knowledge of its intentions. She had no radio contact. She also stated she could not see the rotor blades turning. They’re painted in a mandatory forest served paint scheme which requires interrupted paint on main rotors blades, which you can clearly see from miles around. These were surplus OH-58A’s operated through “public service”, which allows “restricted category aircraft” to fly over populated areas. Actually “public service aircraft” only requires a medical and no pilots license. Go to ntsb.gov, aircraft accident database, type in the date and area “Altadena” and you’ll see the witnesses statements and how ludicrous they are.

[@frankwoolsey7758]

So John, how is it physically impossible to look out the chin bubble at that height? Are you a helicopter pilot? Enlighten us. signed the moron.

[@Marine1truth]

They don’t call them choppers for nothing.

[@crazydjchile]

jajaja lol, the best!

[@davelowets]

Arnold disagrees... They're "CHOPPA's".

[@kevinmoore4887]

Don't you hate it when someone takes up two parking spaces. It looks like the first helicopter was towed out several feet too far to the left. The second helicopter used the ASSUME method. Make an ass of u and me. Plenty of clearance right?

[@rustymetalpipe66]

This is like when you and a friend go for a high five but you both miss and slap each other in the face.

[@gratchgratch7919]

Ok I'm gonna have to see a license and proof of insurance?

[@hastyone9048]

I guess this is one way to get a new helo fleet.

[@MZ-bl6wg]

They’ll get the latest retired Army Kiowas for sure so they did ok. The surplus reuse program will get them new helos for nothing and better more up to date fleet straight from Iraq. Be seeing a lot more Kiowas , Blackhawks and OH6 and 8’s in our agencies over the next few years .

[@rajindersingh-eb9vs]

Lol true

[@joshuacorrington153]

Said no voting taxpayer ever..

[@grimmyr1244]

Hahaha bet local PD upped speeding and traffic violations for the forceable future.

[@hastyone9048]

@@grimmyr1244 ....Fact!

[@TastingwithTonyShow]

The pilot of the arriving aircraft had a responsibility to maintain separation from other aircraft that went beyond assuming that an aircraft on the other pad would automatically not come into conflict with their rotor disc. But, as the NTSB report notes, (amongst other things) the situation wasn't helped by the positioning of the other aircraft, the non-compliant design of the helipads and the lack of radio procedures for inbound and outbound aircraft at the heliport. Whilst the salient cause was a failure to maintain aircraft separation, there was also a failure of systems, procedures, design and professionalism that stretched back years. It was only a matter of time before these various shortcomings would create a set of circumstances that if occurring simultaneously would inevitably result in an accident.

[@ShmuelWeintraub]

Many failures involved, agreed (and if you've served on industrial or construction accident investigation teams, you will be very familiar with the notion that "there were so many points at which someone could and should have avoided this"). However, the fact that the landing aircraft's pilot hovered a good distance away from the departing aircraft indicates the pilot did realize that the other aircraft was present and had rotors turning. Quite why s/he then decided to drift toward the grounded aircraft before setting down is not known, but that was the proximate cause of the accident. If the incoming aircraft had just landed where they first appeared set to land, there would have been no accident. The majority of the responsibility therefore has to be placed on the incoming aircraft's pilot.

[@andrewjackson7476]

Unless you are the type to crash in to EVERY car DOUBLE PARKED.

[@effervescentrelief]

Swiss cheese model.

[@TastingwithTonyShow]

+Revtune: Precisely.

[@notmyfield3789]

Yeah...What Tony said! They got to fuck'n close.

[@batcittyatcitty536]

Damn,looks like somebody's going to be flying a desk from now on.

[@gl1500ctv]

Well it does say "DANGER" on the pavement...

[@suprememasteroftheuniverse]

@@originalfiremancancelled7303 Asian pilots.

[@colinwallace5286]

Who knew that might be a healthy sort of warning to the PILOTS...😏🙄

[@earthlingjohn]

Thankfully the pavement appears to be unharmed

[@lunapetunia3778]

Some people like danger 😎 pilot must've been an adrenaline junky. He even took an entire rotor blade to the ribs and walked away.

[@earthlingjohn]

@@lunapetunia3778 mmm ... Ribs (said in a Homer Simpson voice)

[@trevorcox1808]

I am sure Putin is to blame

[@wed8439]

Lmao

[@warrantedskepticism6129]

Hahaha. Russian bots

[@valtito9297]

hillary caused this one! putin was only watching.

[@asmr-sensei]

Just me trolling others in GTA..

[@JTScott1988]

Ahhh look at who commented!

[@kevinethan5751]

😅😂🤣🤣

[@Terpy710]

At least you aren’t like the other 6.3K comments where everyone all the sudden turns into a helicopter landing expert

[@eldinoelme1540]

I’m 2 years late

[@briansimpson8116]

Thank GOD "DANGER" was painted on the ground.

[@nenotech7097]

The danger is done.

[@Dreama40]

Having two running helicopters very closely side by side what could possibly go wrong? smh

[@flyingdog1498]

If you look the one was not in the spot is was supposed to be and the other just tried to pus him over. Those damned roundy roundy things got in the way.

[@nicparker3809]

fist bump bro?

[@mattgartside7885]

There's not actually that much danger in them both running. The danger is if one pilot forgets he's flying a helicopter.

[@flyingdog1498]

What harm could those roundy roundy thingys do?

[@dirkdaring748]

They originally did tax the citizens enough to cover for two larger landing pads, but the city couldn't afford new downtown parking meters so they had to shrink the pads. You know..priorities and all.

[@sarge293]

I don't think that's going to buff out.

[@MichaelSmith-jb5md]

I can fix that sarge just get me some two hundred mph tape and some jb weld!

[@simpleman7516]

We know one thing though...She was a SHE

[@Soldmysoulforablurayplayer]

Good job the ejector seat never went off.

[@seapilot4042]

No worries, they'll fleece the tax payers for 14 million to replace them.

[@hombredeacero3131]

Our tax dollars at work

[@xjet]

Landed!

[@barje.waffles5461]

xjet Not funny Bruce.... unless you were not involved. Then it is hilarious!

[@holycats8]

GREASED IT!

[@Netwirq2]

WASTED!

[@schawo2]

Permanently

[@okad_das]

At least

[@keirfarnum6811]

In the immortal words of Homer Simpson, “DOH!”

[@EM-fi2qg]

2 helicopters destroyed? No mention of the catastrophic events that happened in his underwear!

[@RK807]

E30 M3 Like the choppers the underwear's ruined. You can wash and rewash but it's not salvageable. Throw it in the trash and go to Target for a new three-pack.

[@e30kitty]

Maybe he is also an E30 guy, you cant shock us XD

[@sjl7180]

E30 M3 🤣🤣👍🏻

[@VWGTI2013]

E30 M3 That would be a shitty story...

[@Denbig.]

I'm still sniffing them now

[@joncox9719]

They need to make the "DANGER" signs much bigger!

[@tonymerlot9305]

Jon Cox Heli pad should be the standard large circle with an H like most airports!😨

[@JohnDrach]

Maybe another sign that says look out for vehicles the size of two motor vehicles.

[@reyariass]

Hahaha maybe not color it the the same color as the border color of the heli pad

[@gtinteractive1012]

If you can read and understand what it means!

[@bobflendorg1064]

J.C. Haha.... first laugh of the day.

[@ltr4300]

Both of these pilots had more flying experience than your typical airline pilot. In pretty much any line of work, complacency is the enemy. You get used to something being a certain way thousands of times, the one time its not is the one that's gonna bite you. She assumed the other bird was within the perimeter of that box, as its really supposed to be, and was focused on hitting her marks to park. She had actually just left a few minutes earlier and was to have been gone for an hour or so, so the other crew felt it would be ok to use more of the pad to prep for flight. She returned because weather conditions dropped below minimums, and the guy standing by the other heli during the collision was actually telling them to stand down due to weather as well. 22 years with the department, 16,200 hrs, 8,000 of them in this type aircraft, makes one bad assumption and wrecks millions of dollars of equipment, and only luckily doesn't injure or kill anyone. Again, complacency. Everybody does it, hopefully its not one of these when it goes wrong.

[@PoeCompany]

were they fired?

[@RealPackCat]

Kind of the way most people try to park in a shopping center without being aware of their surroundings.

[@awelldressedape3419]

"she" explains everything, all you need to know.

[@fernandomarin135]

🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@theloniousm4337]

Even on a crappy youtube video the weather conditions looked like pea soup. Not sure what you need a helicopter for in those conditions.

[@sudokode]

Hope everyone is alright, but I have to say... That was an impressive catastrophe.

[@TravisTLK]

I saw people walking away, therefor I deem this landing a good landing.

[@annanazaryan2695]

lol

[@leeroyholloway4277]

I hate that fucking saying.... sets a pretty low standard, don't you think?

[@adrpals2324]

Agree. Any landing you can walk away is a good landing.

[@micheller8014]

😂

[@freezatron]

yeah butty butt but any landing where you can use the aircraft afterwards is a great landing ;) :D :D :D

[@billlowe6883]

Taxpayers got it covered. Pilots get promoted. Ca$e closed.

[@Vms44033]

Bill Lowe lmao

[@Bartonovich52]

James Insalco. You don’t think the insurance company is going charge a deductible and higher premiums? You don’t think that there will be other large costs including lawsuits, injury claims, staff leaves, hiring coverage staff, etc etc etc?

[@lukeGGlee]

Bill Lowe as a taxpaying customer I approve of this move.

[@talon2577]

Bill Lowe the pilots would be fired ya dope

[@nicparker3809]

fist bump bro?

[@shavedsunglasses]

Yes, Looks like the first heli did not properly line up on the pad while being rolled out. But even so, the landing pilot absolutely needs to and is able to check stationary aircraft landing for proper rotor clearance and separation . Very tragic.

[@frankierocca8127]

Hey it’s taxpayers money. That’s why they care...

[@disbsam333]

They have insurance...🙄

[@kevinkroll6456]

@@disbsam333 yah ! They might ? Dumb , dumb ! Life insurance doesn't help when your dead ?

[@disbsam333]

@@kevinkroll6456 this was in reference to the taxpayers picking up the bill.

[@PanzerDave]

@@disbsam333 Maybe. I have seen instances where a government agency was under insured or self insured. Oops.

[@mjouwbuis]

@@disbsam333 police over here are exempt from insurance since it would be too expensive...

[@GeneralChangFromDanang]

And civil forfeiture went up 5000% in the following months in Pasadena.

[@shindrithargriethrat8408]

Nope. Those helicopters were acquired through the DOD "1033" program, they literally cost nothing to acquire.

[@PapaWheelie1]

@@shindrithargriethrat8408 *the first pair

[@biggusbestus551]

@@shindrithargriethrat8408 Here's hoping they handle all that military ordinance weaponry with some generous caution .

[@PanzerDave]

@@shindrithargriethrat8408 Not true. They cost the tax payers a lot of money. The cost may not have been borne by a particular agency, but the taxpayers paid for it in some way shape or form.

[@shindrithargriethrat8408]

@@PanzerDave My comment stands. It was in response to the idea that civil forfeitures had to go up to pay for the helicopters. Of course they cost something at SOME point, but it cost the agency nothing except maybe transportation costs.

[@maitaioe9455]

"Well let's pack it up boys and call it a day."

[@MarekzAnglii]

Whilst watching this, I thought to myself jokingly: "I bet the pilot 'parking' the helicopter was a woman 😂" Then I read the description, and... she was 😂 😂 😂

[@Tetragramix]

Woman moment

[@TIMEtoRIDE900]

Women drivers - no survivors !!

[@appv12]

That dude will be on medical for the rest of his life. We get to pay for that now...

[@rscalzo40]

You are really that stupid? You think they keep people on a disability for more than a year?

[@swampcrawlerls1267]

I think it will buff out.

[@pietervansittert]

jon dingee possibly with some good polish it would polish out sure.

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

Well, I dunno... if you take a closer look, you might see a spot or two where a small patch of plastic, say cut out from a gallon milk jug, might have to be epoxied on and painted over.

[@swampcrawlerls1267]

Daren Wilson I can't argue with that. I suppose some artistic repair may be needed.

[@Pickleleen]

You guys are cracking me up!

[@walkhumblywithGod]

You would think when you are dealing with that expensive of equipment you would have big bright painted demarcation lines with at least 8 feet of extra clearance to avoid this very type of avoidable catastrophe. Better still. Give each chopper it's very own individual landing pad, with at least 8 feet of clearance ALL AROUND THE EDGES.

[@brucec43]

Yup

[@bevistane6867]

Ima sheep ahahahahahahhah

[@tongmasy7226]

The camera angle isn't the best, but it appears heli #1 rolled out onto helipad #1 in the wrong position; lined up on the outer boundary marker of helipad #1. Regardless, heli #2 should have recognized the situation and made appropriate adjustments in its landing approach. The whole lot of them were negligent and should be fired for grand stupidity. It's a miracle no one was seriously injured or killed.

[@lewiscannon8213]

Tong Ma Sy The Helipad is designed to be dead level and dead flat , if the 2nd pilot chances it and landed off the helipad it may cause it too rock or fall over due to the ground not being level off the Pad . the 2nd pilot never have room either side of the first helicopter to fit on the helipad due to the first helicopter siting in the middle. So both at fault but the second helicopter shouldn't have landed.

[@305mpham]

yes !!! very expensive equipment but so what they will get newer model, its not their moneys do you think they care?

[@JJ-ps6wm]

The landing pilot didn’t wanna have to walk too far to the hanger

[@digitalbroadcaster]

Looks to me like the ground crew placed the Long Ranger on the wrong position off of the apron, knowing there was an inbound aircraft about to land. But there again, the second aircraft pilot should be aware of the rotor disc overlap risk and landed slightly further away. Near pilot not in the wrong. Ground crew and second aircraft pilot errors, collectively.

[@jazzandbluesculturalherita2547]

@Second Unit Aerials Excellent observations & deductions; saves me from publishing a post!

[@tanler7953]

Even if both aircrafts are in the right position on the ground, they look too close to each other. The design of the helipad seems to have no margin for error.

[@kevenp.5394]

Wow that man standing outside by the heli that was firing up is sooooooo lucky....

[@snafu1957]

He got hit by the rotor so ??? (he did run away)

[@tellmesomething2go]

Watch it again. Fast repeat it. He got hit with the rotor.

[@lukemccurdy3763]

Yes he got hit by the rotor. Does this mean he is... Unlucky..?

[@Automcanic]

He did walk away.... I say lucky.

[@flipakine]

how he even got up and ran idk. that blade end punched him right in the ribs. at the very least he should be winded. I say extremely lucky. as well as those pilots of the stationary chopper. both those windshields got destroyed by debris. for a few seconds there wasn't any movement from the capt. I thought fsure he was in trouble until he stuck his foot out the door.

[@The_Burning_Sensation]

two birds with one bird

[@EnFuegoDuo]

Ha ha ha! Underrated comment.

[@ilikethisnamebetter]

@@EnFuegoDuo hel i think so too.

[@BARDOCK550]

David Attenborough voice: "here we have two examples of the species Police also known as Cops, the dumbest specimen of the human variation"

[@paulyancey68]

Craiglist ad: for sale....two slightly used choppers with low hours...maintance records and history available....one has some normal wear and tear...other for parts....cash only ,,,,no tire kickers or joy rides...ask for Jesse ....thanks for looking,....

[@johnboylong40]

paul yancey Some assembly required

[@RoboTekno]

Looks like the airborne heli Pilot's fault, to me, for not having good situational awareness. It also looks like the ground crew didn't place their heli in the correct location.

[@williamhart2857]

RoboTekno exactly, why bother painting the "Spotting Positions" if they are ignored. These guys wouldn't have lasted long on an aircraft carrier flight deck. Also, why is there no marshalling person on the ground, as used in the navy and the other services.?

[@minhnguyenle5230]

And the one who build 2 helipad this close.

[@davelowets]

That would make 2 faults.... 1+1=2

[@shoelesblondlady]

Whenever someone's standing next to a helicopter I feel like there's always a chance of a final destination movie type death

[@iamblue2754]

California is irresponsible with our tax money. Pasadena, also paid $295,932.00 on a temporary chain link fence to prevent suicide jumpers from leaping off the small historic Pasadena bridge and plans to build a permanent fence for $2M when they could just hire full time security which gives job opportunities to their community which circulates money back into the economy and keeps the bridge in its original historic condition. I’m sure the mayor and the politics get a good “tip” from the construction company building it.

[@johnbossi8590]

A little Turtle Wax and they'll be good as new.

[@DrunkenUFOPilot]

A *lot* of Turtle Wax and they'll be good as new.

[@HIMcules2112]

looks like they lowered the I.Q. standards for police pilots as well as patrol officers.

[@robertgary3561]

They have to be law enforcement officers first. They don't just hire experienced pilots. So, the answer to your question, is "yes".

[@nigelio3]

False

[@OhcoChildPlease]

It's actually more the fault of the helicopter taking off because they didn't put the helicopter on pad 1, they staged it between pad 1 and pad 2. When the helicopter approached and proceeded through it's normal landing procedure to pad 2, they were obviously too close together.

[@brianberthold3118]

they were never that high to start with

[@appv12]

Well, there was a period in detroit where you didnt need a highschool diploma

[@GH-oi2jf]

It looks like there are markings for locating the skids of the helicopter, but the crew bringing it out just ignored them.

[@bernieweber4663]

The move crew was also the aircrew.

[@BitwiseMobile]

Again, PIC has 100% responsibility. She could have easily aborted the landing and gone into a holding pattern waiting for the pad to clear. Her "getthereitis" resulted in a multi-million dollar bill for the tax payers, but it could have easily resulted in loss of life as well. The ground crew has absolutely no culpability in this whatsoever. It's 100% on the PIC of the aircraft landing.

[@MrRich-yp7eu]

@@BitwiseMobile I have to agree. The incoming pilot could have easily avoided the crash.

[@malakoihebraico2150]

@@BitwiseMobile His pad was totally clear, if not it's the bad move of the ground crew.

[@kencur9690]

I’m not saying I’m an expert, but usually when I reload they just respawn in wildlands. Just recounting my experience.

[@MANinyourhead]

Looks Pasadena taxes will be going up again. Two new chopper on order.

[@Docstantinople]

Gonna need to hand out a lot of traffic violations now.

[@esaskykke7600]

*Like a glove.*

[@otterspocket2826]

"Just pull it out and park it next to that big yellow H" "What's the H for anyway?" "No idea, it was already there when I started here".

[@jmac2050]

Did he get a ticket, improper lane change

[@davelowe1977]

Reminds me of an old joke on an insurance claim form: He was all over the road. I had to swerve several times before I hit him.

[@JohnBrown-vn2qw]

Lol

[@davelowets]

Your insurance form??

[@Relax2437]

The guy standing by the heli was so lucky!

[@madeinenglanduk4682]

lucky he was standing on the bar or it would of jumped straight on him!

[@oat138]

Just walked away, didn't check to see if the others were ok...Horrible people.

[@Livereater]

4:20 that man standing in the doorway of the helicopter on the ground is lucky to be alive!

[@thomasdaily4363]

This is tough to watch. I can't believe the person that was leaning into the stationary aircraft was able to get up and run away after the collision.

[@steriopticon2687]

Lots of very lucky people there.

[@tonymerlot9305]

catastrophic stupidity. ....somebody's going back to doing security at Wal-Mart! Sorry....unacceptable!

[@marioavgherino8383]

Tony Merlot Walmart? Why saddle them with these turds, let the FBI have them....

[@wg7644]

Taxpayers paying for their toys.

[@WolfieD-yp5ez]

They pulled the first chopper NOT in the proper position on the danger sign! they were practically in between both signs on the ground! Thus leaving the landing chopper not much leeway! he were perhaps concentrating on the yellow markings instead of blade distances. My observations methinks!

[@jeblowme2nite]

Wolfie D So you crash into a helicopter because it's in your pad? I land helos near other helos turning on the ramp all the time. You always maintain separation. Imagine telling the owner you landed into another chopper, because it was parked in your pad! I have even landed further and waited for the aircraft to depart before relocating to the pad. That pilot landing did not maintain separation. Those two pads are way too small, agreed, but procedures exist for this reason. That landing area should 2 to 3 times bigger.

[@oogieboy5874]

You are exactly correct. The first helicopter was positioned incorrectly, and the second helicopter landed in the correct zone. It was clearly the ground crews mistake.

[@jeblowme2nite]

Oogie boy wrong, the pilot landing is required to maintain separation from all other aircraft.

[@Brainettics]

You are exactly right. The two dummies should have moved the first one over a little more.

[@lyleclark325]

The pilot should never assume that his space is free of FOD theres plenty of room even with the other helicopter positioned wrong the pilot should have been paying attention to his surroundings. He shout have checked that he was clear just like he would do before taxing

[@bdogjr7779]

WOWMiraculously no loss of life🙏Those OH-58s are military surplus & can be replaced relatively cheap compared to most comparable helos :*: Awesome footage🤓👍🏾

[@chicnwing4519]

excuse me officer,have you had anything to drink this evening?

[@coalcreeker583]

How do you have helo pads so close to each other that this is even a possibility? “Uh sir, don’t you think we should put that helo pad over a bit more for safety’s sake?” Naw. It’s fine where it’s at. What could possibly go wrong!”

[@thomasdaily4363]

If, when they pulled the stationary aircraft onto the ramp, they had actually put it on its spot, this wouldn't have happened. That bright yellow box painted on the ramp? Yeah, it's there for a reason.

[@drizzt197three]

It was a contributing factor. But, ultimately the pilot landing has a responsibility to ensure his LZ is clear.

[@npsit1]

Wow.. The fact they all walked away is amazing..

[@Redawesomeoby]

CAPTAINS HATE HIM! FIND OUT HOW THIS ONE SIMPLE AND EASY TRICK EARNED JIMMY A DISCHARGE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

[@OgamiItto70]

I'm *speachless!*

[@tonyb1968]

Nah, he probably got a promotion and a new chopper

[@johnsmith-ug5tp]

HAHA I was thinking, what is her name as I watched and as I read down, it is a she! No doubt she was promoted and given a raise after almost killing the two guys on the pad and destroying millions of dollars of taxpayer property! I want to see her training logs and all her evaluations! I bet she was unqualified and failed to measure up and was still pushed through and put in the cockpit! Save the hate filled misandrist`s attacks. Was her name released and all her schooling. training and certification sign offs, trainer`s notes and licensing given to the public? Im going to say, HELL NO! ha

[@torreblanca12345]

When I see videos like this one I get afraid to make the same mistakes some day. For sure those pilots got experience and they did not want to be involved in a accident but something just happens. That’s why I don’t judge my colleagues mistakes. Fly safe.

[@MZ-bl6wg]

That’s why rotary pilot training focuses SO heavily on being 110% alert and aware of everything in and around you. One of my good friends was a US Army Kiowa light attack helicopter pilot in Afganistan for 6 tours serving our military amazingly. His wife said 6 tours being shot at by AK47s on the ground was enough time tempting fate. He came home and with his amazing service and training l immidately got a job as a pilot for the department of wildlife flying virtually the same helicopter. 6 months after returning home and getting into his new SAFE career where he’s not in combat in hostile regions when his wife saw on the news. Thst a helicopter had crashed up in the Rockies but no other info. It was Josh and 3 wildlife officers counting herds at higher elevation. Around sundown he flew in to a high suspension mountain power line that hung from one mountain top to another accross a valley and he didn’t see it. The investigation turned up a reoccurring problem with Military pilots transitioning to civil jobs. They are SO hyper alert in combat service and the extreme danger of not jsut flight but someone trying to kill yiu every single time you lift off , they adjust to that and thst service environment and come home to a much less stress flight job and become relaxed but also Afgansitan doesn’t have high tension power lines an zero power lines in the mountain areas so the thought of a line 750 feet above the valley floor wasn’t a thought to him. All 4 were killed instantly and it still hurts badly. His wife and 2 kids are really goring thru it but my point is that as long as you’re being hyper focused and attentive always looking for every potential hazard you’ll be good.

[@csirdic]

I can fix it... My dad's a TV repairman and he's got an awesome set of tools

[@TWOSU_NEWS]

I just finished flight training., and what i see is a cardinal rule violation by the helo that is landing: Never land INTO the rotor wash of another helicopter., as you enter the slip stream, the rotational vortex created by an a-posing helicopter has a tendency to draw the other in... COMEON MAN new new better!!!!

[@simonvance8054]

It's amazing it happened..both were Jetrangers with the rotor disc at the exact same height..

[@TWOSU_NEWS]

Simon Vance: i know., its scary to think that a momentary laps in concentration can be so devastating., fortunately every one got to go home.

[@earldoty8176]

The aircraft running on the pad was at flat pitch. Droop snoot blades do create some rotor wash but certainly not a factor.

[@TWOSU_NEWS]

Earl Doty: its not rotor wash that caused the accident... any helo creates a rotational vortex regardless of pitch angle., the other choppers rotational vortex combined with that other helo was just enough to draw the two together... thats why they train pilots to always maintain 3 1/2 the span of the main blade away from another running helo

[@TWOSU_NEWS]

Ben Daulton; well., i don’t really know how to respond to that., first, if you slow down the video about 10x you can see the choppers blades begin to cavitate. That is a clear indication that there is opposing air flow., at that point the pilot is in trouble and trying to get out of the slip stream., but like they teach...once your in your in and to maintain level flight...lastly., aside from the space shuttle or Concorde., a helicopter is the most challenging air craft to operate in the sense general mechanics and operation...

[@kimnielsenthewordyvikingett159]

I'm thinking that's most impressive!!! Do some more of them this is fun to watch!!!!! Put the two rotors together at flying rpm excellent idea go get two more can't wait to see!!!!!!!

[@JV-tk3nn]

Why did it take them 5 years to release this video when it just took them 1 second to destroy 2 helicopters?

[@fidelcatsro6948]

true ...good question

[@patoshea8037]

J V B

[@Ratlins9]

I think you answered your own question.

[@alanwillett9097]

Because they figured the taxpayers would forget about it after 5 years of how much money it just cost the City of Pasadena because they had to spend the taxpayers money to replace the two helicopters because cities can't be without only taxpayers can live without . Absolute power corrupted absolutely

[@DonCornelius366]

... cause TAX PAYERS paid for FOUR helicopters ... but only have 2.

[@briantracy1324]

It's ALRIGHT ,, you'll just buy them 2 new helicopters... nobody hurt but the Pasadena taxpayers..

[@arodrigues2843]

The first is badly positioned, the second must be blind.!!! BOTH are culprits.!!! What a pair of stooges. They must be Beavis and Butthead.!!!!

[@Ace-Av8er]

Just because the first one was badly positioned dose not mean the second one can fly into it. She should have known better and not landed until the first one had taken off. She is 100% at fault because she had control and exercised bad judgment by landing so close to the stationary copter.

[@Grey_Duck]

The first is completely within the TLOF and is, therefore "correctly positioned."

[@Ace-Av8er]

@@Grey_Duck your assertion is Flawed. If the first one is within the TLOF and positioned correctly how dose that rescue the FEMALE pilot of the landing copter from responsibility of a safe landing in VFR condition?

[@Grey_Duck]

I don't recall saying that it did. I was simply refuting the OP's original suggestion (one that you agreed with) that the first helicopter was incorrectly positioned.

[@Ace-Av8er]

@@Grey_Duck you are absolutely correct Sir, I misconstrued your post. there are 2 parts to this accident you were only referring to the positioning of the first copter and not absolving the second copter pilot from responsibility.

[@sweetstrawberry2470]

clearly marked spots for the helicopters .. and they ignore the reason they are there for.. 🙄 🤦‍♀

[@chocolatte6157]

This was set in motion when some genius decided to design a helipad for two in close proximity. A wind gust on any given day could have caused this. Looks like human error on the manual pull out of chopper 1 caused it, but common sense spacing of more than a few feet of clearance would have prevented the accident.

[@krank8385]

If they had of parked the first helicopter in it's bay instead of between both bays everything would have been alright

[@Nicholas_Steel]

But, why did they park one in between bays? Do they hire asshole drivers for their helicopters that like to hog parking spaces?

[@Phillijr100]

K Rank regardless, common sense should have told the 2nd helicopter pilot to set down where it was @ 4:00 or go for a dam ride and wait!!

[@krank8385]

Phillijr , most accidents are caused by more than one person making a mistake, you're right, the pilot or observer if it had one, should of realised the first copter was not positioned correctly, but majority of blame will go to the first copter for being outside the boundary of it's bay

[@Nicholas_Steel]

The pilot is checking all kinds of shit while trying to park in their designated parking spot. You can't just assume you're flying level and you don't want to lose focus when you're that close to the ground.

[@losteroni]

Helicopter rage : "You're in my spot !"

[@patriotastronomer6780]

Any landing that you can walk away from is a good landing!

[@evildude33ify]

Patriot Astronomer67 any good landing is where one can still fly the ship...after

[@kenm4479]

This one was a dumb landing

[@reclaimedtrashcollection1098]

I get the ground crew didn't line up the ground chopper where it was supposed to be, but everyone was cool with that? No one seam to object, they must have done that before and this time that error got them when the second one arrived. By the video, the second one is landing correctly but did fail to notice the other chopper was incorrectly parked. I think everyone working that day needs to be fined and sentenced to community service. They shouldn't get a pass just because. If there is no punishment then these errors will be repeated. Damaging more equipment and possibly lives.

[@rafaelnazario1997]

There goes our tax money.

[@TheVFXbyArt]

raf naz fyi, TRILLIONS were lost in 2008 because of the casino mentality of bankers and wallstreet. Us taxpayers had to bail them out. No one went to jail. Enron had to bailed out by us tax payers. Saving and loans debacle had to be bailed out as well in the 80’s by us taxpayers. At least folks went to jail back in the “good ole” days. We will be paying for this for generations. Two police helicopters being totaled? They are probably insured for this. Still cost us some bucks, plus being down two choppers. Thats what insurance is for. Hope the pilots are OK and retrained in the proper procedure. ...but to talk about out tax money... folks, the recklessness of the past 40 years, concern yourself about that... thats no accident.

[@pyrozx6r381]

raf naz traffic citations are going to increase heavily in that area until they can buy new helicopters

[@VPHLIPERS]

Aww the good ol "tax money" comment... classic.