Re:Months Before Deadly Crash, Helicopter Pilots Warned of S...
by ndespres on Saturday April 07, 2018 @11:12PM
(#16784425)
Not spring clip, the NTSB report says they were the screw type. Even so, the article states that it would have been difficult for a passenger to reach their own clip, and even if they had, would be difficult to undo it. They even provided "seatbelt cutters" to passengers to deal with this situation which also didn't work (according to the article).
So many failures happening here.
Re:Months Before Deadly Crash, Helicopter Pilots Warned of S...
by cyberferret on Saturday April 07, 2018 @11:15PM
(#16784431)
Thanks for the clarification. Yes, screw type carabiners would have been infinitely harder to try and release quickly. I feel for those poor unfortunate passengers.
Re:Months Before Deadly Crash, Helicopter Pilots Warned of S...
by kevin_thibedeau on Sunday April 08, 2018 @02:07PM
(#16787370)
Getting access to the mount point on the helicopter is too difficult if you're tipped over and hanging off of it while immersed in frigid water. Much better would be a parachute style quick release on your own body.
Carabiner attachments inside the cabin would hopefully also made it easier for passengers and crew to release each other's harnesses if someone was incapacitated or panicking?
Note: I've watched offshore rig crew friends of mine going through 'ditching' training in the pool simulator, and can attest that keeping calm and methodical under the circumstances can be extremely difficult, even under controlled conditions.