Hawk smashes through helicopter window and injures pilot
Published: Thursday, Dec 5th 2024, 16:20
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A hawk has slightly injured a helicopter pilot's head in a collision. The bird of prey, weighing around 800 grams, smashed through the windshield of the flying helicopter. The pilot was then able to land near Zillis GR, according to the report by the Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (Sust).
The collision happened in June 2023, when a helicopter was flying at an altitude of around 270 meters at a speed of around 260 km/h when the pilot spotted a bird of prey in front of him.
According to the recently published Sust report, he tried to "change the direction of flight with a steering input". Despite this, the bird collided with the windshield, smashed through it and injured the pilot's head.
Flown without a helmet
The pilot told Sust that he could no longer see anything for a short time, but felt the helicopter turn upwards and to the right. However, he then brought it back into a stable position and reduced the speed. He then managed to land at a suitable location.
The findings on the accident state that the injuries to the head could have been prevented by wearing a safety helmet with a closed visor. The wearing of helmets is recommended or even prescribed by various helicopter operators.
Furthermore, a higher flight altitude or a reduction in flight speed would have reduced the risk of bird strikes.
©Keystone/SDA
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