This picture is a frame from a prior FPV flight conducted (safely) by the victim.
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2013/09/05/remote-control-helicopter-kills-man-in-brooklyn/
A 19-year-old model helicopter enthusiast was killed Thursday when a toy helicopter he was flying struck him in the head, a law-enforcement official said.
This is really sad. I cannot fathom being the father standing next to him.
Pilot culture can appear slightly morbid from the outside. We tend to reflect on and rehash accidents more than non-pilots. I think reflections like this are good for safety culture in amateur UAVs too.
I recently constructed carbon/XPS blade-guards for my 20 lb hex... Sometimes during the tedious machining I doubted it was worth the time.
Some may cite the kinetic energy danger in a helicopter rotor vs. multicopters, but the longer you fly, the more likely it is you'll know someone who's had an accident on a multirotor. The more accidents we have, the more we promote the "drones are usually dangerous" misconception. Consider: this WSJ article has a QAV500 FPV video as it's lead media. Concepts distinct to you and I will be conflated by the public.
Let this incident scare you, and be careful.
Comments
Another horrible event. Yes, there was the Swiss incident not that long ago. And another guy got hit at IRCHA just a few weeks ago, but he was lucky. He killed the motor before it got to him.
I believe in all 3 cases, this is caused because these are guys who like to do extreme acrobaics close-in. Here is this latest guy's Youtube channel. Check these manoevers he's doing. Remember this is actually closer than it appears since this is GoPro footage. At 4:25, remember that's inverted.
For whatever reason, these guys like to risk their lives doing this. They get a thrill out of it. Helicopters are dangerous, but they don't need to be operated as dangerously as they are. Any large airplane could kill you just as easy, but pilots tend not to fly them at their own heads at 100 km/h.
We must all be careful, whether flying helicopters, multirotors or airplanes. But I don't want to get into fear mongering. These helicopter pilots fly very, VERY dangerously, on purpose. They get a thrill out of it, and it's also done to earn a reputation. It is possible to operate these machines safely.
Helicopters are so dangerous. Very sad story. :/
i am sorry for the guy and his family, but again we come down to flying dangerously.
It is very bad that this man lost his life but it is also very bad that people are questioning the safety of multirotors as a result,
we recently had the news of the multirotor crashing into a crowd and this is even worse,
I am not trying to be heartless but the fact of the matter is the guy was flying dangerously, i have seen helicopter blades sheer off and impale into trees so just by that fact i would not fly close, but to fly so close that one wrong move leaves you or someone close to you in danger is reckless.
I have always said helicopters are a heck of a lot more dangerous than multirotors and they are, i have heard several stories of people being killed by large scale helis.
because when the motor is at full throttle the heli blades have a huge amount of momentum compared to mutirotors and even when the engine is cut there is huge momentum in the blades that can harm where with multirotors, the moment power is cut those small blades loose almost all momentum.
Such sad news, as a father I can’t even begin to comprehend the emotions of such a loss. My thoughts are with the family at this time.
Very sorry to hear about the loss for the Pirozek family. My prayers and condolences go out to them.
It doesn't matter what multi-copter it is.. they are all not safe. And anyone that goes around publically saying 'they are practically safe' just makes me upset. No they are not safe.. granted the gas powered large heli's are even more so.
Time to get out the book of ouch as a reminder to ALL:
http://chrismeme11.over-blog.com/article-36258812.html
Very sad my condolences to the Pirozek family.
This just stinks. I have always been very fearful of giant heli's. Gigantic swinging blades, If I ever did fly one, my golden rule would be to keep it at least 5 to 10 meters away from me at all times, and no flying over above me.
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