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Copter and Bull Story

2011 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance

Chopper pilot's battle with bull caused fatal crash, report says Published: June 28th, 2011 11:31 AM Last Modified: June 28th, 2011 11:31 AM On June 19, 2010, a helicopter pilot died on Umnak Island in a crash that was described by the Coast Guard at the time as being caused by "something" catching on the chopper's skids. The National Transportation Safety Board has released its findings on the crash, and we now know that the pilot was using the helicopter in a battle with a bull on a cattle ranch. The bull was tangled in "plastic wrapping material," and the chopper pilot was determined to get it untangled. Two ranchhands were witnesses to the crash, reports AOPA Online. From the NTSB report: One of the ranch employees who witnessed the accident told the investigator in charge in a written statement "that he and another employee were in the helicopter with the pilot, surveying the ranch property, when they spotted a bull that had become entangled in plastic wrapping material," the NTSB report said. "He said he and the other employee got out of the helicopter, and the pilot attempted to herd the bull toward them so they could cut the plastic off.

The witness said the bull would not cooperate, and the pilot tried to land on the trailing plastic so they could tackle the bull. The witness also reported that the pilot tried to knock the bull down with the helicopter. He said eventually the pilot got the helicopter's right landing gear skid under the plastic and tried to pick the bull up, but the plastic broke. He said the pilot hooked the skid under the plastic again, but this time the plastic did not break, and as the helicopter lifted the bull off the ground the helicopter moved forward and to the right, and impacted the ground.

Submitted on 06/28/2011

Submitted by: Victor Tracy
Reference: http://www.adn.com/2011/06/28/1940565/chopper-pilots-battle-with-bull.html#disqus_thread

>> Moderator Scores <<

Bruce said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
I know helicopters are regularly used by ranchers to help corral animals, but using it this way to try to not only corral but untangle a distressed bull is the height of stupidity. Thanks, Victor.

Candi said:
Definitely Keep: Darwin Award
Oh. My. Didn't it occur to them to exhaust the bull or get someone up there with a tranq? Thanks, Victor!

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2011 Slush Pile

Copter and Bull Story

2011 Reader Submission Pending Acceptance

2011 Reader Submission
Pending Acceptance