Apache hits power cable. 28000 people without power

A Dutch apache heli hit a high tension powerline yesterday when practicing night flying.
It cut the power of 28000 homes. It is the second time this has happened in 10 years.
It is not far from here, but my power survived, as well has the heli crew.

In the picture you can see a bit of the cable still on the rader dome ( according to the story )



More info (Dutch)

That's some shocking flying ..

Edit: sorry for the one line response it had to be said

I absolutely HATE the ever living hell out of above ground power lines/towers and telephone and cable.

HATE THEM with a passion.

They're lucky that's all it did. Helos and power lines have hated each other for years.

a reply to: Zaphod58

We had it twice now, and both times the Apaches were able to land after the incident.

They were practicing low level hiding behind trees, buildings etc at night.

The thing is, they practice these things above civilian area's and buildings.. Farmers finding there cows stacked 5 high in the corner of the barn.. twice a day.

Edit: I have no problem with them training, but they could change locations, so it is not always ( decades ) the same people getting buzzed.

Well, they deserve any punishment they get for buzzing so low to the ground. I'd be shocked if they didn't get charged of some crimes and earn a demotion by mutual induction. I mean, what phase of training do they need to stay current in this cycle?

The apache crew were very lucky in that one. I remember in 1993 when a Tornado clipped a helicopter about 2 miles away from my Grans we heard the helicopter crash but thought it was just from the Quarry.

originally posted by: cosmania

Well, they deserve any punishment they get for buzzing so low to the ground. I'd be shocked if they didn't get charged of some crimes and earn a demotion by mutual induction. I mean, what phase of training do they need to stay current in this cycle?

Watt?

a reply to: cosmania

They were trying to keep their currency in low level oil leak drip prevention.

originally posted by: AugustusMasonicus

originally posted by: cosmania

Well, they deserve any punishment they get for buzzing so low to the ground. I'd be shocked if they didn't get charged of some crimes and earn a demotion by mutual induction. I mean, what phase of training do they need to stay current in this cycle?

Watt?

Ohm...

The tension in the air seems to be high on this topic, maybe i just snap out.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
a reply to: cosmania

They were trying to keep their currency in low level oil leak drip prevention.

There's so much hilarious truth in this comment.

a reply to: EartOccupant

In the picture you can see a bit of the cable still on the radar dome

I didn't now they issued those with wire cutters.

An old one in the 90,s

a reply to: whyamIhere

resistance

a reply to: Blackfinger

Now that was some seriously low flying.
They had to be under 30 feet AGL I bet.

Good thread and flag for you. Cables and aircraft don't mix and I spent 10 years in the USAF taking photos of aircraft accident investigations. One of the worst in recent years was in Italy where a low flying jet hit a cable car line and cut it. Quite a few people were killed in that one. Most of these accidents are pilot error and failure of the pilots to stay abreast of situational awareness for one reason or another. When these accidents happen they're quite often tragic. This one could have turned out that way and didn't. My best,

a reply to: Blackfinger

One of my favorite Apache videos of all time. "Think I can make it?" "Nope"

Didnt a Swiss f-16 hit a cable car or power line a couple of years ago?

You would think they would designate an area like the Mach Loop on Jedi Canyon where low level doesnt have HV power lines.

Around 55% of your electricity bill is transmission costs, they are going anywhere any time soon.