A crash of my former specialty aircraft

[Rooster]

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com//dpp/entert ... e-3-2-2012

Looking at the video, if the aircraft *was* (if you detect a note of skepticism, it's because the details in such news reports are often egregiously wrong) in a high hover at 200 feet, the pilot was in the dead zone of the height/velocity diagram. Furthermore, the angle and speed at which the aircraft impacted the ground suggests the pilot did not flare or pull collective before the crash. If this is the case, the FAA will find the pilot at fault.

From what I see-- and we don't get to see the preceding 15 seconds of video --it appears the pilot was making a low level, high speed run and either misjudged his height above the ground or got distracted and let the aircraft descend.

The mechanic, who I am guessing is in the front seat, is one lucky fellow. If you pause the video at the moment of impact you'll see the forward or blade on the starboard side smack the ground and rebound up into the air missing the cockpit. In most level crashes the Cobra's blade lops off the forward station and the upper half of the guy sitting in the front seat, but because of the severe impact angle (maybe 40*?) the rotor blade whacks the ground, bounces up and the retreating blade is forced into the dirt on it's next pass as well.

It's too bad because the AH-1 is a wonder to fly and I hate seeing them ruined.

[Cuda]

or maybe