90 SECONDS OF HELL! INSANE EMS HELICOPTER CRASH!
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- Опубликовано: 25 мар 2024
- My interview with Chris Kruse about his 2 helicopter crashes, including one in 1997 where he fought an out of control Bell 222 for over 90 seconds.
If you're looking for more stories like this, check out my books "Ferry Pilot" and "Dangerous Flights"
Signed copies available at kerrymccauley.com
Ferry Pilot on Amazon-www.amazon.com/Ferry-Pilot-Li...
Dangerous Flights on Amazon- www.amazon.com/Dangerous-Flig...
An accident with a great outcome. Helicopters can be replaced. No loss of life that is success in my book. As a retired Army guy, surviving three campaigns and everyone came home. Thank You both for your service.
I flew with Chris at Life Link. Best pilot I’ve ever flown with. Glad you’re still around Chris
He's one of the best!
Wow. As a fellow ARNG UH-1 (and later UH-60) crew chief, both of you guys make me proud. I was on the edge of my seat for the entire video. Chris, if you could give your presentation for an Aviation Unit safety day, there are some outstanding lessons to be learned from you. Guys like you made my Army Aviation career fantastic, what a great collection of people.
Hey John. I did a safety day presentation for the MN Guard a few years ago in KSTP at 2/147th Avn. Not sure what unit your with, but it may be available as an archive somewhere? Stay well, and fly lucky!
After listening to this story I am so happy that Chris has survived both crashes and that he has kept his mind clear and kept on fighting all these horrible 90 seconds. Amazing that he went on flying after the first crash and it shows how deep his passion for flying is when ih continued to fly for more than 10 other years! There is a lot of fate and luck besides his abilities as a pilot and it is impressing how open he talked about the fact that these two incidents shook him and reduced his confidence - but that he still continued to fly. Amazing conversation between you two.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
I have 45 years of rotorwing maintenance experience including Huey & 222.
I could picture every item in these scenarios, except the sheer terror of actuality living it ! 😬
My son, a 3000 hour pilot flew his Bell 430 (Reg ZS RRT) in January 2021 to collect a patient, 600 km leg on way. 1.5 hours into the flight the chopper suffered a catastrophic Pitch Link (Clevis))
failure. 5 people died, 2 medical doctors, a trauma nurse, a paramedic and the pilot. That was the second such failure, the first one happened in 2016 when 6 people died.
Bell, the manufacturer refused to investigate then. After the second crash they issued a Airworthiness Directive to all AMO's. And now they are trying all tricks in the book to avoid paying compensation to the families.
Sorry for your loss.
How can you possibly put a price on your life or the one of your family member ? How low one has to actually be to try to collect a single penny for the life of your lost one, specifically if they were doing what they wanted to do in the first place and they had accept the risks that come with it. If my son dies flying the Heli he wants to fly. I’m absolutely incapable of receiving a dime of any kind of compensation under any circumstances. But that’s just me. You really have to avoid been gettho to put a price tag on your loved ones.
@@apogeedesign4348sometimes there are dependents who were counting on the parent to support them, college opportunities lost. Also how do you punish manufacturers for bad design? In China they took a refrigerator factory owner out in a field and shot him in the head. Here in the US they are sued in civil court.
@@apogeedesign4348 I see you only have 2 braincells, if you had three or more you could possibly put together a logical train of thought. I am a very wealthy man so I don't need their money, besides I paid for his flight training in full, one of the most expensive training in the world. A number of expensive type conversions etc. etc.
There are children involved who lost their breadwinner, parents who lost their only child and old age support, his mother lives in poverty and was counting on his support
etc. Have a good day.
@@apogeedesign4348you might think different if it god forbid it happens. Heli crews are never as well compensated as fixed wing crews yet there's far more expected from them. If the accident is the result of another persons negligence you might feel like restitution is owed to the surviving family that was hoping that the meager salary would continue to support the family.
Chris is so mellow probably why he manages bad situations so well.
Being calm under pressure is essential.
This amazing story of the Bell 222 is so similar to my rotor head failure in my AS355 that had me inverted and looking at the ground through the roof windows. No collective control so could only fly it like a fixed wing (whilst shaking itself to bits) After this sort of event it certainly changes your attitude to life and making the most of it and the people you love.!
Is your incident available to read anywhere, please.
Wow- that sounds like another story Kerry should facilitate. Yikes!
Please share it with us.
Great tale of survival and everything coming together at the last possible moment. After flying professionally for 23,000 hours , in fixed wing aircraft , I felt the anxiety as you told this story. Good job .
I mean yes great outcome but I don't think "expert helicopter crasher" is a title that you want to behold.
This caught my eye. I was a maroon hat flight guy in the warrant program at the same time in Rucker. Graduated 2june 1987. Spent a career in Nebraska Guard as an AGR guy. So, Im sure we crossed paths some where. Ron boutch and Jeff caniglia had time up there in guard and ems. Both of those guys flew in Lincoln too. One hell of a story, I’m glad you shared it..
All the best
CW4, SIP/IFE ..retired
“Scouts out” 🇺🇸🚁
I know them both- say hi for me! I was purple, 87-09.
Sir after hearing your story I have the upmost respect for you.!! Such a talented and amazing pilot, when they say its in your blood well sir piloting helicopters is definitely your gift. Thank you for sharing your amazing stories. I wish you nothing but the best!
That was pretty amazing.... Never heard of a helo losing power steering .... Life is a gift...
Power steering. The entire linkage of the main rotor came loose. It is miracle they survived.
As a kid I used to watch N225LL fly over my house what seemed like multiple times a day. I loved the show Airwolf so the 222 was a always one of my favorite birds. We lived along the bluff near Irvine Park and occasionally I'd walk over to Children's when it would be on the pad there to get a closer look or to watch it take off from up close. I remember my mom sending me the article from the Pioneer Press about the crash as I was in Bosnia at the time. Glad luck was on your side Chris and thank you for telling the story. I never realized just how crazy the actual incident was.
At a loss for word, this was incredible. Thank you for sharing Chris! Kerry is a great listener/interviewer to boot! Love the guest specials!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you!
Incredible interview, thanks for sharing
One of my friends better stories.
Incredible story and telling of events.
Glad you liked it!
MAN what a story. Thank you for sharing this !
Thanks for listening
Known Chris for years, truly an amazing pilot!!
Thanks!
That was an incredible story. I'm so happy you held on and made it out alive. Thanks for sharing!
Us too!
"Bell had their hats on straight when they put that thing together."
I recently took a ride in Mayo 3 Fairmont to Mankato. Dont recall any of it but Im sure I had fun. Much respect to the pilot and crew of Med flights
What a great story, loving all the content Kerry!
Glad you enjoy it!
I felt so much anxiety listening to your story!! I know it was going to end well because you’re alive telling it, but ……God truly with you!! Enjoy the rest of your life, you earned it!! 🙏🏻🙏🏻
The brick phone and analog signal were awesome tools. We got sold out on the digital system. It shut down any remote use for years. I was really let down when that occurred.
That was the craziest helicopter story I've ever heard.
I remember when on the fire department we we had an extrication class with multi departments involved. Survival Flight was also involved. The helicopter flew in and did a full 360 upside loop plus also other tricks. Thank You Dave and for your service in Vietnam. 👍🇺🇸❤️
Wow! What an incredible story Kerry! Not such a happy story but definitely an interesting one! I am an aspiring doctor and also want to get my helicopter license and do this kind of work so as bad as the incident was it’s still very inspirational! 😅
Well, that was emotional, thank you both for sharing this story. Hi from England
WOW JUST WOW. YOU THE MAN.
Just WOW ! What a story !
I just realized that I read your first book last year loaned to me from one of my QB Naval Aviator buddies as a must read which was excellent BTW. What really resonated with me was the loss of your best friends and mentor if I recall correctly in the crash and the tragic event at the DZ with your wife. I lived that life back then and experienced similar in the skydiving community. You are probably familiar with the Blue Grass Conspiracy and Cowboys Caravan. Im still flying but my Skydiving days are over.
It wasn't luck it was by the grace of God your still here.
Excellent interview.
Fascinating story. Absolutely riveting.
Glad you enjoyed it
Outstanding and kudos for keeping it real.
Amazing story / pilot Thank you for sharing.
thanks for sharing
I've had little experience dealing with the legal industry... but in the several times I've called 911, I've run into that same 'attitude', & was hung up on twice. Where do they find those people, and why aren't they subjected to pre employment screening, and/or trained? Why do they seek people with no clue as to how it is out in the real world? One of those operators and his 'supervisor' refused to ID themselves which turned into a months long complaint process... never heard the final outcome, but suspect they, and all their little barracks cronies now have commemorative tattoos.
I seriously don't think "expert helicopter crasher" is a title that you want to behold.
Better than being a Rookie Helicopter Crasher..
Thanks s lot! I now have to pull the foam from between my cheeks! Glad your still here my friend. Much Love!
Helicopters sound like something nobody should ever approach... even when they are shut down on the ground.
Kind of like sharks, or ex-wives.
@@KerryDMcCauley…thats the same thing 🎉
I've heard it a few different ways, but:
"A helicopter is 10,000 moving parts, all trying to kill you".
You must have had your guardian angle on board, or maybe Bill was just sitting in that day. Incredible story!
Wow, just wow.
Thank you. Compelling and authentic.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Enjoyed that one Chris God bless
So glad you're still with us Chris! I always enjoyed crewing with you back in the late 80's, and would cheerfully do it again today. I had moved on before you parked in the swamp, did that end up being a driveshaft issue?
Thanks Kurt! You as well, sir. Some fine memories with you over the years. The UH-1 was an N2 spur gear fail.
Army pilots are the best in the world 👍💯 unmatched 👊
Wow ..many thoughts ..glad your here
Dear god. Flight control malfunctions give me nightmares.
I've been an aviator since 1977, the first two words of your statement are the true answer to this scenario...
You and me both, brother!
I had just started my helicopter training at EAC Helicopters at Holman when this happened. I drove over and saw it on the roof of (what I believe was) All Appliance. Pretty crazy.
That was the roof- All Appliance! I spent some time with those folks. Roger G. was my first introduction to RW. Knew Scott very well also...
The official report states that one of the four pins required to hold the assembly in place on was found in the desk of the lead mechanic. Apparently a year prior, he found this extra part atop the helicopter and simply put it in his desk. Yikes! Spare parts? Nope!
Yes, that was messed up.
Just.....wow.
The area where I live in the early '90s I was working EMS and also worked at our local hospital, and our transport service that would take people to the level 1 trauma center their air transport service had a bell 412, And that was the nicest EMS helicopter that thing was big too. They started out with Bill 222s like you had on this video and then they went to the Bell 412. I love that bill 412 because you could take two patients so if you had a really bad car accident you needed transportation to the trauma center they could take two people many times that made the difference between life and death for people. Now they're flying EC145s.
They are the true "trucks" of the medium helicopter arena. Great platforms (when they don't break)!
I noticed your rig hanging on the chair and from what I could barely see in one the pictures next to you was an aircraft above the crowd, was that a picture of Mister Douglas at a Boogie from way back?
Comment and a like for the algorithm, thanks for sharing Chris. ✌🇦🇺
Much appreciated
WOW! Amazing story! So glad you are able to tell us the story. Amazing!
Sorry, I wanted to ask, what became of that 222UT?
Glad you made it safe. Holy canoli
I have been in Aviation for 40 years 20 as crew chief on Chinooks and ems as director of maint .I worked up North where we crashed a 500 every month
I know pilots and engineers or mechanics in USA
This pilot talking knows his shit.His personality is a definite GO for a hire .His non excitable personality makes him a perfect guy for all our jobs world wide but not sit him in a boring job .Very nice guy I want as my friend and coworker Not below or above me as I'm not a Premadona style manager.Good dtories I would love to tell him my 60 stories of Hell and Laugter
You don't often get a debrief from the pilot on one of those deals.....big time lucky....god bless ❤️🇺🇲
This is the first interview I've ever watched coming out soaking wet from sweat, Kerry McCauley… Just WOW!!!
I could have sworn he was gonna say a big ol bag of steel balls, instead of luck lol
Great story telling, thankyou. Why did the 8 stud mounting plate detach, broken or missing bolts?
Yes, the studs failed (hidden under pro-seal) and ultimately let go. CHI00FA111 is the NTSB reference number for the entire accident report.
My goodness; luck is such a strange thing…and training! Well done…
I don't think there's any such thing as luck.
Bell used to do loops and split S maneuvers with the 222, Lucky or unlucky - Both?
The 222 rotor system are not even close to the other bell systems
Nice to know another who kicked a bad helicopter after the pooch job
pretty sure you're thinking B430 as the B222/B212/B214 were still underslung/teetering like AH1/UH1/205/206 Rotors.
@@resQ-av8r Nope, the 222 has a flex beam with spring centering trunion - all the others were trunions with bearings and a little preload, the 222 was Split S and looped with no issues - Do the same in a 212,205,204, 206 with the two bladed system it's mast bump and the resulting ride to the crash site.
Unsure of that-
The mast was nearly compromised in this sequence. Deep witness marks were all over the mast, and it nearly failed. @@user-jq2rf4nf3o
Man you are alot cooler than I'd be to a 911 person hanging up on me. I'd justify my rage and wanting him to loose his job is the thought of what would have happened if Princeton had not heard your call and/or not been calling around.
not so much luck my friend ,but thank God for saving your life ..
I asked Siri what a Bell 222 UT is and on the Wikipedia page is a picture of the sister ship of the one he crashed with exactly the same paint scheme and the tail number is one digit different it has a 4 instead of a 5 but otherwise it’s the exact same aircraft! What are the chances!
Damn
I did a video on drinking and driving while in college in the 1970's. One of the main points was it only takes 1 second to die. To defy the odds on two separate incidents simply means it was not your time to go. However; we are all terminal, and the key is to "Be Ready". Thank God for the dual miracles, and walk close to God everyday ! ☺♥†♪♫ 3-29-24
Better Lucky than good and not bad when you get both. Lots of great insight (especially use of clear visor) and never thought about the violent aftermath of a post auto rollover. Cyclic hardover for/aft & simul Collective hardover is pretty much terminal (Chris was super lucky). Might as well fly to the point of impact as that's more entertaining than being a passenger on the ride. "Warrants = No responsibility No extra duty" ... LMAO ... I was at IERW in 87 (maroon) Chris must have been Guard as on Active Duty we had nothing but Responsibility as all the LTs pushed their duties off onto the Warrants claiming "they'll never fly again after Captain so had to get hours now" so we ran the various shops like ALSE, COMSEC, CESO, Motorpool, etc. and for extra duties we had plenty from fire-marshal to voting assistance, tax assistance, etc etc .. And we had to be the IPs, Safety and MX pilots as the LTs could barely read a map. So I think Chris meant to say the GUARD particularly CounterDrug is the best kept secret ... definitely not being a warrant on AD especially after yr2 when you get full FedRec/UCMJ authority which meant they could command.
We must have crossed paths at Rucker then. I was purple, 87-09. MN Guard.
great story has anyone a link to the ATC audio
DARE was probably the worst antidrug program ever. Every single druggie friend I have (including myself) all had dare make us want to do drugs. All of us first had that though in dare.
That really was a lot of luck 😲
Link to the NTSB reports?
Here you go.
www.ntsb.gov/Pages/ResultsV2.aspx?queryId=0446ba33-a230-44a2-9361-9673b8f068a8
@@KerryDMcCauleyThank you!
Luck???
How disrespectful to who actually saved you.
Out of curiosity
Did the paramedic that was in the cockpit keep flying after the crash or did he keep flying
That was some great flying and divine intervention
I think he kept flying.
Hello-
No, Bill decided to go back to ground paramedic duty's only. He recently retired and we still hoist an occasional beer as well!
Two rules. Only get in a helicopter if you have to, and never under any circumstance get in a hot air balloon. Easy.
Why ?
@@peterkoning21
Hot air balloons are death traps, loaded with huge tanks of propane gas, any uncontrolled fire or explosion will send them soaring skyward, engulfed in flames.
A helicopter is literally a mechanical tornado, every force that is generated to make it fly is simultaneously trying to tear it to pieces. They must be meticulously maintained in order to be safe.
You mean "Hard landing" ?
Just two guys talkikng - no video of the crash!
Exactly. wtf?
Ya, sorry. I was a tad busy at the time, and needed to set the camera down. @@socalfun64
Yeah, no other organisation can train helo pilots. Helloooo, the Royal Air Force!
EXPERT!? We need to get Launchpad McQuack up in here!!
\O>
Will take luck over skill in an out-of-control situation...
god was not ready for you you have been given a second chance don't waste it.
What are the odds? Well, exactly the same as before.
Lol! Correct.
Video looks interesting but if it's only 90 seconds of hell why is the video over an hour long, I cannot watch it
You gotta give it a chance. Chris tells an amazing story and people find it riveting.
@@KerryDMcCauleyagree
These people could have died
Aha
Hard to hear...........................
I wouldn't get on a heli to get off the sun , just sayin
Bill Clinton?....
Chris has the favor of God.
Tax payers funding helicopter flights to search for marijuana is just ridiculous. I am not on board with that operation at all and I can't believe the tax payers helicopters are used for such an activity. I thought all the old stupid people died off. The maintenance of the helicopter that landed on the roof, involving primary flight controls is unbelievable. I would think the cyclic stick would not experience difficulty moving, given it isn't physically tied to the rotor disk assembly. It only has to open and close hydraulic valves. The stick must have travel limits that do not rely upon the valve connections. Strange times in aviation.
Chris was in the counter drug unit in the 1990'S.
This was years ago in the 90's. You're not forced to live here. Go pay taxes in some other country that suits whatever it is that you are onboard with.
@@fyrefitrt2 the god idea is also for gullible people. I will stay here so I can help fix stupid.
crawl back in your hole...
I flew counter drug operations too, and don't agree with our government spying on civilians then or now, however, we didn't make the rules and we needed the flight time to pursue our passion in aviation. Counter drug operations using Military people is wrong. Vote against it at the polls is the only thing we can do. It's both parties that spy on us too.