Captain Winky said:

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Why would anyone want to pay money to see Houston from above? You get to see streets, highways, and uninteresting buildings.

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Same guy that would drive his vehicle through Sims bayou on purpose?

Captain Winky said:

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Why would anyone want to pay money to see Houston from above? You get to see streets, highways, and uninteresting buildings.

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sounds like it was something his kid really wanted to do

I guess so. I hope your next flyover over 610 is safer than these people's.

AgLA06 said:

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Captain Winky said:

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Why would anyone want to pay money to see Houston from above? You get to see streets, highways, and uninteresting buildings.

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Not everyone is a curmudgeon like you.

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That doesn't answer the question.

Not wasting any time. Suit filed by Randy Sorrels against the pilot, her employer, owner of the helicopter and owner of the tower for $50MM.

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/11/01/families-of-3-of-4-victims-killed-in-east-end-helicopter-crash-file-lawsuit/

Analysis of the preliminary NTSB report:



Red beacon lights were on, but flashing strobes not. Shortly before hitting the tower, the pilot was notified of another helicopter in the area from the same tour company. Pilot seems to have been distracted looking for the other traffic.

i understood that this tower didn't have flashing strobes. different designs and different requirements

sts7049 said:

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i understood that this tower didn't have flashing strobes. different designs and different requirements

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It does have white strobes, just were not operational, thus the NOTAM that was issued. There were red beacons at the top at middle.

I've actually been up in an HPD helicopter in that area of town and flown around that tower at night. It was very noticeable and it was amazing how tall that tower was out in the middle of nothing else. It seems a pilot that flies in that area should be very aware of the location of that tower at all times. Especially if you were before 1000' AGL.

I looked at that tower anytime I was east of downtown and remembered zooming by it below the top red light.

Captain Winky said:

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Why would anyone want to pay money to see Houston from above? You get to see streets, highways, and uninteresting buildings.

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So you could tell all your friends how much cooler it looked than Dallas, in case any of them ever wanted to visit.

Don't see where the preliminary report has any information about the pilot.

#1 question in anyone's mind right now is 'how many hours did the pilot have?'

I think it was stated she had just got her license.

And look, I'm a drone "pilot". I don't own a drone nor have I ever flown one but I passed the FAA exam. Even I know the most basic crap.

What are the odds the pilot tried to fly directly over the top of the tower but was looking at the middle light thinking it was the top of the tower.

Then the pilot should have looked at their altimeter and know what the highest obstruction was, gone into hover, then gained altitude.

The Kraken said:

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sts7049 said:

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i understood that this tower didn't have flashing strobes. different designs and different requirements

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It does have white strobes, just were not operational, thus the NOTAM that was issued. There were red beacons at the top at middle.

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that's not what the prelim report suggests. if you watch juan explains the different designs, and the notam mentioned doesn't say the same as what was being circulated early on. this tower may have had its lights functioning just not of the latest design requirements

Stat Monitor Repairman said:

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Don't see where the preliminary report has any information about the pilot.

#1 question in anyone's mind right now is 'how many hours did the pilot have?'

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the loss of situational awareness seems incredibly easy to happen at night with low level flying. even with experience as juan described.

the better question to ask is why have this risky flight path at all.

sts7049 said:

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The Kraken said:

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sts7049 said:

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i understood that this tower didn't have flashing strobes. different designs and different requirements

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It does have white strobes, just were not operational, thus the NOTAM that was issued. There were red beacons at the top at middle.

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that's not what the prelim report suggests. if you watch juan explains the different designs, and the notam mentioned doesn't say the same as what was being circulated early on. this tower may have had its lights functioning just not of the latest design requirements

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Got it, thanks. Should have watched the latest video first.

Another R44 crashed at night 10-days later near Calcasieu.