Storm drain landing!

摘要

As a new helicopter pilot with a "massive" 90hr-plus, my confidence levels were very high. However, the aviation gods were about to give me a wake-up call... I was delivering Hughes 300C piston-powered helicopter ZS-RBJ to Windhoek, Namibia, on May 15,1994. The trip had taken 12hr over two days from my home base of Cape Town. The flight up had been great with some stunning scenery and fantastic weather. My good friend Norman was on board to do the map reading. Norman was a high-hour ALTP flying for South African Airways. We approached Eros Airfield just outside of Windhoek on a very hot afternoon with an OAT of over 35c, this combined with the airfield elevation of just under 6,000ft made it a very "thin air day". Having been asked to expedite a transit direct to a parking slot on the apron, I brought the aircraft down to a low and fairly fast approach. I should have then realised most of my flying was at sea level - we were both cooking inside the cockpit and most of all the collective was already near my armpit, but no, being daft I approached with speed and vigour!