First crash investigation on another planet

[rwellner98]

Very cool walkthrough of how NASA sorted out why the helicopter on Mars crashed.

tl;dr Disorientation. The helicopter flew over an area with very little contrast and lost its ability to decide where the ground was. So, basically, it was VFR into IMC or glassy water landing kind of scenario.

 

[robin ardoin]

I'll just wait for Gryder's report......

 

[ateamer]

I'll just wait for Gryder's report......

It ought to be pretty good, ‘cause he’s from Mars.

 

[Dave Theisen]

I'll just wait for Gryder's report......

He ruled it a suicide.

 

[Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe]

It ought to be pretty good, ‘cause he’s from Mars.

That would make it easy for him to "secure" the defective light.

 

[Matthew]

Did they file a flight plan?

 

[robin ardoin]

Did they file a flight plan?

The were on Flight Wallowing.

 

[Matthew]

It’s probably all Class G.

 

[Daleandee]

It’s probably all Class G.

Perhaps as it's not a class M planet ...

 

[Matthew]

“Any traffic in the area, please advise…”

 

[nauga]

"The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident."

Nauga,
and his "Administrative Information"

 

[luvflyin]

Very cool walkthrough of how NASA sorted out why the helicopter on Mars crashed.

tl;dr Disorientation. The helicopter flew over an area with very little contrast and lost its ability to decide where the ground was. So, basically, it was VFR into IMC or glassy water landing kind of scenario.

I’d equate that one to times I’ve been Westbound late afternoon with the sun in my eyes and a dirty windshield and couldn’t see caca. Flyin’, drivin’, and the scariest of all, ridin’.

 

[Unbeliever]

lost its ability to decide where the ground was.

Not quite. It couldn't figure out how fast it was going. It knew where the ground was, as it has a laser altimeter. It just didn't zero out its horizontal velocity, and didn't notice the slope.

--Carlos V.

 

[FPK1]

I heard Gryder claim he has a piece of the helicopter...

 

[rwellner98]

I heard Gryder claim he has a piece of the helicopter...

And he's refusing to turn it over to NASA

 

[flyingron]

I'll just wait for Gryder's report......

Maybe we can take up a collection to get him a one way ticket to the accident scene.

 

[Matthew]

Did anyone file a NASA report?

 

[Zeldman]

I had nothing to do with the crash...

 

[TCABM]

View attachment 136159

I had nothing to do with the crash...

For once. Maybe even first time.

 

[robin ardoin]

Maybe we can take up a collection to get him a one way ticket to the accident scene.

Now that is a cause I can get behind.