…Be afraid of when the aircraft suddenly STOPS flying.

Yesterday, my friend John Strayer and I went aloft to try our hand shooting feral hogs from a helicopter with .44 Magnum revolvers. Our mutual friend Norm Ambrozy, who had arranged the hunt, was on the ground awaiting his turn in the little Hiller, a UH12B I believe.  This increasingly popular – and by all accounts, exhilarating – method of pest eradication has come about from overpopulations of the wild hogs absolutely destroying farmland in several parts of the country.  We thought it would be even more challenging with six-shooters.  It’s normally done with AR15 sporting rifles and, yes, those evil “large capacity magazines” which so upset the White House.

A few minutes into the flight, as we were zoning in on an oinker that had run under the canopy of some tall pines, the engine lost power.  We won’t know exactly what happened until the FAA completes its investigation, but when the main rotor hit the first treetop, the die was cast. Autorotation doesn’t work without rotors, and you all know the old joke about a helicopter’s glide path.

We ended up nose down and kinda upside down.  And grateful to be alive.  I’d like to also personally publish my gratitude to those who expressed concern when they heard about it on the Internet, and to the pilot, Graham Harward, who “brought us back alive.” Cuts, bruises, pulled muscles and stiffness, but since none of the stiffness involves rigor mortis, ain’t none of us complaining.

The flight provider describes their service as “helicopter adventures,” and that was certainly truth in advertising. I had told my sweetie, the Evil Princess, that I was going on a 4-H program: Handgun Helicopter Hog Hunt.  When we were sopping up blood en route to the hospital, she texted me from home, “Change the title to Handgun Helicopter Hog Hunt Hurtles to Harrowing Halt.” That pretty well described it…

 

 The helicopter warms up and pilot performs pre-flight checklist.

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One of the ground crew snapped this shot just before liftoff, showing dimensions of cabin. From left: Mas, pilot Graham Harward, and John Strayer.

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Heading out for hogs, at about a thousand feet, from inside the Hiller.

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The last photo from inside the cabin before power was lost, showing approximate elevation when engine failed. John has his eye out for the hog he just spotted, and camera does not show the S&W .44 Magnum in his right hand. He never lost it throughout the crash, holstering only after he extricated himself from the downed bird. His index finger stayed outside the trigger guard, and his muzzle in a safe direction, the entire time.

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Final resting place. That’s broken tail boom and what’s left of tail rotor at upper left, landing skids on upper right.

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Crushed nose and cabin on port side, where John crawled out after crash.

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Mas and pilot exited from here, on starboard side of crushed cockpit, now pretty much upside down in palmetto.

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Minutes after the crash. John Strayer, left, and pilot Graham Harward are bloody but unbroken.

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A few hours later at the crash site.  John, Graham, and Mas with pieces of main rotor.

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Folks tell you that when you have a lucky day, you should buy a lottery ticket.  This time, it didn’t work. No complaints, though.  As John Strayer said, “We’ve used up enough luck for one day.” Note the tabs on the computer…

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1 COMMENT

  1. mass how many lives you got left? this will be quite the story to be told and retold, reminds me of Hemingway’s luck in Africa, (2 crashes in 1 day), glad you are still alive! we need your rational thought in this world

  2. Greatful your Guardian Angels hitched a ride with you guys!!! Amazing write-up and love that you were able to post pictures with it. OK it’s official…you are my favorite writer of all time… you can stop the Arial adventures now…we NEED you here on earth with us!

  5. I’m very relieved that you & your friends survived this time. I hope you decide to lay low for awhile. None of us want to read a headline like this:

    FAMOUS GUN AUTHORITY MASSAD AYOOB KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO “SHOOT THE PIGS” WITH A DIRTY HARRY HANDGUN!!!

  6. Thank God you’re OK. Helicopters are fun to fly in as long as you don’t think about the mechanical things that can go wrong.

    If at a high altitude under speed if a power loss occurs and the pilot is skilled enough they are capable of auto rotation to a controllled crash. In your situation that wasn’t feasable.

    You must of had a guardian angel looking over you 3.

  7. Thank God you are OK, but don’t tell the anti-gun crowd that a helicopter posed far more danger to life and limb than a .44 magnum – it does not fit in with their preconceived world view.

    Hope the copter landed on a hog or two!

  10. Glad you did not get hurt! We need your voice! I can just image the liberal headlines, “Party Killed While Hunting with Dangerous Handguns.” No mention of a helicopter…….

  15. Mas,
    I echo what everyone else says. I’m glad things worked out in your favor in the end.

    As to those who commented on using AR-15’s to hunt Hogs, remember .223 is only one (very popular) cartridge available. Try an AR-15 chambered for 6.5 Grendel.

  19. I am happy to hear that Mas and his friends are OK. Mass is a treasure. I wish he would help take the gun rights argument to congress. He is clear, knowledgeable and persuasive.

    Please consider after you heal up.

    R

  21. I fell 2 and a half stories once…it was kinda’ fun on the way down. The sudden stop was a little jarring…

  22. As with the rest, glad you’re all safe and relatively sound. Kudos to the pilot, the overall fitness of all three, and especially The One who looks out over all.

  23. Mas, I’m so glad y’all are OK! Rack up one more “Y’all ain’t gonna believe THIS sh*t!” experience for bragging rights, I guess. I know you’re not a Texan, but it still works. 😉

  26. I’m a comm. fixed and rotor pilot with 4,000 hrs. When you leave yourself NO safety cushion, NO way out, using only wishful thinking and exercising no forethought to mechanical or human failure (just like guns), then you reap what you have sown. I’m glad things turned out so well for all concerned.

  27. Thank God you were all spared. Mas, the shooting community needs your leadership now more than ever. Stay safe, please!

    John Mattre
    MAG 40 grad

  28. I can’t say anything that has not already been said but will add my voice to those that are glad you and all occupants are safe. It must have been terrifying.

  29. Never having had the Adventure of flying in one of those wingless contraptions, I can only pass on what an old friend, and retired military helicopter instructor pilot told me.

    As far as he, and many of his fellow I/Ps were concerned, the Huey’s they flew were the only aircraft which they firmly believed sat on the ramp, all night, plotting how kill the first idiot pilot who was rash enough to try make the fly, the next morning.

    Of course, that is only the opinion of one who had many hours of experience with the things, so you’ll have to arrive at your own conclusions.

  32. Like everyone else here, I’m glad you made it, Mas. As for future chopper rides, may I suggest staying away from recipe engines and hunt for hog only in twin-engined jet jobs? Two is one and one is none, as they say!

  34. Mas, I just heard about your crash. I’m so glad you walked away. That makes it a good landing, right? It would be a strange world without you.

    Remember, eat dessert first.

    Maurice

  35. Losing you would have been a tragedy for your family, for gun owners, and for our country. I firmly believe that, and I am *extremely* happy to see you survived!

  36. Mas…..

    VERY glad everyone is safe!! That doesn’t look like a good place to have been…..well, up to when the hog was spotted but before the bird stopped flying!!
    Be well all & say an extra prayer.
    Best Regards,
    Jim Chun

  38. Mas – Was very glad to see you and compatriots came through the crash bloodied but OK…..thank the Lord you all were only a hundred feet or so up since it came down like a rock after hitting the trees….He was looking after you all that day….

    Beside that – we still have to have you to finish the second half of our MAG40 class with you and the Evil Princess in SC in the near future…best, HarryL 1/28/13

  39. Brent: Oddly enough, it wasn’t terrifying. Only time to focus on what needed to be done (crash position, ride it through, exit). No time to be terrified before or during…and once it was over, nothing left to be terrified of, just urgent focus on getting everyone out.

    J. Scott: Cholesterol is fine. Adrenaline, on the other hand, was somewhat elevated…:-)

  40. Thankfully you all made it out alive in that crash. Aircraft do not have crash designs built into them like cars, so when a crash happens, they fall to pieces in a hurry. But that should not deter you from trying the experience again. The smaller helicopters are more prone to problems than the more expensive and bigger helios. Hope your next adventure will be more rewarding.

  41. Mas
    Glad you’re OK. I live in the county where your adventure occurred and I know that things could have been MUCH worse. I’ve been reading your articles for decades and they have given me a lot of knowledge and information. I am a retired Deputy Sheriff and have relied on your teachings many times. Obviously you have work left to do here and were spared the ultimate outcome. Prayers are with you.
    Rick W. 1-28-2013

  42. Yow, scary. The Man Upstairs definitely keeps a real good overwatch for you, amigo… Glad to hear no permanent injuries.

    Though, now you might have a better idea why the piece that holds the rotor on is called the Jesus Nut…

  43. Can’t remember where first read it, a specops guys stated ‘A helicopter is not an aircraft; it’s a bunch of parts temporarily flying in very close formation.’

  47. Glad to see all you guys are ok, Hope to see you Grounghog day @ Gateway. I haven’t got to shoot on your squad yet.

  48. Glad to hear everyone walked away from that. I never fail to be amazed when anyone survives a crash in a flying lawnmower.

    And Don’t Do That Again.

  50. Mas:
    Wow! What an experience. Glad that you and your friends made it out of the ordeal safely. Lots to be thankful for.

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