This helicopter makes a looping during an airshow, but it goes terribly wrong. The chopper crashes and bursts into flames. The pilot is killed.
Carl Hackert
Saratoga Springs, Ny
(Usa)
Why would any experienced pilot attempt this maneuver without
sufficient altitude (and more airspeed in advance of the
climb)? It appears that another 300-300 feet would have
provided the safety margin. The pilot was Guenther Zimmer, a
74 year old and experienced. The accident took place in
Belarus airshow in what looks like a Hughes MD 500 helicopter.
A 2nd video shows the expert but risky low altitude maneuvers
which preceded this accident. The audio of the 2nd clip
contains the sound of gusting wind conditions. Given the
pilot's age, it might be possible that he became momentarily
disoriented or lightheaded during the loop.