Mag needed ASAP Helo crash Tampa Bay

[G.I.B.]

I'm posting this here because you guys are the folks with the Mags.

Dec 1st a Robinson R-22 helicopter crashed in Tampa Bay. Unfortunately, the pilot did not survive. The pilots remains have been recovered. The airframe has been recovered.

The rotor blades are missing.

The FAA is offering a 2K reward for the blades.

I used to fly R-22's so I have a little insight. I also own a 40' Endeavour boat on Tampa Bay. 2 staterooms, heads, galley, and so on. I've got the dinghy, and all my dive gear- 2 steel 100's and 2 aluminum 80's. The water is, on average, 15 feet deep in this area. Visibility is limited, usually only a couple of feet. I, in a previous time, was a rescue diver, so I have experience on several levels.

What I don't have is a portable Mag.

So, if you can say, 'Have Mag, will travel' ~ Let me know. I'll split it 50/50. You supply the mag, your dive gear, beer and food, I'll supply the boats, dinghy, motors, local knowledge, fuel and so forth. I'd like to operate off my 40' boat as the mother ship so to speak while towing a mag with the dinghy. We will sleep on the boat. Then we dive the possibilities.

With a 2K reward hitting tonights Tampa Bay Fox 13 news- it might get busy fast out on the water. We have a nasty weather weekend coming up for next weekend, and the new years being here, it might provide an opportunity for an adventure and a little money.

We are obviously hunting the rotor blades. The Robbie has two, and it's believed that they separated in flight, which was the cause of the crash.

Let me know if you are interested.

Ahoy,
G.I.B.

Pilot who died in Apollo Beach helicopter crash had years of experience flying - Tampa Bay Times

Pilot identifed in Apollo Beach chopper crash

 

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[comfortably numb]

Contact Salvor6 he's in your area and has a mag.

 

[G.I.B.]

Roger that, thanks...

Ahoy Salvor 6, you out there?

Sending PM~

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

I haven't worked on those helicopters but have worked on aircraft my whole life and I believe you wont find much ferrous metal on those blades, the attachment hardware, that's about it. Maybe a boat towed PI metal detector.

 

[Dell Winders]

Aren't the blades of the helicopter made of Aluminum? Do you have the coordinates of where the main frame landed? Are you near Apollo Beach? Dell

 

[Zodiacdiverdave]

Aren't the blades of the helicopter made of Aluminum? Do you have the coordinates of where the main frame landed? Are you near Apollo Beach? Dell

Most blades now are composite with an aluminum root or base that attaches to the rotor hub.
ZDD

 

[Salvor6]

Hello G.I.B. Just saw your post. I just got back from Tennessee. Called your number and left a message. Yes, I have a mag and I can help but the rotor blades are aluminum. I know the area. Call me.

 

[stevemc]

Side scan would be quickest, best. I have dove all over from the bridge to the Gulf, not East of the bridge, but its all hard sand out there. I dont know where it went down. It should show up good. I agree most are fiberglass, carbon fiber, with aluminum tips and bases. You cant flex aluminum too much more than once.

 

[G.I.B.]

Aren't the blades of the helicopter made of Aluminum? Do you have the coordinates of where the main frame landed? Are you near Apollo Beach? Dell

The blades are stainless steel with an aluminum honeycomb core. They are each 12' long. Yes, I live near Apollo Beach. Yes, I have the coordinates of where the main wreckage was located.​

 

[G.I.B.]

Salvor 6, Will call you in the morning. I have the search coordinates and additional data if you join in. The blades are 12' long and stainless steel and aluminum. I don't know much about mags- should hit it?

 

[stevemc]

Stainless is not the best steel to get picked up by a mag. Most are barely at all magnetic, especially the good stuff. Big coil PIs will have a hard time picking up good stainless.

 

[Salvor6]

G.I.B. I would be glad to help out. I have two 120 steel tanks and two 130's full. I live real close to the Gandy launch ramp. Call me.

 

[Dell Winders]

I agree with Steve MC. Side scan Sonar would be the fastest, easiest and most efficient tool to search for the rotor blades. I have a place to stay on Wisteria Ln in Apollo Beach, if I can be of any help. Unfortunately, I am old and allergic to Cigarette smoke. Dell Phone 863 422 5454

 

[G.I.B.]

Salvor 6, sent PM with my phone # I still don't have yours.

Dell, thanks for the offer. I don't smoke- so maybe one day when I want to take a vacation in Apollo Beach...

I've never used a mag before, but I've just learned a lot. It makes sense with knowing what the blades are made out of, now that I think about it. Another great learning experience.

 

[AUVnav]

The blades are composite.
The stainless steel is a 'D' section at the leading edge...1.5 inches wide and 1 deep tube that is 0.06 inch thick. The rest is honeycomb aluminum, with 2 variants of skin, 0.025 thick aluminum or 0.008 inch thick SS.

I see little use for a mag...but perhaps the sidescan can pick up the debris trail....video camera might actually work the best depending on water depth..

Robinson Rotor system

Robinson Reward

 

[G.I.B.]

I'm staying ashore tied to the slip, whilst the bad weather passes, with a cold beer or 12-

I used to get towed in a grid pattern behind a jet ski looking for bodies, drowning victims and the like. I'm thinking that is about the only thing that would work here, but with the plethora of boats, and anything else that floats while loaded with grappling hooks, running every which way- it's going to look like a clown car boating show (on crack) out in the bay...

Best I wait till all the people go back to work. And if the blades have not been located by then, I'll go out and get them.

Bartender- refill please

 

[Salvor6]

My dive buddy called me this morning and said "you want to make a dive today?" To make a long story short, we already recovered the chopper blades. Sorry G.I.B.

 

[Darren in NC]

Way to go, Pete!

 

[Salvor6]

Thanks Darren. Here is one happy diver:

 

[AUVnav]

nicely done!
find both of them close together?
curious what the GPS coordinates were on them...