Man Killed By His Own Radio-Controlled Helicopter In Brooklyn 479
An anonymous reader sends this news from the Wall Street Journal:
"A 19-year-old model helicopter enthusiast was killed Thursday when a toy helicopter he was flying struck him in the head, a law-enforcement official said. Victim Roman Pirozek 'was known to be aggressive in his flying and often executed tricks. He was executing a trick when he was struck,' the official said. Mr. Pirozek – depicted in [this YouTube video] he posted in July — was flying a remote-controlled helicopter worth about $2,000 when it struck him, cutting off the top of his head, the official said. The Woodhaven, Queens, resident was pronounced dead at the scene. His father was with him at the time of the accident, the official said."
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
No kidding. I have no doubt this story discussion will be filled with jokes (somewhat understandably), but man that's horrible for his father as well. My thoughts and prayers go out for that family.
Re:This Was News Yesterday (Score:4, Insightful)
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Re:Toy? (Score:5, Insightful)
"The only difference between men and boys are the price of their toys."
Don't be so sensitive on the terminology. Any recreational device can be considered a toy. Some "toys" are quite expensive, and some can be quite deadly if used improperly and require caution and respect, but they're still basically adult toys.
Good. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:OUCH (Score:1, Insightful)
Such as, "Pics or it didn't happen"?
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
No, people don't care about the death of a man's child, even if he was 19. Think how his parents, his family and friends are feeling right now.
If you wouldn't say it to their faces, don't fucking say it at all.
Brace yourselves (Score:4, Insightful)
I can hear the legal coffers clinking as lawyers prepare to amass and file class action lawsuits over an infrequent incident blown out of proportion by newscasts seething with "Think of the children" and "Helicopters kill people" campaigns.
Re:Murder? Possible and maybe practical (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm not saying it's likely at all, but how can one be sure that someone else didn't override his signal and took over control of the craft? Just a thought.
It's quite possible with the old analog FM transmitters if you knew which channel they were in, and even then the two transmitters would be "fighting" for control and positive override control would be very difficult. The way he was used to flying so close to himself (according to one of the stories) it only takes a brief "radio hit" while the chopper was close enough to him to lose momentary control and cause this impact. Someone could possibly take advantage of one of these moments and just mess with the signal a little bit, if they wanted to do it deliberately.
In the case of an FM radio system it's more possible it may have happened by accident if someone on the same FM channel started their transmitter and gave his receiver even a quick radio hit. At a field with loose radio impound rules it's possible another user on his FM channel could have accidentally switched their transmitter on without checking to see if that channel was in use. In my rookie days I would have done something like that.
With the newer digital 2.4GHz spread-spectrum stuff it's highly unlikely to happen by accident and would be a lot more work to achieve deliberately.
Either way I would not take the chance to fly so close to me. I have a healthy respect of rotating machinery and so should everyone.
I fly model helicopters (Score:5, Insightful)
They are definitely NOT toys
The high performance ones have 5 to 10 HP motors
The flying style currently popular among the top pilots is to fly very close to the ground and very close to the pilot
So naturally, the guys with less talent want to fly like the pros
I think this is kinda crazy..no room for error
Re:This Was News Yesterday (Score:5, Insightful)
There probably are procedures, at least minimal, CYA procedures for model aircraft too. That he wasn't following them is why he killed himself. Given his performance-nature of his stunts, think of it like the guy who juggles chainsaws, a not-recommended use of the device, that could, and in this case did, lead to injury and death.
Except that helicopter was many feet away from him for most of its use, and it was intended to be used exactly as he used it. It's sometimes not possible to be aware of exactly how far away and high up a model is just by looking, as models are small and depth perception is weak in our species.
There is only ONE 'CYA' rule for model aircraft: Try not to hit anything. Most of the time when you operate an R/C aircraft, it's something smaller and softer, where if it did hit a person, it might give them a small cut from the prop but is otherwise like getting hit by a big Nerf dart. This guy was using the metalized pro model, which was a bit more dangerous.
It sounds like he was doing some simple ground effect tricks, and the heli got too close and clipped him. It's actually a hobby and a sport, in which many hundreds of people participate. If you think doing tricks with model helis is 'documented reckless behavior', then I have nothing to say but "You must be a ton of fun at parties.."
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
Maybe if the Shuttle Columbia was trying to do inverted tricks on re-entry.
Otherwise, it's not much different than someone juggling chainsaws that are running.
Re:OUCH (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:OUCH (Score:4, Insightful)
Um, sorry, but you acknowledge (and even highlight) the danger and then go on to say how you basically almost decapitated a spectator by flying this admittedly deadly thing directly above them and losing control of it. Remind me never to be in the same park where you're flying.
If this hobbyist was flying it close to himself he was taking a serious, and seemingly well understood, risk. You play Russian roulette long enough and your luck runs out, period.
Re:OUCH (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
NPR was just doing a similar story about folks who skydive in flying squirrel wingsuits. They say there's no thrill like flying above the earth at well over 100MPH. It is also implied and understood there is no such thing as a do-over either. Life is inherently risky, while risks of death can be a real turn-on for folks.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/27/215784315/wingsuit-flying-incredible-thrill-but-no-second-chance [npr.org]
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
It's his fault for not taking proper precautions. He was 19, an adult, and apparently had many, many hours of previous experience.
If all of that didn't instill in him the need to take basic precautions, what other conclusion can one make?
If I'm driving down a back road at 60 mph, stiff arming the steering wheel because that's how the cool kids drive, yacking on my phone while leaning against the door and don't make it through a turn, I can guarantee people would call me a dumbass or stupid for my actions.
This is no different. To bring up a phrase which will immediately get me marked as Troll, personal responsibility. It was his responsibility to make sure both he and anyone everyone else watching was in a safe location before attempting these stunts. He failed to do that and suffered the consequences.
Re:OUCH (Score:2, Insightful)
While I'm sure it could kill you, it's not going to take off your head highlander style.
All evidence points to the contrary. Are you completely unaware of the article you are commenting on?
They are NOT "toys"! (Score:4, Insightful)
I keep seeing people (even the parent article here) using the term "toy" helicopter.
These models are NOT "toys". They're precision machines and very VERY dangerous. Treating them like toys is what leads to people getting hurt.
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
Maybe I'm overly paranoid, but I'm sure this will lead to calls for bans or some restrictions. It won't be effective this time, or the restrictions will be minor, but next time, or the time after they'll increase until they achieve the government objective of increase control over the people by removing civil liberties and information.
Re:OUCH (Score:2, Insightful)
Do you grieve for all of the kids who starve to death in Africa? Do you grieve for the victims of the constant conflicts in the Middle East?
Constantly? No, because I'm in a different place and don't know the victims. But when you think of the meaningless loss of innocent life, I don't see how you can do anything *but* grieve.
What matters if if you know the person or not.
Well, that's what matters when you determine how much it affects you personally, true.
It's perfectly acceptable to joke about the death of someone you never knew or even knew of.
Sure, if you're a massive asshole, unwilling to give the family time to mourn, instead of surrounding them by shouts of "Darwin Awards!". Yes, the guy did something stupid, avoidable, and completely of his own volition. You're kind of a jerk though, if you don't feel enough pity for the family to stop your tongue wagging for a little while.
Re:OUCH (Score:3, Insightful)
Basic precautions? The only one that would have really helped would be a helmet, and I can not recall ever seeing any RC person doing that.
Are you serious? Don't fly near your head. He was doing that intentionally when he died. Check out the video here, he lands on a table a few feet from himself and a friend. Seated, so they can't get away. They both thing it's really cool, but it's totally stupid and lacking the most basic of precautions.
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
I don't know how this guy's flying club/park was set up, but at my local flying club, there is a fairly large "no man's land" between where the model aircraft fly and where the pilots are supposed to stand. Sometimes pilots and planes violate this separation (e.g. a pilot crossing the space to retrieve a damaged aircraft, or a plane being taxied through the space on it's way to or from the "runway"), but in general this no man's land is respected by everyone and accidents occur far away from anyone's head. Also, aircraft are never made to cross over the audience or pilot areas (I'm not part of the club so I don't know if this is an enforced rule, or just something everyone follows out of courtesy).
What this guy does in the TFV (The Featured Video) is totally stupid and reckless, and is just asking for trouble. Not only does he fly the thing over and near a parking lot (basically an audience area), but he flies it within a couple of feet of both himself (sitting down at a table at the end of the video) and another couple of individuals. As one youtube commenter posted, that thing is a flying chainsaw; you just don't fly it that close to anyone's head. This guy was a cocky, stupid individual, and sorry to say, he paid the ultimate price. Again, sorry to say, good thing it was him rather than somebody else. Far from being a freak accident, I bet you this was entirely predictable and also entirely avoidable with a few basic safely measures (and I'm not talking about wearing helmets). Maybe this will serve as a lesson to the others flying at that club, and they'll actually put into place a few basic safety rules to protect both themselves and the audience from this type of thing in the future.
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
I've attended several R/C fly in's with jet powered planes and helicopters. I've never seen a plane fly over the heads of spectators, ever. When a R/C plane zips by the runway at 200mph (322kph) it's in a direction that when it crashes it doesn't impale / decapitate or otherwise injure spectators.
Sadly this will end up being mentioned as a cautionary Darwinian tale.
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
He got lucky, a lot of times. Luck doesn't last. This was the time it ran out, he could have lost his hand, killed a bystander, or sliced his gut open instead of getting hit in the head.
He'll probably win the Darwin Award for September, and deservedly so.
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:OUCH (Score:5, Insightful)
It doesn't change the fact that it was (almost certainly) his fault. Just because it sucks to get killed, it doesn't absolve you of the responsibility especially when you personally control most of the risks.
I fly radio controlled helicopters. A 700-size electric heli is not a toy (and it's not people trying not to be thought of as being "childish" when RC modellers insist their models are not toys) but something that carries quite a lot of energy. The blade tip speeds on a typical 700 size (nitro or electric) that's set up for aggressive 3D is on the order of 400 km/h. They are made from carbon fibre (with a metal weight in the leading edge) and must be respected enormously. Deaths are very uncommon (I think this is only the second death caused by a radio controlled helicopter) but injuries are rather less common and the majority of them are because someone didn't take proper precautions. Only the person with the transmitter is responsible for this. He was the person with the transmitter, he was the commander, he was responsible however much it sucks. It wasn't merely bad luck. It wasn't "luck" that he was flying the heli close enough to where he was standing he couldn't get out the way if things went pear shaped. That was his own, deliberate choice.
The radio manufacturers go to great lengths to try and prevent radio problems leading to runaway models (signal integrity checking and failsafes). Component failures are pretty rare but they do happen. But all of these things won't hurt you if you take the simple precaution of flying the model far enough away from you that if everything goes tits up, you can get out of the way.
Yeah it sucks that he's dead, especially for his family and I have a great deal of sympathy for them but at the same time it is most likely he was personally responsible for his own demise. He was the one with the transmitter, he was the one commanding the model to fly close to where he was in the first place.