Hovercraft Accident

[codeman671]

It looks to be a serious wreck, there is not much left of the hovercraft. What happened? It looks like he caught it sideways getting on to the ice and rolled, but that is just a guess.

My condolensces to his family and friends. What an awful accident!

[KPW]

Based on what I have heard, his hovercraft stalled. He tried to pull start it and the cord broke. (the broken pull start cord was with him when they got him to shore) He lost his balance and went overboard. He was stocking up supplies for the island.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by KPW

Based on what I have heard, his hovercraft stalled. He tried to pull start it and the cord broke. (the broken pull start cord was with him when they got him to shore) He lost his balance and went overboard. He was stocking up supplies for the island.

Just curious, if this was the case why do the pictures online look like the hovercraft is in a million pieces?

[Skip]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Just curious, if this was the case why do the pictures online look like the hovercraft is in a million pieces?

I thought the same thing until I took a closer look and saw some before and after shots.

There are several pictures of the unit upside down with the skirts in disarray and most of the craft underwater. A lot of the "pieces" of debris appear to actually be the cargo it was carrying. A quick glance might imply the craft was destroyed in the accident.

However I have also seen several pictures of the craft after it was recovered and uprighted, and it appears to be completely intact in those.

Can be a bit confusing given the angle of the first shots taken right after the wreck.....

Tragic...my thoughts and prayers for the family & friends of the deceased.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by Skip

I thought the same thing until I took a closer look and saw some before and after shots.

There are several pictures of the unit upside down with the skirts in disarray and most of the craft underwater. A lot of the "pieces" of debris appear to actually be the cargo it was carrying. A quick glance might imply the craft was destroyed in the accident.

However I have also seen several pictures of the craft after it was recovered and uprighted, and it appears to be completely intact in those.

Can be a bit confusing given the angle of the first shots taken right after the wreck.....

Tragic...my thoughts and prayers for the family & friends of the deceased.

It makes sense that the cargo would be everywhere which gives it a misleading appearance. What caused it to flip in this case?

No agenda here, just trying to put some sense to this tragic mess. Having looked into hovercrafts before I am curious. I haven't ruled one out for the future.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by codeman671

It makes sense that the cargo would be everywhere which gives it a misleading appearance. What caused it to flip in this case?

No agenda here, just trying to put some sense to this tragic mess. Having looked into hovercrafts before I am curious. I haven't ruled one out for the future.

An earlier post had indicated the craft had stalled and the operator was trying to restart it. I am not familiar with these units at all, but did notice that in the recovered photo I saw that it looked particularly small. If the unit had stalled over open water and the skirt deflated, how stable are these units on open water under these conditions?

Perhaps someone that is familiar with this particular model would know? It appears that something caused it to flip completely over at or near the water/ice line. I guess my question is do these units, which would appear to be top heavy if on water with a deflated skirt, have a tendency to be unstable given the conditions that day?

[cowisl]

Originally Posted by Skip

An earlier post had indicated the craft had stalled and the operator was trying to restart it. I am not familiar with these units at all, but did notice that in the recovered photo I saw that it looked particularly small. If the unit had stalled over open water and the skirt deflated, how stable are these units on open water under these conditions?

Perhaps someone that is familiar with this particular model would know? It appears that something caused it to flip completely over at or near the water/ice line. I guess my question is do these units, which would appear to be top heavy if on water with a deflated skirt, have a tendency to be unstable given the conditions that day?

They are not unstable depending on where you place the weight. They are not top heavy either.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by cowisl

They are not unstable depending on where you place the weight. They are not top heavy either.

Can you confirm what KPW said in post #16 about the accident?? Did it stall and was he trying to start it and lost his balance thereby falling in the water??...

Dan

[fatlazyless]

Getting dumped from a boat into 36-degree water probably causes an automatic gag reflex and inhaling water that leads to a fast drowning.

Wading into 36-degree water from the shoreline, while wearing only a bathing suit and old sneakers or flip-flops, can readily be done.

Same human anatomy but with two very different endings.

Helpful hint: If you ever find yourself getting a quick dump into icy water, be sure to clamp your hand over your mouth and nose and tell yourself that you can get through this cold water challenge.

[NoBozo]

There are usually TWO engines in a "Hovercraft". There may be variations of this mechanical arrangement from one model to another. One is the engine you can see on the back, which drives the hovercraft foreword with an aircraft-like propeller, similar to the typical Everglades type "airboat".

The other engine is the Lift engine and is not very visible unless you are onboard..or standing on a dock looking down at it. This engine also has a fan, which sucks air in from above, and inflates the "skirts" below, where the Lift Air escapes..in a controlled fashion from under the skirts. If the skirts are damaged, too much air escapes and lift is lost and the craft comes "off plane" pronto..

I havn't seen a good picture of the craft in this story. NB

EDIT: I just Googled "Personal Hovercraft" and found one with a single engine that provides both thrust AND lift.

http://www.neoterichovercraft.com/ge..._principle.htm

[cowisl]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

There are usually TWO engines in a "Hovercraft". There may be variations of this mechanical arrangement from one model to another. One is the engine you can see on the back, which drives the hovercraft foreword with an aircraft-like propeller, similar to the typical Everglades type "airboat".

The other engine is the Lift engine and is not very visible unless you are onboard..or standing on a dock looking down at it. This engine also has a fan, which sucks air in from above, and inflates the "skirts" below, where the Lift Air escapes..in a controlled fashion from under the skirts. If the skirts are damaged, too much air escapes and lift is lost and the craft comes "off plane" pronto..

I havn't seen a good picture of the craft in this story. NB

This one has one engine.

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by NoBozo

There are usually TWO engines in a "Hovercraft". There may be variations of this mechanical arrangement from one model to another. One is the engine you can see on the back, which drives the hovercraft foreword with an aircraft-like propeller, similar to the typical Everglades type "airboat".

The other engine is the Lift engine and is not very visible unless you are onboard..or standing on a dock looking down at it. This engine also has a fan, which sucks air in from above, and inflates the "skirts" below, where the Lift Air escapes..in a controlled fashion from under the skirts. If the skirts are damaged, too much air escapes and lift is lost and the craft comes "off plane" pronto..

I havn't seen a good picture of the craft in this story. NB

EDIT: I just Googled "Personal Hovercraft" and found one with a single engine that provides both thrust AND lift.

http://www.neoterichovercraft.com/ge..._principle.htm

As cowisl states above, a lot of the newer ones are single engine such as the Hovertechnics. Before I bought my airboat I was looking at the Hovertour 700. I think George Randall has a Hovertechnics.

[winniboy]

the story is after leaving the landing following picking up a few things from the store. He left the mainland and got just across the open water before the hovercraft stalled. He got out to pull the engine over when the cord snapped. his backwards pull made him fall over and into the open water. He went to grab hold of the hovercraft to pull himself back up and it capsized over. (these are not very stable with the skirt inflated never mind with it deflated.) After being in the cold water he either suffered from shock or a heart attack (not sure if it has been determined yet...my guess is both). He will be missed

[NoBozo]

I have gone through the ice and gone in the water ..Totally..up to my neck, while Iceboating (Sail). I was wearing a "Snowmobile Suit" and Helmet. My initial response was ..OH..THIS is not good. The secondary response was involuntary..Shrinkage.

It is NOT that Bad. The mast was now laying over horizontal to the ice. I paddled and walked over the sail..like a trampoline..walked up the sail on to good ice and got out of the water. It was NOT that cold. My sailing companions were there pretty quick. .........What to do now...?

Retrieve the boat: The boat has to be Un-Rigged to get it out of the water. NO Problem: I went back into the water to pull the pins for the rigging so the mast could be removed and the boat hauled out onto the ice. It took only minutes.

Once the boat was retrieved, it was RE rigged on the ice... a companion loaned me a Dry snowmobile suit and I resumed sailing. I think I was around 28 or 29 years old..?? NB

YUP: I have been there and done that....

[Finder]

Boy. You're a real hero!

[cowisl]

Originally Posted by winniboy

the story is after leaving the landing following picking up a few things from the store. He left the mainland and got just across the open water before the hovercraft stalled. He got out to pull the engine over when the cord snapped. his backwards pull made him fall over and into the open water. He went to grab hold of the hovercraft to pull himself back up and it capsized over. (these are not very stable with the skirt inflated never mind with it deflated.) After being in the cold water he either suffered from shock or a heart attack (not sure if it has been determined yet...my guess is both). He will be missed

That is my understanding as well. RIP

[KPW]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Can you confirm what KPW said in post #16 about the accident?? Did it stall and was he trying to start it and lost his balance thereby falling in the water??...

Dan

From what I was told from someone who spoke to him as he was loading his hovercraft before the accident, and was at the scene as he was brought to shore, He was loaded with supplies for a month at Cow. The hovercraft stalled just before the ice edge. When he tried to restart it, the pull cord broke. (The broken pull cord was underneath him when he was pulled to shore). He fell overboard. He tried to get back in the craft it flipped over with all the excess weight of supplies. It was scat hovercraft about 12 ft. long. Someone heard him yelling at himself, then the yells were more pleading. When the person got to the landing, the victim seemed already unresponsive. The 911 call was made and the person waded up to his chest and was able to grab the victim. According to this information, this is most likely what happened.

This person loved the island and lived there year round. He died tragically too early, but died loving his life on the island.

May Chet rest in peace.

[trfour]

Due to the affects of cold water/hypothermia, when us humans get too, and careless of the responsibilities of getting to know what one would need, should they find themselves in an unfortunate, or any situation that got them into Cold waters, In The First Place.

Being among so many that have been out on this forum for many years and have posted safety videos and other comments about the hypothermia/factor and human survival safety and much more, however, and why, is it that as hard as we try, these accidents continue to sadden us all? We all need to pick us up now, and post more about safety in the conditions and traditions of Lake Winnipesaukee, Year around! Please add and help!
http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/c...eneral/8_5.php

My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of a loved one.
Terry
____________________________________

[cowisl]

Originally Posted by codeman671

Just curious, if this was the case why do the pictures online look like the hovercraft is in a million pieces?

That seems to make sense to me. It would be very hard to flip it otherwise. May he RIP.