Midair Collision LAPD Helicopter and Drone - Drone pilot arrested

[fholbert]

This may be a first...

The complaint states that police officers responding to a burglary call at a Hollywood pharmacy on Sept. 18 requested air support. The police helicopter was approaching the pharmacy when the pilot saw the drone and unsuccessfully attempted to evade it.
The helicopter’s nose, antenna and bottom cowlings were damaged. The complaint states that if the drone had struck the main rotor it could have brought down the helicopter.
Officers found parts of the drone on the ground and a vehicle that had been damaged as it fell from the sky.
The drone’s camera and memory card led to identification of Hernandez as the operator, the U.S. attorney's office said.

 

[Cessnaflyer]

Oppsies.

Is this the first person that has been caught crashing a drone into another aircraft?

 

[fholbert]

Oppsies.

Is this the first person that has been caught crashing a drone into another aircraft?

I think so. The outcome may be interesting.

 

[trafficinsight]

So... I don't have a fancy drone certificate. Was flying a drone in that area illegal? Who has right of way? Did the drone hit the helicopter or did the helicopter fail to see and avoid? I got questions, you know, for the common good

 

[NovemberEcho]

So... I don't have a fancy drone certificate. Was flying a drone in that area illegal? Who has right of way? Did the drone hit the helicopter or did the helicopter fail to see and avoid? I got questions, you know, for the common good

pretty sure drones are supposed to avoid aircraft. I also don’t think they’re supposed to be fly over congested areas and they’re def not supposed to be out of line of sight.

 

[trafficinsight]

pretty sure drones are supposed to avoid aircraft. I also don’t think they’re supposed to be fly over congested areas and they’re def not supposed to be out of line of sight.

It's one of those things that makes sense to read but in practice doesn't seem very... well... practical. Except for the line of sight thing.

 

[NovemberEcho]

Apparently this is not the first time drone operators have been arrested by LAPD. This was all the way back in 2015.

Drone operator taken into custody after close call with LAPD helicopter in Hollywood

A close encounter with a hobby drone forced an LAPD helicopter to take evasive action while searching for a suspect in Hollywood.

abc7.com

 

[TUCKnTRUCK]

pretty sure drones are supposed to avoid aircraft. I also don’t think they’re supposed to be fly over congested areas and they’re def not supposed to be out of line of sight.

UAS have to give way to manned aircraft at all times, congested areas are fine so long as they are not operating over non participating people, or people who are not under shelter. They can operate in controlled airspace with LAANC so that part may, or may not have been legal. You can get waivers for operation over people, however that usually includes a parachute and fall risk analysis (something a hobby flyer wouldn’t bother with)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Skåning]

I think drones have to stay under 400', within eye shot and no flying at night.

 

[trafficinsight]

I think drones have to stay under 400', within eye shot and no flying at night.

RC airplanes too, but I definitely almost hit one at 1100 AGL once.

 

[TUCKnTRUCK]

I think drones have to stay under 400', within eye shot and no flying at night.

Kind of - you can fly over 400 with the appropriate waivers, and night flying for a hobbyist wasn’t specifically excluded as the ama permitted it. The daylight waiver fir certificates pilots is pretty simple to get, and by far the most common.

for the random dude who walks into Best Buy however- the only really stressed parts are 400ft and line of sight.

 

[Prino]

You guys see the drone video of the one that does a fly away and lands AT LAS