Who's fault for crash?

[Salmon]

Just got back from a local club picnic and fly-in event. This was not my home club but a good friends and a great new field I have visited before. Here's what happened: My son was tearing up the sky with his Raptor 30 and was coming in for a landing to check the fuel level. Was on the back stretch cruising in level flight due to another pilot on landing approach. This pilot had trouble controlling his plane and nearly hit my son who literally had to jump out of the way as he saw the plane coming at him from the corner of his eye. The other pilot's plane crashed not 5 feet in front of the pits where the rest of my friends were standing. The whole event caused my son to crash the Raptor hard in the ground due to being forced to take his eyes off of it. Four witnesses said if Forrest had not jumped out of the way he would have been hit by the other guy's plane. Now the problem I have is the other pilot said nothing until he was asked to. He finally came over to apologize but did not offer to pay for the damage to my son's helicopter. Not only was this a potentially very dangerous event but he caused the crash of another pilot's aircraft. What do you guys think? Should he pay for the damage or not?

[bosshoss]

Yikes!!! Genltemen's ettiquite ......he should at least have offered. Yikes!!!

[TonyThomasian]

Its hard to exactly know. how much in damage? If its a little I would ignore it. Other wise talk to the guy who made him crash. You also have to remember that it was a accident not on purpose. So keep that in mind! But i dont exactly know whos fault it is.

[TheTank]

	Quote: Originally Posted by bosshoss
	Yikes!!! Genltemen's ettiquite ......he should at least have offered. Yikes!!!

I agree... an immediate apology would be the least I would be expecting. To offer would have been nice, whether or not you would have accepted, the offer would have been the gentlemanly thing to do.

[Fearless Flyer]

I think he should pay for at least something. It is hard enough flying a heli without a plane coming at you. just my 2 cents.

[WRBirch]

I agree that payment should be offered. Nothing was said about any spotters, At my club if two or more planes are up. you are suposed to have a spotter to watch your back. Would one have helped here??? no-one probably knows.

[50%plane]

If I crashed the plane, I would be running over to Forrest and say "Are you ok?!?!? I'm sorry about! How much do I owe you?" That's what this dude should have, IMO, done.

[3D-Seth]

Hey man - like i said there at the field today i think he may have lost his head if he didnt jump . . .
sorry 'bout the loss

Seth

[Jaybird]

I crashed someones plane today. Went to help a guy maiden a 50cc aeroworks yak, 2nd flight. DA 50 flamed out about 5 seconds after breaking ground. Had already started to turn downwind, set up to land, thought I had it made. The landing gear came out, making two nice holes in the wing and breaking stringers and a former on the bottom of the fuse. When the muffler tubes hit the grass, it removed the firewall and broke the prop. (IMO, the gear should not have came out, it was not a bad landing but the grass was a little rough) It was not really my fault but I feel horrible and obligated to do something. I hauled the plane home and I'm calling Aeroworks tomorrow to see If I can get a new fuse to get the guy going again. I guess that's part of it.
Brian

[3D-Seth]

BTW: The guy said he said landing but i was next to Forrest and didnt hear a thing . . .

[rede2fly]

man thats a tough one to call. if you are flying with several planes, then a spotter in needed, i beleive this is stated in the a.m.a. rules. infact i know it is. you should never take your eyes off your plane. but i know how hard it is when all that is going on. a spotter would have been able to tell the pilot to move this way or that way, and set your copter down NOW or take it up high right now so you can have a look at whats going on. but i know how fast it happens. now nobody is a professional iam assuming, and even they crash. i think i would expect a personal i'am very sorry if i was the reason of your crash, but i dont think i would expect him to offer to pay for anything. those things are going to happen. thats like a midair whos at fault????????? do you watch nascar racing. same thing. but i'am sorry for the loss of the heli... my 4 cents

[3ddd]

was he ok to fly or was he a beginner?if he was a beginner he should not have been flying with someone else in the air or at least not wothout an instructor.was he checked out by the club as able to fly by himself.sounds like he f#@$ked up and is trying to ignore it hoping it will go away.