Pages

Thursday, September 10, 2009

You're Fucking Kidding Me, Right?

You know the problem with the there I was... story? First, you have to be there.

Back when we were in Utah, Lithus mentioned he was a little frustrated because the helicopter had a hydraulics issue. The issue itself wasn't what frustrated him; these things happen and it wasn't an issue of any great importance. What frustrated him was the fact that when he'd picked up the helicopter, he'd been told there were no issues at all. Boo on bad communication. Still, he dealt with the hydraulics the whole time we were in Utah, even to the point of running the bird with them cut off to make sure, should the worse happen, he'd still be able to land without them. Yep. He could. If the worse case hydraulics situation should occur. He flew the Utah gig, finished it up and flew the helicopter back to New Company's base. When he landed, he told the mechanics that the hydraulics were getting a bit worse and they needed to look at them. Then he walked away.

Last night, he was talking with his immediate boss. Now, his immediate boss and Lithus go back to flight school together. These guys know each other. And it's a bad sign when Boss-Man starts something with "Lithus, do you really want to know this?" Being Lithus, he did.

Turns out it wasn't the hydraulics at all. Ever. It was the transmission. A hydraulics failure is survivable. A transmission failure isn't. The transmission froze within moments of Lithus landing the bird back at base. Thirty minutes earlier, he'd been at 11,500 feet.

You're fucking kidding me, right?

He's good and he's lucky. We've agreed he will continue to tell me these things because, just as Lithus being Lithus means he wants to know, me being me means I want to know. But...wow. Maybe not just before bedtime, any longer.

Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.

9 comments:

CrackerLilo said...

Stuff like that, you want to know even though you really don't. Damn, I thought L'Ailee's habit of doing gymnastics moves off of rafters and poles was scary enough. Can't imagine what you were feeling.

I'm so glad Lithus is both good and lucky! *hugs*

nRT said...

You've got an angel watching over you, maybe its your ole faithful companion Lionel.
Glad all is well

Anonymous said...

ouch!
-MikeC

2 Dollar Productions said...

Whew. That would be an adrenaline surge before bed. Do they wear parachutes? I know I would as that is some scary stuff. Obviously glad it turned out the way it did.

Gay Soldier's Husband said...

Ay yi yi...

traci said...

Holy shit! I'm with you! Please don't tell me right before bedtime! I'm grateful your guy is safe and sound Pobble. Hugs all around.

BostonPobble said...

Cracker Lilo ~ It's a combination I'm fond of! *hugs* back

Winrob ~ It wouldn't surprise me at all. They had a special friendship, too.

Mike C ~ You said it, brother!

Neo_Prodigy ~ I wasn't pleased. (sarcasm alert)

$$ ~ No, they don't wear parachutes. Generally speaking, even when things go wrong, helicopters are fly-able (sp?), glide-able, get-down-able. Lithus himself says he crashes better than anyone he knows. So there is always the attempt to get the bird to the ground reasonably successfully, rather than bailing. And then there is a transmission failure. Also, during the course of the day, it's rare to be that far away from the ground.

GSH ~ Yeah, you don't have much room to talk, given your profession. ROFLMAO ;)

Traci ~ As $$ put it, it was an adrenaline surge all right.

Rose said...

What! You're kidding right? His boss is lucky he didn't knock the stuffing out of him.

BostonPobble said...

Rose ~ Nope, not kidding. Not at all. Lithus is more laid back about these kinds of things but *I* was ready to knock some heads. ;)