Prime example of how the news gets it wrong

Sigarms · Jan 17, 2021

Helicopter Drops Huge A/C Unit Onto Oakland Street – NBC Bay Area

I have no clue why they decided to pick up the units in the street, if you notice, kind of narrow (generally when laying equipment down by a sky lift, the pick up point is in a very open area and flown to the destination for a short trip). Best guess is no cables actually snapped, but for whatever reason, the pilot felt something wrong with the load and intentionally dropped it right back where it was picked up. Less money loss and no loss of life compared to the pilot trying to make it happen and crash the helicopter in the city and God only knows what could of happened.

drssg · Jan 17, 2021

On very rare occasions, I have read news articles on a subject with which I am personally familiar. I have been appalled at the lack of accuracy. In these cases, it wasn't because the news source was biased, it was just plain ignorance.

It kind of makes me wonder why I bother reading news, but I don't have much of an option to have any hope of knowing what is going on.

JethroB · Jan 17, 2021

They would rather report news fast and grab eyeballs than be accurate. More at 6 o'clock.

Jstpssng · Jan 17, 2021

JethroB said:
They would rather report news fast and grab eyeballs than be accurate. More at 6 o'clock.

Exactly. They can always print a retractor in fine print, later. The good thing now with the internet is that it's easier to peruse different sites for more details.

Sigarms · Jan 17, 2021

drssg said:
On very rare occasions, I have read news articles on a subject with which I am personally familiar. I have been appalled at the lack of accuracy. In these cases, it wasn't because the news source was biased, it was just plain ignorance.

Completely agree. Two subjects I'm somewhat familiar with is guns and the "pit bull" bread. Generally, the news is reported, but from what I read, in no way shape or form do they have the actual facts straight as far as what what they are reporting.

That said, my father has given me good advice since I hit my late 20's (LOL), and when he was involved in local government when he was older, he told me never to talk to a reporter because they will only quote you (and take out of context what you said) if they are trying to get a point across. My dad was only on the local planning and zoning board, and I figure if a reporter could tick him off to that point, God only knows what happens if it's national news.

Sigarms · Jan 17, 2021

Jstpssng said:
Exactly. They can always print a retractor in fine print, later. The good thing now with the internet is that it's easier to peruse different sites for more details.

The bad thing with the internet IMO is no one generally researches the news source and what is being said.

The somewhat old addage (not that old if you're in your 50's) "well, if it's on the internet, it has to be true" is sadly accurate.

At the end of the day, I have no doubt this same issue today (as far as reporting actual facts) was an issue throughout the history of man. Propaganda (in some way, shape or form) and news generally goes hand in hand.

I actually don't know what happened in Oakland with the dropping of that unit, but I do know when you're paying someone to airlift equipment to place on a rooftop, dropping it due to the safety of others is noted in the agreement in fine print. At the end of the day, a 10-40k piece of equipment is easier to lose (heartless comment money wise) than a helicoptor with a pilot and or others involved in a potential crash. In 25 years I've only done 2 sky lifts, and the equipment was never picked up on a street in town that had to be closed to the traffic.

Steppenwolfe · Jan 17, 2021

How does one receive news that one can trust when every imaginable source has their own agenda?... When I was a kid I was taught I could trust my teachers, a policeman, a fire fighter, and Walter Cronkite; and absolutely, positively I could trust my parents not to lie. (Santa Claus) OK... Now that we are past all that and 99% of TV preachers lie who exactly should I trust ?

CobyRupert · Jan 17, 2021

Seems like they’re reporting what eye witnesses on the scene are saying. Pretty normal. What else do you expect them to do seeing how the company that dropped it isn’t saying anything, and it wasn’t reported to any officials? (Is it even an OSHA incident if nobody is injured?)
What sources are there that the pilot intentionally dropped it, or that eyewitnesses on the scene “got it wrong”?

From the San. Francisco Chronicle:
The helicopter, identified as a Sikorsky Skycrane, is owned and operated by Siller Helicopter Inc., which operates out of Yuba City.
“We are in the process of investigating the incident,” Siller general manager Hunt Norris said in an email to the Chronicle.

Oakland police dispatch did not receive any calls about the mishap. A message left with the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, was not immediately returned.

Sigarms · Jan 17, 2021

CobyRupert said:
Seems like they’re reporting what eye witnesses on the scene are saying. Pretty normal. What else do you expect them to do seeing how the company that dropped it isn’t saying anything, and it wasn’t reported to any officials? (Is it even an OSHA incident if nobody is injured?)
What sources are there that the pilot intentionally dropped it, or that eyewitnesses on the scene “got it wrong”?

From the San. Francisco Chronicle:
The helicopter, identified as a Sikorsky Skycrane, is owned and operated by Siller Helicopter Inc., which operates out of Yuba City.
“We are in the process of investigating the incident,” Siller general manager Hunt Norris said in an email to the Chronicle.

Oakland police dispatch did not receive any calls about the mishap. A message left with the state Division of Occupational Safety and Health, was not immediately returned.

If you watch the video, no cables actually snapped.

Although video can be taken out of context per only certain events viewed on a video, in this matter, you can see no cables snapped releasing the load. Watching the video, it appears the load was "dropped" (be it intentional or not).