Helicopter and Plane Crash Lawyer
Helicopter Crashes
Widows Call For Pro-Active Helicopter Safety
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Three widows whose husbands were killed in a helicopter crash March 12, 2009 are asking for a more pro-active approach of helicopter safety, not a reactive one. The offshore workers, who died when the Cougar helicopter crashed, did not have to lose their lives that morning - the crash was preventable say their widows.
On January 20, 2009, Sikorsky issued an alert service bulletin advising specific titanium mounting studs be replaced with steel studs. Failure to do so could result in oil leaking out of the gear box. Minutes before the crash, the pilot of Cougar Flight 491 reported an oil-pressure problem. Cougar Helicopters flies offshore workers to and from the oilfields off Newfoundland.
The company has testified the alert bulletin was reviewed and the ordered parts began to arrive on March 13 - the day after the crash.
The three widows testified at an inquiry into the crash and stated they feel the company should have waited until after the bolts were replaced before flying the helicopters, especially after a helicopter was forced to land in July of 2008 due to the same problem.
There was only one survivor in the March helicopter crash. Taking the time to fix this inexpensive part or thoroughly checking the bolts - where there was a known problem - before leaving for the offshore sight could have saved the lives of these men. Why wasn't either done?
Zoned Airspace Goes Into Effect Over The Hudson
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On Thursday, November 19, a long needed "exclusionary zone" over the Hudson River in New York City goes into effect. The new "zone" system separates the airspace for helicopters and seaplanes from the airspace for other aircrafrt flying over the Hudson, reports rotor & wing.
VFR aircraft which operate under the rules of air traffic control will operate above 1,300 feet while lower flying aircraft using visual flight rules will fly between 1,000 feet and 1,300 feet and use the same radio frequency used by aircraft flying below 1,000 feet.
A congested air space for too long is finally getting the changes needed to make flying safer. Sadly, these changes come after nine people died in a helicopter-plane midair on August 8 of this year.
Mother Sues In Daughter's Helicopter Death
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The mother of an Oklahoma woman who died last month in a helicopter crash has filed suit against the pilot's estate, his parents, the helicopter manufacturer, the owner of the helicopter and five unknown men, reports the Tahlequah Daily Press.
The crash of the Robinson R-22 in mid-October killed her daughter and the 26-year-old pilot. The suit alleges the pilot negligently operated the aircraft which caused the injuries that led to her daughter's death. The pilot's parents are listed because they had control over the helicopter and allowed their son to fly the chopper, knowing he had "reckless flying habits." Robinson Helicopter Co. is accused of negligent design of the R-22 which made it "defective and unreasonably dangerous."
A judgment of $10,000 from each defendant is sought in the case.
Not knowing much about the R-22, Frieda decided to check out what the knowledgeable people had to say about this machine. Although there were sighted some room for improvement, Frieda did not find any article stating it is a defective or dangerous aircraft. In a report dated January, 2008, the Robinson R-22 is called the "darling of flight schools" everywhere. Stating the craft is remarkably reliable and maintenance-free the writer adds the majority of the accidents are due to pilot error, and the R-22 is not forgiving of pilot error.
Medical Helicopter Crash In S.C. Kills Three
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The American Eurocopter AS350B2 took off from Charleston around 11 p.m. after having dropped off a patient around 9:35 p.m. The helicopter was heading northeast to Conway at the time of the crash. The last radio contact was 11:05 p.m. and the helicopter crashed at about 11:30 p.m. It is not known if a thunderstorm which moved through the area a little before the crash was a contributing factor.
According to NTSB records, a similar helicopter operated by Omniflight was damaged on July 2 when it struck steel poles adjacent to the helipad at a hospital. No one was injured in that incident.
In 2006, the NTSB issued a special report concerning issues involved in the increased number of emergency helicopter crashes. According to USA Today, earlier this month NTSB officials urged the government to impose stricter controls on emergency helicopter operators because of last year's 35 deaths between December 2007 and October 2008 - a record number. Since last October there have been three accidents with no deaths until the South Carolina Crash on Friday.
Helicopter Crashes in San Diego County
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A Robinson R-44 helicopter crashed in the Guejito Ranch in southern California on Sunday, injuring two people on board.
The Robinson aircraft was manufactured in 2008 and was registered to Gillian Blue GP LLC, a career-coaching business based in Dallas and was based at Mongomery Field. Since the chopper was privately owned, it is thought to be used for pleasure flying.
Guejito Ranch's 22,000 acres of pristine wildlands are home to thousands of species, some of them endangered and protected. Because of it's enviromental purity, it is a popular scenic area to fly over.
The FAA and the NTSB have been flown into the area to determine if the crash was mechanical problems pilot error.
NTSB Calls for Special Flight Rules after Helicopter/Plane Crash in NYC
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Several weeks after nine people were killed in a collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a small plane, the NTSB has urged the FAA to go beyond the voluntary procedures now in place for much of the low-altitude airspace over New York City.
In a letter to FAA chief Randy Babbit, the chairman of the NTSB has called for "special flight rules area" and new procedures that would force planes and helicopters to operate at separate altitudes. These safety steps have been taken in the airspace over Washington and LAX.
The letter also urged the FAA to direct air-traffic controllers to issue traffic warnings to small planes coming into the airspace over the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey; to speed up controller communications so planes can be cleared sooner for higher altitudes; to require controllers to instruct pilots to monitor the same radio frequency as the local helicopter pilots.
FAA spokesman, Laura Brown, has declined to comment on the NTSB recommendations, but stated the FAA would respond within 90 days. The NTSB does not have the authority to enact rules, all it can do is recommend to the FAA which sometimes adopts the recommendations.
The FAA has been studying the airspace over Manhattan's West Side and will deliver it's findings and recommendations to Mr. Babbit. A fatal crash in 2006 led the FAA to adopt restrictions on small planes flying over the East River.
Frieda wonders why the restrictions weren't also applied to this area of the Hudson when they were applied to the East River. The same airspace crowding existed. Why did the FAA have to wait for nine people to be killed before they addressed the same situation on a different river?
Helicopter/Airplane Mid-air Collision in Germany Leaves Four Dead
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Four people have died as the result of an air collision between a Robinson R-44 helicopter and a Reims-Cessna F182Q Skylane tourism plane near Stuttgart, Germany, on August 23.
The incident happened near an airfield with 1,000 people waiting for a festival. There were no injuries to those on the ground.
The helicopter crashed to the ground and burst into flames after the collision, killing all four people on board. The plane's pilot was able to glide the plane in for an emergency landing after the motor quit. He survived but has serious injuries.
A similar incident happened on August 8 over the Hudson River in New York City.
Blackhawk Helicopter Crashes in Colorado
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Four people are dead after a military Blackhawk helicopter from Fort Campbell Kentucky crashed near the top of Mount Massive, one of Colorado's highest mountains, on Wednesday.
The helicopter, assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, was conducting a training exercise when it struck about 400 feet from the top of the 14,200 foot mountain. It is not known why the soldiers were conducting the maneuvers in Colorado nor how long they were training in the region. Workers building trails in the area heard the crash about 2pm, but did not see it.
The 160th soldiers are known as "night stalkers" because they specialize in nighttime operations. The MH-60 Blackhawk is frequently used of overt and covert infiltration missions. It is also used for rescue and medical evocations, carrying supplies to special operations forces. When armed, it is used for armed escort and fire support.
The cause of the crash has not been released.
Air Traffic Controllers Suspended After Hudson Plane Crash
Category: Plane Crashes
ABC News reports the FAA have placed two air traffic controllers on administrative leave and has begun disciplinary proceedings following the Hudson River Plane crash last weekend. The investigation found the controller handling the plane was on the phone when the midair took place. His supervisor was the second to be put on leave because he was not in the building as required.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association does not agreed with the FAA's decision, calling the suggestions the controllers were in any way responsible for the midair "absurd" and "insulting."
In what the New York Daily News calls "inappropriate conversations", it reported controller from Teterboro Airport was on the phone with his girlfriend as he guided the plane to the Hudson corridor on another channel. He was still on the phone when he handed off control of the plane to the Newark airport which monitors low flying traffic on the Hudson.
The FAA says it has no reason to believe the employees actions had anything to do with the accident, but cited their behavior as "unacceptable."
An amateur video of the collision shows the two pilots couldn't see each other due to blind spots. Critics are calling for more restrictions for flights in this crowded corridor of the Hudson River.
Cause of Deadly Marine Helicopter Crash Announced
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On May 5 a Marine Super Cobra helicopter crashed into the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego County, killing the two Marines on board. According to the Associated Press, The Marine Corps says the crash was preventable and was the result of human error. The Marines neglected to tell mechanics about a loose cowling (a removable metal cover). The cowling flew off, hitting the tail rotor, breaking it, and causing the chopper to crash.
The helicopter was inspected at the El Centro Naval Air Facility that day, but a mechanic did not completely secure the transmission cowling because he thought the aircraft would be grounded overnight. The pilot decided to fly back to Miramar Air Station and did not tell the mechanics about the loose cover as they were making other repairs.
The cover came off in flight and both the pilot and the co-pilot died.
Helicopter and Plane Crash Over Hudson Kills Nine
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A midair collision between a sightseeing helicopter and a small plane has killed nine people, in what is being called the deadliest crash over the Hudson River. The incident happened about noon on Saturday, August 8, along an uncontrolled airspace where small planes and helicopters flying below 1,000 feet don't need air traffic control clearance. General aviation and other aircraft operate under visual flight rules in this area.
It is thought the plane, carrying a pilot and two passengers - one being a child - probably flew into the back of the helicopter which had five Italian tourists in addition to the pilot on board. Both aircraft were flying in the same direction. So far, three bodies have been recovered.
A pilot for Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tours, who was on the ground at the heliport, saw the plane approaching the helicopter in the air and tried to warn the pilots. Either the pilots didn't hear the warning or they didn't receive it in time. Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tours owned the helicopter involved in the crash. It was a Eurocopter AS 350 and had taken off from the West 30th Street heliport just before the crash.
The small plane was a Piper PA-32 owned by LCA Partnerships of Fort Washington, Pa., and had taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey at 11:54 a.m. - just minutes before the crash.
The NTSB sent a 10-member team to investigate the incident.
Investigation Begins in Canadian Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Investigators in Canada have begun their probe into a helicopter crash in which a CTV cameraman filming the aftermath of a tornado that ripped through the Mont-Laurier area and the pilot were killed instantly on August 5.
Although the cause of the crash is unknown, witnesses said the helicopter sounded like it was having mechanical problems before it went down. It is reported when the helicopter flew a TVA cameraman over the area before the flight with the CTV cameraman, it took three tries to start the engine, but no trouble was reported in flight. Weather at the time of the crash was sunny.
The helicopter was an Enstrom 28, made by Enstrom Helicopter Corp. of Menominee, Michigan. This light helicopter was one of the 1,200 produced by the company. A report by the NTSB in the U.S. lists the chopper as one of the 10 helicopter models involved in 357 of the 500 fatal helicopter crashes in the U.S. for 1987 to 1994. A similar Enstrom 280 model crashed and burned in B.C. in 2005 after the tail rotor assembly broke away from the aircraft.
The investigation could take more than a year.
Helicopter Crash in Artic Kills Two
Category: Helicopter Crashes
While attempting a landing in the Liard Mountain Range, a Robinson R44 helicopter crashed and tumbled down a mountain before coming to rest on a ridge. The two hunters on board were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
They were flying with Nahanni Butte Outfitters, a Lethbridge Alta., company which leads 10-day backpacking trips into remote areas of the Northwest Territories. The flight was routine, and they were planning to meet people on the ground, however, there was no approved landing pad where the pilot was attempting to put the chopper down.
Nearby hunters heard the crash and hiked to the scene through treacherous terrain to find the pilot lying next to the crash. RCMP arrived later and stated there was nothing left of the helicopter - the pilot survived on "pure luck."
Nahanni Butte is run by the Lancaster family from Lethbridge. This is the second crash for the company in the N.W.T in less than a year.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is investigating the crash.
Scottish Businessman Survives US Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
One of Scotland's richest men, Lord Laidlaw, is believed to have been at the controls of a helicopter when it crashed in Penobscot Bay, Maine. The chopper had taken off from Laidlaw's luxury yacht when a nearby sailing boat saw the crash and reported it to authorities. All four people on board the managed to get out safely and waded to the island where a boat from the yacht picked them up.
The Coast Guard is coordinating with a salvage company to remove the helicopter from the island's shore and to contain pollution resulting from the crash.
At first the FAA and Coast Guard thought the helicopter made a controlled landing, but one witness reported the chopper dropped from the sky, spinning like a corkscrew, and splashing hard in the water. She thought all on board must have been killed.
Officials are investigating the helicopter crash.
Helicopter Crashes in Maryland, Four Dead
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Four people are dead as the result of a helicopter crash on a Maryland highway. The Robinson 44 commercial helicopter with four passengers burst into flames when it crashed about 10:30 p.m. on Thursday. No cars were hit when the helicopter crashed.
The helicopter had taken off from Hagerstown Regional Airport earlier in the evening. Three of the people killed worked for Advanced Helicopter Concepts in Frederick, Md. The fourth person was an instructor for the company.
Although was limited by fog at the time of the crash, it's not yet clear if weather played a role in the crash. According to a witness, the helicopter was flying low when a bright arc of electricity flashed in the air - probably caused when the chopper hit a power line. Whether the craft was falling from the sky when it hit the power line or if hitting the line caused the crash is not known, but the wreckage is almost directly beneath a set of power lines.
Marsan Aviation, Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware is listed as the owner of the Robinson 44 helicopter.
The NTSB and the FAA, as well as the Maryland State Police, are investigating the accident.
Helicopter Crashes in Afghanistan
Category: Helicopter Crashes
NATO'S largest base in southern Afghanistan was the cite of a helicopter crash which killed six civilians while in the eastern sector, a U.S. military helicopter made an emergency landing. No enemy fire has been reported as the cause of either events.
Last week an Mi6 transport helicopter was shot down by Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan. The Mi6, a large transport and cargo helicopter, was on a humanitarian mission for NATO-led forces when it was hit. The helicopter was already on fire when it crashed to the ground. Six Ukrainian civilians and one Afghan child on the ground were killed in the crash - a farmer on the ground was injured.
These incidents followed two Canadian soldiers and one British trooper being killed in a helicopter crash which does not appear to be caused by hostile fire.
There is no word at this time as to the cause of the crashes in which no enemy fire was involved.
US Air Force Jet Crash In Afghanistan Adds to the Rash of Crashes in that Country
Category: Plane Crashes
On Saturday, July 18, a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle plane crashed in eastern Afghanistan, killing both men on board.
The F-15 Eagle is a two-man highly maneuverable all-weather tactical fighter.
At the time of the crash the jet was conducting military operations in the region and there is no evidence that hostile fire was involved. The crash will be investigated by a board of officers.
This month has been a bloody one in Afghanistan. CNN states there have been 50 military deaths so far - the highest so far.
A fighter jet crashed in southern Afghanistan on Monday - the fourth wreck in three days. The crew members were able to eject safely from this crash.
On Sunday, July 17th, a civilian helicopter crashed on takeoff, killing 16 on board.
A military helicopter made a hard landing, also on Sunday, injuring some of those on board.
Five people were killed when a helicopter crashed in southern Afghanistan on Tuesday.
On July 6, two crew members from Canada and one soldier from England were killed when their helicopter crashed during takeoff in the province of Zabul.
Was North Sea Super Puma Helicopter Crash Avoidable?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The Department for Transport's Air Accident Investigation Branch reports officials have ordered an urgent review of engine gears following the Puma helicopter crash in the North Sea that killed 16 men. The officials are also recommending the method by which the checks are carried out to identify debris found in the gearboxes should be re-examined.
The investigation into the crash of Eurocopter's AS331L2 Super Puma on April 1 as it was returning to Aberdeen from BP's Miller platform, has already determined it was caused by the "catastrophic failure" of the helicopter's gearbox. Metal debris was found in the gearbox.
A week before the crash a debris particle was found on the gearbox magnetic chip detector - an early indication of a possible gearbox failure. The AAIB said the failed gearbox could have been removed from service before the crash if not for the "inappropriate diagnosis" of this particle. The maintenance men who found the chip determined it wasn't the type that needed further investigation.
Could FAA Rule Be Partly Responsible for Tour Helicopter Crashes?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
While pilots' lack of familiarity with the islands is one factor to be considered in the rash of tour helicopter crashes in Hawaii, researchers have concluded FAA altitude requirements has definitely been a contributing factor.
Researchers from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health's Center for Injury Research and Policy suggests helicopters are prone to accident because "clouds obscuring mountain peaks and passes are particularly common in the Hawaiian Islands." This risk is attributed to a FAA 1994 rule that helicopters maintain altitudes of at least 1,500 feet -which puts the tour helicopters at cloud level.
Looking at tour helicopter crashes in the islands in the 13 years preceding the FAA altitude ruling, and the years since the ruling, the researchers found the number of crashes declined from 37 to 22. However, only two crashes prior to the ruling were caused by "obscured visibility", whereas seven crashes after the ruling were caused by "obscured visibility." All nine pilots were very experienced.
The NTSB, however, found two years ago that pilots of four of the eight weather related crashes were relatively new to flying in Hawaii.
The FAA has been working with tour operators to allow deviations to the altitude rule on a case-by case basis. Island Helicopters claims to be the first operator to be allowed to maintain an altitude of only 500 feet by the FAA. For those who haven't been allowed the deviation, they are allowed to fly below 1,500 feet only to escape bad weather.
While looking at the altitude flight rule is a starting point, it is still highly recommended operators of the tour helicopter flights increase pilot training, install weather technology on helicopters, have inflatable floats for flights above the ocean, and improve maintenance.
New Mexico Supreme Court Rules in Air Ambulance Safety Case
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed an appellate court's opinion that holds hospitals responsible for screening the ability and competency of the air ambulance contractors they hire.
In 2001, a 21 year-old was killed in an air ambulance helicopter crash near Roswell, New Mexico, during a training exercise. Another police officer was killed and a third seriously injured. Their two cases are pending.
The parents of the man killed claimed the Roswell Hospital Corporation (dba Eastern New Mexico Medical Center) was liable for negligently hiring the Medical Air Transport as their helicopter contractor. The lawsuit claimed the hospital failed to identify several safety deficiencies before hiring the transport service.
This ruling is a boost to the crisis we have in this country dealing with air ambulance safety. Hospitals all over the nation contract with air ambulance companies and perhaps with a little more scrutiny on the side of the hospitals when they hire a company and also making the hospitals partly responsible for the safety of patients and crew, we will see a big decrease in the number of air ambulance crashes.
With 28 years of experience in aviation law, Crouse Law Offices in Raleigh, N.C. will be able to handle your concerns competently and efficiently. You have the confidence of knowing you will always speak directly with the attorney representing you. The successful career of Crouse Law Offices has gained them the respect of major law firms and large aviation manufacturers. Please call us at 919-861-0500 or contact us online for a free review of your case.
National Guard Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
An OH-58 helicopter flown by the Arkansas National Guard crashed June 4, seriously injuring one of its crew members.
The helicopter was based at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock. The chopper, carrying 3 crew members, went down about 1:22 pm after "experiencing mechanical failure, losing power, and autorotated into the Buffalo River." Because the chopper was equipped with a self-sealing fuel system, there was little concern about an oil spill in the river.
An Arkansas State Police spokesman confirmed the helicopter was carrying a Special Agent assigned to the department's Criminal Investigation Division. The helicopter was being used in a mission associated with and ongoing criminal investigation.
An OH-58D helicopter recently crashed in Honolulu, killing both men onboard.
The National Guard is investigating the helicopter crash.
Pilots Killed in Army Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Two army helicopter pilots were killed on Wednesday, May 27, at Wheeler Army Airfield in Honolulu. The two men were flying an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior when they did what is called a "hard" landing on the airfield.
A "hard' landing can be caused by weather conditions, mechanical problems, pilot decision or pilot error and usually implies the pilot has partial or total control over the aircraft.
The OH-58D is a single-engine, double rotor craft that was put into service in 1991 with its primary mission being in a scout-attack role.
The accident is under investigation and a team from the Combat Readiness Center in Fort Rucker, Alabama, will conduct an investigation.
Both men were Chief Warrant Officers who loved flying and the military.
New Safety Rules Coming for Medivac Helicopters...When?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The flood of air ambulance helicopters crashes has finally gotten the attention of Congress. The FAA plans to introduce regulations intended to improve the safety of helicopter emergency medical services.
The new regulations will supposedly be ready for implementation in 2011 and be available for public comment by the end of this year or the beginning of 2010.
A step in the right direction, certainly. Why "steps?" Frieda wonders why "steps" are being taken when "leaps" to safety should happening right now - not in 2 years! How many more lives are going to be lost while the FAA compiles their list of thoughts, suggestions, and regulations? We already know what these should be from information gathered at the NTSB hearings, so why is it taking so long to do what we know needs to be done?
Continue reading "New Safety Rules Coming for Medivac Helicopters...When?"
Military Helicopter Crash Kills At Least Three
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Three bodies have been found and the search continues for two more in the aftermath of the crash of a HH-60 Seahawk off the coast of San Diego. The helicopter took off from the USS Nimitz late Tuesday for a routine training flight then went down near the Coronado Islands.
It isn't known if the Seahawk was equipped with a flight data recorder. Although not required equipment on many military aircraft, such devices record air speed, altitude, pitch and engine power which can be very helpful in determining the cause of and incident. Naval investigators spent months probing the crash involving a MH-60S Seahawk in 2007, but could not determine the cause of the crash because the helicopter didn't have a flight data recorder. The investigators urged the Navy to install the crash-resistant flight data recorders on all its aircraft.
This was the second military helicopter crash in the region this month. Two Marine pilots were killed on May 5 when their Super Cobra helicopter crashed over rugged terrain in Southern California.
The cause of the crash is not known at this time.
Super Puma Helicopters Inspected After Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Two models of Super Puma helicopters have begun a program of inspection and modification following the recommendations of the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch. The twenty-five Super Puma AS332L2 and EC225LP will not fly until all the epicyclic gear box modules have been fully inspected and modified.
This follows a deadly helicopter crash that killed 16 people in the North Sea on April 1. It was the second Puma crash in the North Sea this year. After the crashes, an Airworthiness Directive by the European Aviation Safety Agency and an Alert Service Bulletin by the manufacturer, Eurocopter were issued.
AAIB Reports Cause of Helicopter Crash in Scotland
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The initial report on the cause of the helicopter crash of a Super Puma, with 14 passengers and two crew members in the North Sea on April 1, has been released . The helicopter crashed as it returned from a BP oil field about 165 miles of the northeast coast of Scotland. All 16 on board were killed.
A "catastrophic failure" that led to the aircrafts main rotor breaking away is believed to be the cause of the helicopter crash. In the initial report, the Air Accidents Investigation Board (AAIB) said the failure occurred in part of the helicopter's main gearbox. The rotor broke off, hitting and severing the aircraft's tail boom. There was also a rupture in the right-hand engine casing.
Continue reading "AAIB Reports Cause of Helicopter Crash in Scotland"
NTSB-Tighter Rules Possible for Medical Heilcopters
Category: Helicopter Crashes
At the end of four days of hearings on medical helicopters and their safety, the NTSB may push for even tighter rules for these aircraft. The hearings were held because of the frustration the NTSB feels over what it calls the "unacceptable" action on its earlier recommendations and by the increasing number of crashes and deaths with 2008 being the worst year yet. The agency is very concerned the deaths will continue unless a concerted effort is made to improve the safety of these emergency medical flights.
Continue reading "NTSB-Tighter Rules Possible for Medical Heilcopters"
Maker of Small 'Black Box" to Testify at NTSB Helicopter Crash Hearings
Category: Helicopter Crashes
They may be small, but the NTSB is hoping they will be mighty in the search to make helicopter travel safer in the face of the deadliest year on record for emergency helicopter flights. Their name is Appareo Systems and they are a "very, very small company" in Fargo, ND who manufactures small cameras that are used in helicopter cockpits to record all activity and they will be testifying in front of the NTSB this week in Washington.
The NTSB has long since wanted helicopters equipped with what is known as the "black box" like the ones passenger aircraft carry but the price has been a problem - a couple hundred thousand dollars. The recorders from Fargo are about the size of a "squished tennis ball" and come with a price tag of only $7,500. Looking for an ecomomic and affordable way to help EMS operators and eventually save lives is just why Appareo Systems is one of three companies to testify in Washington as the NTSB seeks answers to ways to improve helicopter safety.
Of course Frieda has a question. IF it is known how valuable information from the black boxes in use now can be, and IF it has been known these devices would give valuable information after a helicopter crash, an IF the existence of Appareo Systems and companies like them has been known, why on earth does it take a hearing in Washington DC at the cost to taxpayers to do what should've/could've been much much sooner. Why on earth are the companies sitting around doing nothing because they haven't been "made" to upgrade for safety and the FAA is sitting around doing nothing after receiving the recommendations of an organization whose job it is to make recommendations based on hours and hours spent investigating helicopter crashes? Why does Frieda feel like we're dealing with a bunch of 5 yr-olds?
Medical Helicopter Crash Victim's Family Attend NTSB Hearings
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Kristen Blockinger was only 14 months old when she died in an Air Angels helicopter crash last October that was supposed to save her life, not end it. Kristen's parents, Brooke and Robert, went to Washington DC to listen as the NTSB tries to find out why there has been so many EMS helicopter crashes and what can be done to fix the problem - although they already have a pretty good picture of the situation.
Since their daughter's death, Robert - who is a paramedic himself - and Brooke have been studying the situation and found out what the NTSB has known for a long time - the helicopter was operating without terrain awareness warning systems and without standard flight risk assessments. Two years ago, the NTSB recommended these be required but the FAA has yet to act. Had these been in place perhaps the helicopter carrying little Kristen would not have hit a radio tower guy wire in Aurora, IL., crashed, and killed all four on board.
In the last six years, 77 people have died in medical helicopter crashes with 2008 being the worst year yet.
Although it will be about another six months before we have the final report about Kristen's crash, Brooke believes her daughter's death was preventable - "it's unacceptable", she says. She still learning all she can about this disastrous situation and vows to keep fighting.
The public is welcome to attend the hearings and listen to the proceedings or they can view a webcast of the hearings.
The FAA testifies on Friday.
Losing a loved one in a helicopter crash is devastating. At Crouse Law Offices we have dealt with such losses. We have 28 years experience in the practice of aviation law and Mr. Crouse's experience as an Army Aviator including service as a qualified army helicopter medevac pilot provide him with the experience and knowledge necessary to advise you, to protect you, handle you case competently and efficiently. Please call us at (919) 861-0500 or email us at JTC@CrouseLaw.com, and we will be glad to look over your case and to advise you as to what is in your best interest.
NTSB Holding Hearings On Medical Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The alarming rise in fatal helicopter crashes has brought the National Transportation Safety Board to hold wide-ranging hearings this week. The hearings started yesterday and will last for four days. Words like dismayed and alarming are being used to describe the drastic increase in deaths from medical helicopter crashes. Thirty-five people have died over the last 12 months in nine fatal helicopter crashes in which personnel are working quickly to transport critically ill and injured patients and donor organs.
"This hearing will be extremely important because it can provide an opportunity to learn more about the industry so that possibly we can make further recommendations that can prevent these accidents and save lives," said the board member, Robert Sumwalt -- chairman of the hearing's board of inquiry.
In a January 21, 2009, blog on this site, Frieda wondered if these hearings will make any difference since recommendations for safety improvements for medical helicopters were presented 3 years ago in 2006 by the NTSB to the FAA after 55 medical helicopter crashes happened in 3 years killing 54 people and seriously injuring 18. After investigating these crashes, the recommendations included requiring all medical operators develop and implement flight risk evaluation programs, use dispatch and flight procedures that include up-to-date weather information, and install "terrain awareness and warning systems" on the aircraft. These recommendations have not been acted upon by the FAA. The findings from the investigations of these latest crashes were the same for the earlier 55 medical helicopter crashes.
Nothing has been done. So why hold another hearing about the same thing and probably come to the same conclusions, make the same recommendations, and probably end in the same results from the FAA? Did they and the companies who manufacture, sell, purchase, and fly these helicopters not understand the NTSB three years ago?
Frieda simply does not understand.
The hearings will be discussing flight operations, aircraft safety, equipment training, and oversight. Hopefully,Name
Helicopter and Vintage Plane Crash In Texas
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A vintage war plane giving an air ride in uncontrolled airspace, ( a space in which pilots depend on common radio frequency to communicate with each other), over an air park in Texas collided with a flight school helicopter on Saturday afternoon. There were no fatalities.
The owner of the helicopter, Anything's Possible Aviation, stated the pilot ot the chopper made two radio calls while lifting off but was hit from behind by the plane. A video camera on the plane recorded part of the crash and the FAA hopes there is enough footage to determine who is at fault.
Well, I guess anything is possible, but Frieda doesn't think this is exactly what they meant by the name!
Plane Crash/Helicopter Crash - Do I Need A Lawyer?
Category: Plane Crashes
Frieda has been writing about helicopter and plane crashes for some time now and she wondered just how and when one would know they needed an Aviation Attorney - or if one is needed at all. So, after doing some research, Frieda offers the following guidelines to help you.
The tragedy of a plane crash or a helicopter crash is devastating - whether you are personally involved or have a loved one who is injured or killed in an aircraft accident. It puts people into positions and situations they never ever expected to be in and presents circumstances they never expected. While in the midst of shock, personal heartbreaking decisions have to be made as well as legal ones. What does one do in these overwhelming circumstances?
Continue reading "Plane Crash/Helicopter Crash - Do I Need A Lawyer?"
Four Soldiers Killed in Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Enemy fire has been discounted as the cause of two OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters crashed near Kirkuk on Monday. This was the deadliest event for our troops in four months and the deadliest for Ft. Drum, N.Y. since May 2007 when 7 soldiers based there were killed in an ambush.
The dead soldiers include Chief Warrant Officer 2 Benjamin Todd, a decorated 29 year-old who leaves behind a wife and child, 35 year-old Chief Warrant Officer 3 Philip Windorski from Minnesota, 30 year-old Chief Warrant Officer 2 Matthew Kelly from Missouri, and 31 year-old Joshua Tillery of Oregon.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time. There is an ongoing investigation.
Medical Helicopter Avoids Crash In PA.
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Early Sunday morning a victim of a two vehicle automobile crash was being airlifted to receive medical attention when the PennStar medical helicopter begin to experience problems with its main rotor and had to return to land safely in the Towamencin Village Shopping Center parking lot. The Eurocopter BK117 had just taken off when the problems occurred - the patient was airlifted by another PennStar helicopter. The aircraft remained in the parking lot overnight and will be moved by a flatbed truck for repairs.
Although delayed, this airlift should be considered successful in the midst of all the disasters the medical helicopter community has been experiencing lately. There was no crash - the problem occurred early enough to bring both the aircraft and the patient to safety.
Helicopter Crash in NC Kills One
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The pilot died, but the passenger survived and is in fair condition when their HO-6A helicopter crashed at 10:35 am in a field near Monroe, NC. about 20 miles southeast of Charlotte. The chopper clipped a power line, but it's not known at this time if it was clipped when the helicopter was already descending at the time or if the clip caused the crash.
Although the 1967 Hughes 500 series aircraft, registered to Charlotte Helicopters Flight Academy, seats four people but there were only the two men on board flying to a helicopter's pilots' meeting in Columbia, S.C.
The FAA is investigating.
Medical Helicopter Crashes Causes Identified by the NTSB
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Three medical helicopter crashes in 2007 & 2008 killed 11 people. The NTSB has been investigating the rash of crashes that turned from a hopeful flight for life to a devastating flight of death for all involved and their investigation results stated that nighttime flying in poor weather conditions (resulting in poor visibility) likely contributed to these three crashes. There were other helicopter crashes during this time - nine total, killing 35 people.
In February of this year, the NTSB will hold more hearings on the frequency of medical helicopter crashes. To Frieda, this seems somewhat redundant - recommendations for safety improvements were made to the FAA in 2006. but the suggestions were not entirely followed.
In a written statement, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the hearing's board of inquiry, stated, "This hearing will be extremely important because it can provide an opportunity to learn more about the industry so that possibly we can make further recommendations that can prevent these accidents and save lives."
Perhaps if the NTSB 'recommends' loudly enough this time, their suggestions will be implemented before 35 more people are killed during a flight for life.
The 2006 recommendations were made after 55 medical helicopter accidents happened in 3 years, beginning in January 2002 in which 54 people were killed and 18 were seriously injured. These included requiring all medical operators develop and implement flight risk evaluation programs, use dispatch and flight procedures that include up-to-date weather information, and install "terrain awareness and warning systems" on the aircraft. All suggestion based on the investigation of the cause of 55 helicopter crashes - why haven't these been implemented? Why hasn't the FAA made these changes mandatory? Why don't the companies that run a medical helicopter service taken the initiative to make their aircraft as safe as possible?
While the debate on the need for this service and accusations that it is used at times when there is Name
Helicopter Crash in Houston Kills Two Newsmen
Category: Helicopter Crashes
At 11:30 am a helicopter belonging to ABC affililte KTRK crashed, killing the pilot and the television photographer as they were covering a triple-shooting carrying the pilot and a television photographer covering a triple-shooting north of Houston. The NTSB and the FAA are on the smoldering scene to begin their investigation. No mayday or emergency transmission was received from the helicopter prior to the crash. A witness who lives near the crash site stated he heard the helicopter flying and then heard an explosion. He then called 911. It looks as though the aircraft hit at a very steep angle, gouging a large hole in the ground and broke apart.
The helicopter, a Bell 206L-4, was owned by Helicopters, Inc., which specializes in the design/build and leasing of news gathering helicopters for television and radio stations nationwide, was founded in 1978 and leases about 70 choppers nationwide. The age of the aircraft is not knwon.
According to Bell, the 206L-4 is where "form meets function" - a simple design and superior value. It has a powerful engine which makes it ideal for operating in hot weather and high altitude enviroments. Its spacious cabin design makes it ideal for corporate, EMT, untility, or law enforcement.
Illinois Medical Helicopter Crashes, Kills Infant and Crew
Category: Helicopter Crashes
In July the NTSB called the high (and increasing) number of medical helicopter crashes "critical" - the death toll now is 28 for the year. On Wednesday night this tragedy continued when four people perished in a helicopter crash in Aurora, Illinois - a 13 month old girl was among the victims. The single engine Bell 222, run by Bolingbrook-based Air Angels Inc. crashed in a field on it's way to Children's Memorial hospital in Chicago from just outside the city. The cause of the crash is not yet known, but one theory is the chopper may have clipped a wire from a 750 radio tower before crashing and burning. The crash site is in the residential area just across the street from the radio station and a snapped wire could be seen hanging from the tower - there were no ground injuries. the NTSB is trying to determine why the chopper was so low and if the tower lights were on at the time of the crash or if the incident knocked the lights out. It is unknown if there was a mechanical problem or an emergency on board. This is the third crash ever for Air Angels - the first one in 2003, which killed the pilot, listed the cause as pilot error/weather and mechanical error is listed as the cause of last year's crash in which there were no injuries. Air Medevac crashes have plagued the industry for the last year.Is Government Lack of Action Endangering Medevac Helicopter Evacuations?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
There is a phenomenon called the "golden hour" - the first hour after an accident in which receiving hospital care is vital and greatly increases the victims chance of survival. This is where medevac helicopters are invaluable - some services are even called "Flight for Life" because that is exactly what the transport is. The brave men and women who put themselves in these highly stressful and often times dangerous situations due to weather and other conditions to save a human life deserve all the support we can give them - especially the security of knowing they are flying safe aircraft. They deserve the latest technological advances and safety regulations available today.
Continue reading "Is Government Lack of Action Endangering Medevac Helicopter Evacuations?"
Cause of Helicopter Crash in UK Still Unknown
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Last September, the chief executive of Prodrive - which runs the Subaru World Rally Team - David Richards and his wife were uninjured when their Eurocopter EC135 crashed in North Weald.
Mr. Richards believes there had been a double engine failure, but experts have been unable to determine the exact cause of the helicopter crash. The chopper's tail hit the ground first, then rolled over onto its side causing extensive damage. Investigators state Mr. Richards heard a dull "thud" from both above and behind him - similar to a bird strike - and then felt the helicopter change altitude. However, the equipment manufacturer was unable to reproduce the "thud" during test flights and cannot name any other cases where this has occurred. Admitting the "thud" could have been caused by a number of outside factors, none of the possiblilties were consistent with either of the reported occurrences. The damage to the helicopter prevented testing the hydraulic system or the AFS, the investigators feel the "thud" was a consequence - rather than the cause - "of a slight change in the pitch of the rotor blades as a result of a disturbance in either the hydraulic system or the flying controls".
Last September, the chief executive of Prodrive - which runs the Subaru World Rally Team - David Richards and his wife were uninjured when their Eurocopter EC135 crashed in North Weald.
Mr. Richards believes there had been a double engine failure, but experts have been unable to determine the exact cause of the helicopter crash. The chopper's tail hit the ground first, then rolled over onto its side causing extensive damage. Investigators state Mr. Richards heard a dull "thud" from both above and behind him - similar to a bird strike - and then felt the helicopter change altitude. However, the equipment manufacturer was unable to reproduce the "thud" during test flights and cannot name any other cases where this has occurred. Admitting the "thud" could have been caused by a number of outside factors, none of the possiblilties were consistent with either of the reported occurrences. The damage to the helicopter prevented testing the hydraulic system or the AFS, the investigators feel the "thud" was a consequence - rather than the cause - "of a slight change in the pitch of the rotor blades as a result of a disturbance in either the hydraulic system or the flying controls".
Mr. Crouse Quoted by Rotohub
Category: Aviation News
The following article has been released by Rotohub, Sikorsky Bell, and Eurocopter.
Raleigh, NC September 10, 2008 -- The Sept. 4 crash of the United States Coast Guard Eurocopter HH-65 "Dauphin" helicopter and the loss of four service members comes on the heels of three other high-profile crashes and points to the ongoing need for increased efforts in helicopter safety, says a prominent aviation law attorney.
Devices such as cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders -- two electronic tools which could help pinpoint the causes of fatal helicopter crashes -- are the exception rather than the norm in most helicopters and light aircraft, says Raleigh, N.C. lawyer James T. Crouse, a former U.S. Army helicopter test pilot.
"These devices are available and should be mandated," Crouse says. "Similar devices have been utilized in the automotive industry for years, and are now affordable for use in smaller aircraft in aviation such as helicopters."
Crouse is the senior partner in the Crouse Law Firm, which concentrates in aviation accident law at the local, national and international level, representing the families of persons injured in civilian and military aviation accidents, including helicopter crashes.
Crouse has long been an advocate of greater safety devices in helicopters and has written extensively about the causes of helicopter accidents.
The Coast Guard crash in Hawaii may have been caused by a problem with the aircraft's main rotor system, Crouse says, perhaps as a result of interference by a cable that could have snapped during a simulated rescue operation involving the aircraft's winch.
"Fortunately, the aircraft had a flight data recorder which, along with other portions of the aircraft, has been recovered," Crouse says. Four survivors have also been able to give information to investigators, according to Crouse.
The need for greater helicopter safety is underscored by the Coast Guard crash and several other recent incidents:
An Aug 8. crash of a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter in Northern California's Trinity Alps took the lives of seven firefighters and two others. "The crash is still under investigation, but given the fact that it was a heavily loaded helicopter at a fairly high density altitude, the aircraft was within the danger zone of helicopter operations where any problem with lift can cause the aircraft to have difficulty maintaining altitude," Crouse says.
On Aug. 29, a Robinson helicopter crashed in southwestern Missouri. Very little information has been released on that accident. "This is a popular helicopter due to its relatively low cost, and its simple design makes it popular with new helicopter pilots," Crouse says. "The fact that the helicopter was seen flying normally and then nose-dived points to a failure of a component."
On Aug. 31, an Air Evac medical helicopter crashed near Burney, Indiana, killing the pilot, flight nurse and paramedic. Reportedly, the Bell Model 206 Long Ranger helicopter's main rotor system was found 200 yards from the main crash site, possibly indicating a catastrophic failure of the main rotor system, says Crouse. The crash marked the fifth time in recent years that a medical helicopter operated by Air Evac EMS has crashed, and the second fatal accident in Indiana for the West Plains, Missouri company.
Crouse says that major steps are being taken in helicopter safety through the work of such organizations as the International Helicopter Safety Team, formed by industry and government groups to study the causes of accidents and to make recommendations on their prevention.
Those efforts are commendable, but Crouse notes that data recorders are still not required on helicopters--or other "light" aircraft. This is a limitation for the accident investigators, Crouse says. "The investigators still rely upon an analysis of the wreckage--which they have been doing for decades. We could get closer to the cause if we had this electronic information. The capability is there, why not use it?"
Crouse added: "Whether the cause of each of these crashes can be determined remains to be seen. But the families, operators and manufacturers need to know what happened. Without this knowledge, there is a strong risk that crashes will continue to occur due to the same, undetermined, causes."
About Crouse Law Offices:
Crouse Law Offices in Raleigh, N.C. is headed by attorney James T. Crouse, a pilot and lawyer with more than three decades of aviation and legal experience. Mr. Crouse also teaches aviation law at Duke University Law School. For more information, visit the firm's Websites at http://www.crouselaw.com/index.html and http://www.helicopterlawyers.com/
At Least Three Killed in Coast Guard Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
While search teams are still looking for the fourth crewmember, the Coast Guard is mourning the three lives lost last night during a routine search-and-rescue training exercise five miles south of Honolulu. The three were recovered by the Honolulu Fire Department and flown by another HH-65 Dolphin rescue helicopter to a medical center where they were pronounced dead. Ironically, rescue and recovery is exactly what these four crewmen were practicing when their chopper crashed and they had to be recovered by their own comrades. The search continues for the fourth crew member.
According to the Coast Guard, this is the first major crash of one of its rescue helicopters since 1982. Perhaps the civilian med-vac teams should train with the Coast Guard before they receive their credentials.
Medical Helicopter Crashes in Indiana
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Federal officials are searching an Indiana cornfield for clues to the deadly crash on Sunday that killed the three crew members of an Air Evac EMS helicopter. This is the fifth medical helicopter crash for the company which is based in West Plains, Mo. and the second in Indiana. The company is reported to operate more than 100 helicopters in the Midwest and the South and states on its website that "having flown more than 135,000 "patient missions" since 1990, Air Evac has experienced neither a weather-related accident nor an accident related to its maintenance program." So, we wonder, what happened to this particular helicopter which crashed shortly after takeoff for a goodwill visit to an annual tractor pull?
In April 2004, an Air Evac EMS helicopter slammed into a hillside near Evansville, killing the patient. In June, one crashed in Arizona, injuring a paramedic on board and in December, three were killed when the Air Evac helicopter crashed as it was searching for a lost hunter in Alabama, killing all three on board. In February 2005, Air Evac crashed during a "patient run" in Arkansas, the patient was killed.
According to a USA today study, 60 people died in 84 air ambulance crashes from 2000 to 2005 and that since 1978 three-fourths of all air ambulance helicopter crashes are due to pilot error. If this is the case, our question should be, "what is being done" to better train these pilots and/or to give them the latest equipment in their aircraft? It is with sadness these events are reported - as with any loss of life in any disaster - to kill a patient who is on a flight to save his/her life adds a touch more sorrow to the incident as does knowing the crew died while trying to save a life.
After the June crash in which two medical helicopters collided, a federal safety official stated, "accidents of medical aircraft are at a "disturbing" level." It's time the industry seriously takes a look at this alarming situation to make medical aircraft evacuation safer for all involved.
Helicopter Crashes During Fundraiser
Category: Helicopter Crashes
FAA investigators are on the 8th hole of the Mountain Valley Golf Course in eastern Pennsylvania. However, they are not there to enjoy the sunshine and a great golfing outing - they are there to investigate the Friday helicopter crash which occurred during a charity fundraiser for Access Services, a group that helps people who have disabilities. The helicopter was supposed to be dropping golf balls for the fundraiser, but instead it dropped out of the sky!
The pilot, who donated his time and equipment for this event, is listed in fair condition at a nearby hospital. The copilot is listed in critical condition.
Witnesses stated the first time the chopper flew over, it just "didn't sound right" - it was making a rapping noise. It was flying about 400-500 feet in the air when he came down, went up about 100 feet and then went down. One
onlooker stated it looked as though a wind shear or gust of wind caught the helicopter because it started spinning like a top. According to township officials, the area is being treated as a crime scene until the cause of the helicopter crash is determined.
NATO Peacekeeping Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
NATO ruled out hostile action in the crash of a civilian Mi-8 supply helicopter contracted by the alliance's International Security Assistance Forces that crashed Sunday in Afghanistan shortly after taking off from a military base, killing one and wounding three others. The Taliban, however, is claiming the group shot down the chopper - at this point, there is no way to confirm either account. The Taliban have shot down several aircraft since 2001 after the Taliban's government was overthrown by U.S. led troops, but there have also been many crashes due to technical failure.
The chopper had been forced to make an earlier emergency landing shortly after takeoff from an ISAF base, but the NATO statement did not say what caused the problem.
In a separate helicopter crash, August 16, at least 17 Spanish troops with the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Afghanistan were killed just south of Spain's base at Herat. The cause is not yet known.
In June of this year, Spain lost two servicemen on another peacekeeping mission in Bosnia when their helicopter crashed killing two Germans also. The EURFOR peacekeeping helicopter belonged to Spain and was a German built Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BO-105. The investigation into this helicopter crash is still ongoing, but it is known it crashed half an hour into a routine flight from Sarajevo after sending a distress call and another helicopter reported seeing smoke from the ill-fated chopper.
Suspected Cause of B.C. Helicopter Crash Revealed
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Wednesday morning four people - including the pilot - perished in a helicopter crash shortly after takeoff in British Columbia. The chopper, a Prism Helicopters Hughes 500, crashed upside down in a river as it was heading to a mineral drill site.
The Transportation Safety Board investigators think they know what caused this disaster. They have found the helicopter hit trees beside the river at a very steep angle which shows the aircraft out of control just before impact.
"We know there was a mechanical problem because of the loss of control but it was not a problem that's associated with ongoing maintenance or design," said Yearwood. "The aircraft was damaged by equipment that's not normally on the aircraft when it's in flight."
Quick removal of the craft was necessary to prevent parts from being dragged away by the fast flowing river and once removed, the craft has been turned over to Prism and its insurance underwriter. The board's final determination of the cause of the accident will not be known for several months.
A couple of years ago another fatal crashed happened close to this same location when a reconditioned transmission mount on a Quantum Helicopters Bell 206 broke in flight, sending the chopper out of control, and killing all three people on board.
Probable Cause of Hawaiian Helicopter Crash Released
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The cause of the March 11, 2007 tour helicopter crash on Ha'ena has been determined by the NTSB as a manufacturing defect in a tail rotor fitting. What was to be a beautiful ride to see the islands ended in death for a 60 year old man from California and serious injuries for three other passengers.
Probable cause of the Inter-Island Helicopters McDonnell Douglass 369FF helicopter crash is the defect resulted in the tail rotor coming off - the loss of tail rotor control. According to the report, one of the fittings that connected the tail rotor to the helicopter was too tight resulting in fatigue which eventually cracked the metal. Aluminum Precision Products, Inc. is the manufacturer of the defective fitting.
According to the owner of Inter-Island Helicopters, there was nothing his mechanics could have done to avoid this tragedy since the default started from the inside out and wasn't visible when the craft was inspected. According to the pilot, they were about halfway through a 55 minute sightseeing tour when he heard two loud "bangs", the nose pitched down, and the craft yawed to the right. He tried to put it down in a open field on YMCA property, but the chopper hit some trees as it spiraled down for a crash landing.
After the inspection of the parts of the Inter-Island craft last year, McDonnell Helicopters put out a mandatory bulletin to remove the tail rotor and check the tail rotor hub for any fittings that are not smooth, the report added. The defect was also found in two other helicopters in New Zealand.
The Ha'ena crash came only 3 days after a Heli-USA tour chopper - an Aerospatiale AS350BA - crashed killing the pilot and three passengers. There is no report from the NTSB on this helicopter crash.
Did High Temperature Contibute to Helicopter Crash?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A fellow pilot of a New Zealand man who was killed along with his son and a friend in a helicopter crash last week say the extreme heat in Utah that day may have been a factor in the deadly crash. The temperature at lift off was over 100 degrees. That, coupled with the thin air at the altitude of the airport, which was over 5,000 feet, created difficulty for the chopper to lift off with the load it was carrying. Although a passenger had been dropped off at the airport, the chopper refueled before leaving and the added weight of the fuel could have been the critical factor. Mechanics from Pathfinder Wildlife Helicopter Management said the helicopter was a "fine machine" and had no worries about the aircraft.
The pilot, James Innes, and his son were well known in Utah for their pioneering work in the live capture of wild animals using helicopters. They were very closely associated with Pathfinder, a world leading helicopter wildlife management company which works closely with agencies to provide safe, humane, and efficient wildlife capture and management. By using a net gun capture and handling from the air, the welfare of the animal is not compromised as in the case of long stressful chases on the ground. Animals are captured to gather samples for research, disease testing, placement of monitoring/tracking devices, and for relocation to establish new populations, to protect overpopulation in an area, and to protect endangered species.
Knowing the exact cause of the crash is still weeks away, friends and family consider this to be a tragedy more than a mystery at this time - they are still in shock over their loss.
Helicopter Crash in Utah Claims 3 Lives
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A weekend trip meant for fun, family, and fishing ended tragically when the pilot, his son, and a friend died when the Hughes Helicopter they were in crashed northeast of Price, Idaho about 3:30 on Saturday. The fiery crash left only a tail rotor and part of the main rotor blades. The experienced pilot was an icon in wildlife relocation in New Zealand and in the United States - both he and his son were originally from New Zealand.
Another helicopter pilot who had been fishing with the three men stated his chopper lifted off without any problems and that he said he saw his friend lift off also, but he turned away and when he turned back, there was no sign of the other chopper. There is speculation the helicopter was carrying too much weight. The area in which they were flying puts a strain on helicopters due to the thin air caused by high temperatures and altitude. The temperature the day of the crash was 96 deg and the nearby airport is at about 5,700 feet above sea level.
Although the cause of the crash is not known, the county sheriff has ruled out wind gusts as a factor. A preliminary report is due within 10 days, but the final report which will give the cause of the crash will take much longer.
Cause of Crop-Duster Helicopter Crash Determined
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Since we were children we've heard about conflict between opposites such as good vs. evil. This is a story about - quite simply - big and little. We all know the Biblical story of little David who brought down big Goliath with a little pebble hailed from a sling-shot and of course who can forget the Little Golden Book story, The Lion's Paw by Jane Werner Watson where the big lion was incapacitated due to a little thorn in his paw? We all know how big humans battle very annoying little mosquitoes, little ants, little gnats. . .the list goes on and on.
From Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, comes yet another "big vs. little" story. A pilot who has flown helicopters for 30 years was spraying a cranberry marsh this past Friday when the tail rotor of his crop-duster "smashed" into the ground as he was working at an altitude of only four feet. The pilot was unhurt but the Deputy at the scene said the chopper was "pretty banged up".
This is one helicopter crash the NTSB has no need to investigate - we know what caused this big chopper to fall. . . it was an "Apis mellifera". . .commonly known as the (little) honey bee. It seems the bee flew into the cockpit, stung the pilot, diverting his attention just long enough for him to crash.
Investigation complete.
Yet Another Medical Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On June 30, 2008, two Bell 407 medical helicopters crashed after a mid- air collision near Flagstaff (Arizona) Medical Center, killing six passengers ( including both patients) and critically injuring a nurse - the largest death toll in the recent wave of med-ivac crashes. According to witnesses, the weather was clear and neither chopper appeared to be having mechanical problems - apparently both aircraft were trying to land at the same time. "Two helicopters trying to land at the same time is extremely rare" stated Matt Stein, a pilot with Classic Lifeguard Aeromedical Services in Page, Arizona a subsidiary of Classic Helicopters. Flagstaff Medical Center does not have flight controllers so it's up to the pilots to watch each other as they approach. Stein pointed out these deaths are the first ones in the 20 year history of the company. The Classic helicopter was carrying a patient with a medical emergency from the Grand Canyon. The second helicopter was operated by Air Methods from Englewood, Colorado. In addition to this tragedy, debris from the mid-air sparked a brush fire which burned 10 acres before it was contained.
Medical aircraft accidents are increasing at an alarming rate.
"We're very concerned about that," National Transportation Safety Board chairman Mark Rosenker told reporters. "We're going to work very, very hard to make sure we understand exactly what happened here ... and make recommendations to prevent it from happening again."
Hopefully these recommendations won't join the ranks of the NTSB's recommendations to the FAA for runway improvement to decrease collisions/incursions, improvements in cockpit audio & data recorders, improvements to reduce human fatigue in flight crews and air traffic controllers, improvements in flight crew training, and improvements to reduce icing of aircraft. All these have been on the NTSB's Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements and all have received the standing of "unacceptable response" by the NTSB.
Black Hawk Helicopter Crash Still Not Known
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On August 22, it will have been one year since the Army Black Hawk helicopter crashed shortly after take off in northern Iraq. This crash was the single greatest single loss of life for the 25th Infantry Division since the Vietnam War and the worst helicopter crash in Iraq since January, 2005. The aircraft weighed about 18,000 pounds and carried four crew members and 10 Schofield Barracks soldiers who had been brought in the night before for an attack and were now being picked up for their ride back.
The last radio call received from the pilot was, "1-2 is going down" and the helicopter plummeted to earth, killing all on board. In a 224 page report of the Army's investigation, it tells us how these men died, but a definite answer as to what caused the crash. In the "memorandum for record" it states the chopper went down because of a gouged and cut tail rotor shaft by an unknown foreign object - origin and responsibility for the foreign object causing damage to the tail rotor drive is not known . . . "I find no pilot or crew error". There was no enemy fire reported in the area so it is not thought the aircraft was hit by fire.
A witness stated there was absolutely no reaction time for the crew from the time the tail dropped and spun right to the time it hit the ground.
The Black Hawk is known as the Army's workhorse since 1978 and has accumulated over 4 million flight hours in 1,500 planes delivered to the Army and another 600 to other countries.
Is The FAA Finally Ready To Act On Medevac Helicopter Safety?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
In January, 2006, after a lengthy 18 month study brought on by a high number of fatal crashes, the NTSB called for new safety standards in the medical transportation aviation industry.
"It is disturbing when you see that number of accidents in a three-year period, particularly in a profession whose mission is to save lives," NTSB acting chairman Mark Rosenker said.
After this investigation, the NTSB's key recommendations were to require all emergency service companies to install onboard technology that would alert pilots to rapidly approaching objects below - such as buildings and mountains, to shorten the pilot work hours, and to require risk assessments of weather and flying conditions before taking off. The competition between firms for jobs can often lead to higher risks taking than higher safety standards. The NTSB also stated the status of the patient should not enter into the decision whether or not to fly - that decision should be based on risk assessments alone.
At that time the FAA stated it had no timetable for acting on the recommendations of the NTSB - some of which would require many of the steps the FAA had began to encourage.
The FAA stated the installation of the terrain-awareness equipment would be $30,000 but according to the president of the Association of Air Medical Services in 2006, it could cost as much as $250,000 per helicopter which costs about $2 million each. Gee, Frieda wonders how much the families of those killed in air ambulance crashes would value their loved one's lives. It would seem better to have less aircraft properly equipped to further insure the lives of the patients they are trying to save, than to risk the lives of all on board to save money. Even if the higher figure is correct, that would mean a company could properly equip 4 helicopters they already have instead of buying a new one and they run less risk of losing their current inventory and lives. Two years and how many lives have been lost due to the lack of mandates and no timetable from the FAA?
Found in USA TODAY - "Air-Ambulance Crashes Trigger FAA's Attention" Does this mean the FAA now has an idea of a timetable to act on recommendations made both in 2005 by a USA TODAY investigation and in early 2006 after the NTSB investigation? How many have lost their lives in these three years?
"The recent spate of accidents has the FAA's Full attention" stated a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration. FINALLY ! !
All the recent crashes are similar to a pattern that prompted the 2006 NTSB review - they were at night and in places where there was limited visibility and very little reference to a horizon, making the possibility of spatial disorientation a potential cause. The NTSB is monitoring all these recent investigations to see if they are indeed related to the recommendations make in 2006.
Feeling that most crashes are preventable, the recommendations made in 2006 were for better technology and new rules to force pilots to be more cautious - especially at night and in poor weather. The FAA states the new technology has been difficult to put into place - WHY??? - and none of the pilots was wearing night vision goggles.
Frieda wonders why we, the American people, are funding an agency designed to help keep us safe - it is called a Safety Board after all - and no one follows their recommendations - including the other agency that is designed to act on these recommendations and to mandate safety features, devices, and regulations. Perhaps this helicopter crash in Texas over the weekend will bring enough pressure on all the agencys and companies involved in this industry to make the needed safety changes - then these lives lost will not have been totally in vain.
Will Safety Recommendations Help Decrease Air Ambulance Crashes?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The answer should be a strong "Yes" if recommendations to the industry and to the FAA were followed - but sadly the answer is "No" because the recommendations have seemingly fallen on deaf ears.
The Huntsville, Texas medical helicopter crash on Sunday is one of four since December 30, 2007 that have killed 13 people - 86 crashes between 2000 and 2005 in which 60 people died - more than double the number in the previous five years. Those crashes represent more than 10 percent of the US air ambulance helicopter flights! What's really scary is if this percentage is compared to commercial airline passenger jets, that would be 90 commercial crashes each year, according to a June 17, 2005 USA Today article.
Despite the surge in the number of crashes, however, air ambulance companies and the federal agency that oversees them failed time and again to take steps that might have averted tragedy and saved lives, a USA TODAY investigation shows. The investigation found that: #1. Lack of sufficient industry safeguards allowing pilots to ignore fundamental flight rules. #2. Federal regulations exempt helicopters from some of the most basic safety standards and equipment, including equipment to warn pilots they are too close to the ground even after several disoriented pilots have flown into the ground. #3. Government inspections of air ambulances are haphazard and inadequate - in three fatal crashes the year before, the FAA had never been to the bases for any inspections.
In 2000, the air ambulance trade group asked the FAA to push companies to emulate training used by airlines to minimize mistakes and also suggested the language for such a training program and sent it to the FAA's administrator at the time, Nothing was done by the FAA and it has no record of the recommendations.
Decades of improved training, oversight, and technology for commercial airlines have led to the safest commercial airline travel in the history of the industry. A lot of the changes were brought on due to pressure to tighten oversight of large airlines after the 1996 ValuJet crash and the Alaska Airlines jet crash in 2000 - does this mean without enough pressure, nothing gets done?
None of these improvements have been applied to the air ambulance industry such as training for poor visibility (although 2/3 of fatal crashes occur in these circumstances) and helicopters are not required by federal rules to carry data recorders which would help determine the cause of the crash and help to prevent future crashes.
Now, Frieda will admit wondering why one has to be mandated to do the right thing especially when common sense can dictate these precautions, and when lives are at stake. These passengers aren't choosing to fly as are commercial passengers - they are on what is supposed to be a life saving flight. A former flight director for an air ambulance company says the industry's and the government's failure to act is "almost criminal" - "someone needs to be uncomfortable and it's not the guy in the back of the helicopter."
Four Dead In Yet Another Medical Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On Sunday, June 8, word comes from Texas of another late-night/early morning medical helicopter crash - taking the lives of all four people on board - the patient, the pilot, a paramedic who was one day away from her 29th birthday, and a flight nurse.
The helicopter, a Bell 407 operated by Louisiana-based PHI Air Medical, departed Huntsville Memorial Hospital and was en route to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston when it crashed 10 miles from take off in the heavily wooded Sam Houston National Forest. The required 3:00 am contact from the helicopter was not received, initiating a search for the aircraft which was found by an on board global positioning system. The weather at the time of the crash was reported as clear and there were no distress signals from the chopper which was found to have been flying on the correct flight pattern and to have gone down in a straight line, hitting the tops of the tall pine trees and knocking them down.
The fact no calls of distress were made/heard and the crash took place shortly after take off, points to either a catastrophic mechanical or electrical failure or yet another controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). Regrettably, the latter, often caused by spatial disorientation at night or in poor weather, continues to plague the medical helicopter world. This crash in Huntsville on Sunday is one of four since December 30, 2007 that have killed 13 people and all have similar characteristics.
The NTSB states it will take up to 12 months before the results of this investigation is released. We will then know if there were any mechanical or electrical problems with the aircraft - which just hours earlier had saved a 2 year old from drowning. Unfortunately, unless there are some clear indications, the accident investigation will be forced to put the pieces back together, since the FAA still has not mandated Flight Data Recorders or Cockpit Voice Recorders on helicopters.
Rescue Helicopter Crashes in China
Category: Helicopter Crashes
China continues to struggle with challenges as it seeks to respond to the devastation from an earthquake on May 12 which left 15 million people homeless and heightened fears of epidemic outbreaks in the affected areas. An example of the lingering risks associated with this disaster, a military helicopter crashed while evacuating 10 injured residents from the earthquake region of Sichuan. The Russian-built helicopter had brought a team of military experts on disease outbreaks to the area and crashed after air-lifting the patients from the area, which is still suffering from aftershocks. The weather at the time has been reported as foggy with a lot of turbulence.
At this time there is no information on survivors or the cause of the crash.
Deadly Helicopter Crash in Michigan
Category: Helicopter Crashes
What started out as a routine flight in his newly purchased helicopter, ended tragically for 68 year old Larry Boven, a former businessman from Comstock Township, east of Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was killed on Friday when his Hiller FH 1100 helicopter crashed in the Chipman Preserve. A witness stated hearing the engine quit just before the crash and then called 911. Boven was an experienced helicopter pilot of many years and owned several other choppers, but had just purchased this helicopter on Thursday from a doctor in Wisconsin who reported he had never had a problem with the aircraft.
The Hiller FH1100 was originally designed as a military light observation helicopter and went into commercial production in 1966 - Boven's helicopter was built in 1970. There have been other accidents reported for the Fairchild Hiller (FH1100), according to the FAA registry, including one in 2003 in Fort Meyers, Florida, in which the pilot reported the engine lost power. Although the doctor in Wisconsin stated he had no problems with this aircraft, Newschannel 3 in Michigan discovered - according to federal crash records - a chopper matching the same identification number and model rolled over during a landing in Alaska 38 years ago causing substantial damage. It is not known if the Boven was aware of this history.
The FAA is investigating the crash.
Lack of Recommended Equipment Cause of Medical Helicopter Crash?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
In the last 10 years, 75 doctors, nurses, pilots, and patients have lost their lives as they risk their lives to get patients the medical help they need by transporting them to the nearest hospital from the scene if an accident or by transporting them to a more "needs appropriate" medical center.
This reality was brought home last week when a University of Madison (WI) Med Flight crew was killed when their helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff after transporting a patient from UW-Madison to another hospital. The crew had flown through a rainy night to make the trip - it is not known at this time if weather was a factor in the crash. Med Flights will be grounded until the FAA clears the remaining helicopter, which could affect some of the most critical patients.
According to the NTSB, this particular helicopter did not have two pieces of safety technology the agency has recommended to prevent crashes. The chopper was not equipped with a computerized voice system to warn of approaching terrain or night vision goggles for the pilot, according to a senior vice president at Denver-based Air Methods who leased the helicopter to the UW hospital. These recommendations were made in a 2006 report which came after the agency noted an increasing number of crashes involving medical helicopters and planes. The report suggested many fatal EMS flights could be prevented with the use of these two pieces of equipment - Federal regulators have not made these devices a requirement, but have encouraged voluntary installation by companies.
So we ask why aren't they used if they will increase safety and save lives? Frieda is absolutely sure she doesn't want to be on a live-saving medical flight only to be killed in a crash that could have been prevented if the proper equipment had been used. Part of the problem is the shortage of night vision goggles for non military use. OK, Frieda understands that one. Well, what about the Terrain Awareness and Warning Systems? It seems there's a long wait for the equipment and once installed, the crews have to be trained. Frieda believes these obstacles can be overcome if there was a sincere desire to do so and a real commitment to safety for these courageous men and women. According to CEO Aaron Todd of Air Methods:
He said he couldn't say whether the technology, which costs about $100,000 to install on each craft, could have prevented the crash.
Frieda's willing to bet the crew of the UW medical helicopter and their families would sure like to have had the chance to find out.
Medical Helicopter Crash in Wisconsin Kills 3
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight crashed Saturday night after successfully transporting a patient to a LaCrosse Medical Center. The new American Eurocopter EC12 took off from LaCrosse at 10:30pm and there were no further communications from the crew.
Mark Hanson, the Med Flight director stated the pilot was flying visually - he wasn't sure why the pilot was not using his instruments. Mike Allen, senior vice president of hospital - based medical services for the Denver-based Air Methods, which leases the aircraft to the hospital said, it is "very common and acceptable" for pilots to use a visual flight plan. In this case, however, neither gentlemen knew how familiar the pilot was with flying in the LaCrosse area. Weather does not seen to have been a factor in the crash itself but rain and deteriorating conditions did limit the rescue search to the ground only. There were no witnesses to the crash.
Continue reading "Medical Helicopter Crash in Wisconsin Kills 3"
Helicopter Crashes in Alaska
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A 14 year old boy miraculously survived a helicopter crash and a night in the cold temperatures north of Anchorage Alaska. According to the NTSB, the chopper was carrying state Department of Administration technicians who were working on radio site maintenance and the pilot and the three passengers were killed.
The B2 Aerostar 352 went down in heavy snow on Tuesday and the bad weather prevented an immediate air search. On Wednesday morning a state trooper helicopter spotted the wreckage and Air National Guard jumpers rescued the 14 year old. Frieda wonders why a young boy was on board a government task oriented flight in the first place - is that allowed?
NC Helicopter Crash Preliminary Report
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The helicopter crash that killed a Wilmington, N.C. fire captain is under investigation. The chopper crashed shortly after take off and several witnesses report seeing the aircraft in trouble. "Spinning in the air", "it was coming down, crashed and exploded into flames", and "it sounded like the engine blew up" were some of the eyewitness description of the crash. The helicopter was a Robinson R22 built in 2000.
The pilot - a 17 year veteran of the Wilmington Fire Department - was off duty when the crash occurred. The FAA, NTSB, Robinson Helicopter, and Lycoming (the engine manufacturer), and the N.C. State Highway Patrol are all part of the investigation that has been able to locate all parts of the helicopter which have been moved to an undisclosed location for further study. Although it will be months before a final cause will be released by the NTSB, a preliminary report has been released. The investigation will look at three main area of concern - the possibility of pilot error, the functionality of the aircraft, and the weather at the time of the crash. There was initial speculation by a friend of the pilot stating this was a case of engine failure - which in a R22, "the pilot has about 1 -2 seconds to push a lever that drops the pitch of the blades or the helicopter will drop like a rock from the sky". There was also speculation of a malfunction of the tail rotor.
Neither the FAA nor the NTSB would not speculate on the cause at the time of the crash. However, in a report released on March 22, the NTSB's preliminary report states the pilot was trying to make a forced landing but because he was missing sections of rotor blades a safe landing was impossible. Witnesses state parts of the helicopter began to fly off the Robinson 22 as it was going down - these blades were later found in an adjacent field.
UN Helicopter Crashes - At Least 10 Dead
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Flying in bad weather in the mountains of Nepal proved too much for a UN helicopter - a Russian-made aircraft - carrying at least eight passengers and 3 crew members, all UN personnel. Although 10 bodies have been found at this time, there are conflicting reports of just how many were on board the ill fated helicopter.
The UN has been helping Nepal in it's peace process for the last couple of years since communist rebels gave up their armed revolt and joined the mainstream politics. The chopper was returning from a mission to monitor ceasefire violations and implementation of the peace agreement between the Nepal government and the Maoist rebels when it lost contact with the air traffic control in the capital of Katmandu. There are reports from the BBC the craft was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm and burst into flames
Following the Monday crash, only rescue units on foot could reach the site due to weather conditions and the hilly terrain. When the weather clears, rescue helicopters will be sent in to aid in the recovery efforts.
Helicopter Crash Kills Seven in Korea
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A UH-1H "Huey" helicopter crashed into a mountain east of Seoul on Wednesday killing all seven on board. The chopper was returning to base after transporting an emergency patient to a military hospital. Killed were the two pilots, two medical officers, and three soldiers - all South Korean army personnel - and all bodies have been recovered and were taken to military hospital
The UH-1H is a Vietnam War era chopper - proving itself to be a rugged aircraft which needed relatively little time for maintenance and was fully instrumented for night flights and in poor weather. Today they are used to transport troops and military equipment.
An investigation has begun to determine the cause of the crash.
South Padre Island Helicopter Crash Kills Three
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On Tuesday, February 5, a medical helicopter carrying two medics and the pilot en route to the Port Isabel Convention Center for a medical evacuation, crashed into the Laguna Madre killing all three on board. The chopper, part of the Valley AirCare emergency service, was on the 30 mile trip from Harlington when it aborted the landing on South Padre Island - possibly due the bad weather - and was returning to Harlington when it crashed.
The bodies of the paramedic and the flight nurse were found Tuesday night and the body of the pilot was found still strapped inside the wreckage on Wednesday morning. All three have been identified.
Almost 10 years ago another Valley AirCare helicopter crashed on the was to rescue a truck driver after his tractor-trailer overturned. All three on board were killed in that crash which destroyed all the aircrafts parts including the black box. After more than a year, investigators determined the cause was the pilot had continued flying despite bad weather conditions and low visibility.
The NTSB is in charge of the investigation and a memorial fund has been established for the families of the three men who lost their lives
NTSB Blames Maintenance for 2007 Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On Tuesday morning March 27, 2007, a Robinson R-44 helicopter passed over a helicopter crew chief working on a house in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL - he could tell something was wrong with the rotor - the system sounded in distressed. Seconds later the chopper hit a nearby beach and exploded into a fireball. The two people on board for the training flight were killed. The FAA requires additional certification for pilots who want to fly this helicopter partly because of the design characteristics of the rotors.
The NTSB believes poor maintenance is to blame for this crash that killed the 38 year old flight instructor and a 24 year old student. According to the NTSB, a crucial part of the flight control system was missing and that "attach hardware" was missing along with another component not being tight. A mechanic these things were a result of understaffing. Since the deaths of these two young people, Silver State which owned the helicopters has changed procedures to make sure there are more mechanics per shift, more thorough inspections and fewer interruptions. Frieda wonders why an enviornment for competent and thorough maintenance can't be standard operating procedure before two young people lost their lives unnecessarily.
NTSB Releases Rescue Helicopter Crash Report
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Green Bay, Wisconsin - On April 13, 2006, James Vincent, Jr. took off for a routine post - maintenance flight from the GRBC Rescue Heliport in Eagle III, a Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm BO 105LS A-3 air ambulance helicopter built in 1987. A few minutes later the chopper crashed in a field about 30 feet from the heliport, killing James, the only occupant.
According to a report by WBAY, a local Green Bay TV station, the NTSB has released the final report and determined the crash was an accident caused by "the control pedals inside the Eagle III backup were in the wrong position that day, making them ineffective when James Vincent took off."
The report is interesting in its conclusions, especially because it seems to cite no physical evidence in support of its theories. The thrust of its findings seem to be based on the fact that maintenance was performed on the anti-torque pedals but the report provides scant theory, let alone evidence, of exactly what maintenance was performed that actually caused the alleged restrictions in the pedals.
Many questions do remain. How did the pedals actually get jammed? Which pedal was jammed? Why couldn't it become unrestricted by pressing on the opposite pedal? What was done or not done that caused the problem? Where is the physical evidence of the problem? Were adequate operational and maintenance instructions issued? Was any part found to have malfunctioned or failed?
Answers to these questions are not found in the NTSB report.
And ultimately--did the NTSB get it right? Did something else cause this tragedy?
Florida Helicopter Crash Kills Two
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A four-seater Robinson R44 helicopter exploded after crashing onto a runway at the Dade-Collier Training and Transition Airport a little after noon on Tuesday, killing the two people on board. According to eye witnesses,. "the chopper seemed to be practicing takeoffs and landings when it suddenly rose and flipped on its back, crashing onto the runway and exploding on impact". The cause of the crash is under investigation and officials are working to get positive identification on the two people killed in the crash.
Dade Collier Training & Transition Airport (TNT) has an interesting history. It is a huge, nearly abandoned modern airport that is called a true "white elephant". It was begun in 1968 as the Everglades Jetport and was planned to be the largest airport in the world with 6 runways and was to provide service for the Miami area by the US SST supersonic jet. The location was ideal - built far away from populated area to lessen the noise of the SST operations. Only one problem - before the airport was completed and operational, the US SST was canceled, thus eliminating the airfield's reason for being even though one runway ( measuring 10,500 feet) had already been built. Also, environmentalists, wanting to protect the ecosystem of the everglades, convinced government officials of the "unacceptable" harm an airport would bring to the region. It was also decided that removing the new runway would cause further environmental harm to the area so it remained and eventually opened for very limited use under the name of Dade Collier TNT. Before the day of flight simulators for training airline pilots, the crews had to be trained with actual airplane flights - Dade Collier was the perfect answer since there was no other traffic on the single runway. In 1996, there were still emergency personnel and equipment at the airfield because large passenger planes would go there for bounces to train pilots. With high tech flight simulators to train pilots at much less cost, the use of Dade Collier has diminished drastically - it's modern day purpose still undefined.
Three Die in Navy Helicopter Crash
The flat farmlands south of Corpus Christi, Texas is the sight of the deadly crash of a Navy helicopter on a training mission which killed three and injured one. The injured crew member is in critical condition in a hospital after the fiery crash. According to the Navy, it was foggy at the time of the crash near a 971 foot broadcast tower but authorities would not confirm speculation the MH-53 Sea Dragon hit the tower. According to a TV station executive, the tower beacon had been knocked off and parts of the antenna were on the ground - and a large piece of the chopper wreckage was found at the base of the tower.
The chopper was part of Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 15 out of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi. According to their Mission Statement, they "conduct mine hunting and mine sweeping operations using the MH-53E helicopter. From the air, crews place mine countermeasures equipment in the water to detect or destroy mines".
NTSB Releases Cause of Fatal Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On January 10, 2005, a Life Evac helicopter carrying a pilot and two others crashed into the Potomac River shortly after 11:00 p.m. The helicopter crash killed the pilot and the paramedic - the only survivor was the flight nurse.
In a preliminary report released in late January of that year, the NTSB said wake turbulence from another aircraft may have been a factor in the crash. Wake turbulence occurs when planes fly, they leave streams come off the wing tips and leave a wake of disturbed air. This disturbance remains in the area and continues to fall in altitude for some time after the aircraft has flown out of the area. A minute before the chopper crashed, a jet had flown over the Wilson Bridge - it was considered a possibility the helicopter had flown in the flight path of that jet.
After a thorough investigation of the helicopter crash, on December 21, 2007, the NTSB says the crash was likely caused by the "pilot's failure to identify and arrest the helicopter's descent". The report states "the pilot probably had been scanning the sky for a jet flying in the opposite direction and might not have been studying his instruments". The findings also discovered the radar altimeter onboard the chopper wasn't working before the crash.
Helicopter Crash Leads to Wedding Bells
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Oh, Frieda just loves stories like this - tragedy ends in romance. Although there was sadness for two families, there was a reunion and a happy ending for two other families.
It was two and a half years ago that Stacey was in her apartment and saw the smoke from a Sacramento sheriff's department helicopter crash. As she watched the news of the tragic crash, she was surprised to see the name of the only survivor - it was Eric, someone she had known a long time ago. Eric had played soccer with her brother, their families had been very close, but as often happens they has lost touch over the years.
Stacey and her family visited Eric in the hospital as he was recovering form life threatening injuries - but Eric doesn't remember the visits or much of anything about the days following the crash. They had a brief introduction several months later, but neither one of them remembers much about that either. However, Eric definitely remembers emailing her a year later - he knew exactly what he was doing - and now, after his miraculous recovery, they're planning their wedding.
"I don't want to sound too corny, but she's perfect," said Eric, 31. "How something so (wonderful) could come out of something so horrible - it's just amazing."
In this silver lining was found a golden wedding band.
Forrest Sawyer Injured in Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
U. S. news anchor Forrest Sawyer suffered a broken hip when the helicopter he was in crashed into Lake Natron in Tanzania. The pilot suffered a broken leg.
Sawyer is best known as a former broadcast journalist with ABC News for 11 years before leaving to go to NBC as a new anchor. In 2005 he left the broadcast networks to become founder and president of Freefall Productions when he produces documentaries and serves as media strategist and guest lecturer. He was on an assignment for the Travel Channel when the crash occurred. Sawyer is quoted as saying, "I've been in a lot of strange situations. But I'd never come as remotely close to dying as this." No one sustained life threatening injuries in the crash. Pat Younge, president of the Travel Channel acknowledges the heroism of the production crew and Sawyer, for helping to get all the passengers out of the crashed helicopter and safely onto shore.
Helicopter Crash Found In Alaska
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Crews have searched Prince William Sound for a Eurocopter BK 117 medical helicopter that vanished on Monday, December 5. The search ended Saturday when searchers discoverd the aircraft and the body of the flight nurse. The pilot, paramedic, and patient are still missing. The aircraft was transporting the patient from Cordova to an Anchorage hospital when it disappeared in blowing snow with winds at 25 mph and gusts around 50 mph. At the time of the flight, the National Weather Service had issued advisories alerting pilots about the turbulence and low visibility.
According to McHugh Pierre, a spokesman for the Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs - "We are going to assume there are survivors" citing warm weather as favorable to survival.
NTSB Reports On Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The NTSB has stated in a preliminary report the California Highway Patrol Eurocopter AS350 crash in July is likely the result of a training exercise gone awry. The investigator for the NTSB stated the certified flight instructor turned off the hydraulics to demonstrate an emergency flight maneuver, then he started having trouble controlling the cyclic, which maneuvers the main rotors. According to the report, the flight instructor had asked the commercial pilot seated in the right seat to turn the hydraulics back on then they increased air speed and tried to climb in an attempt to fly out of the spin. The instructor said he has performed this maneuver regularly and has never had any problem - he speculates the other pilot did not restore the hydraulics during the accident sequence.
Neither men were injured in the helicopter crash.
Black Hawk Helicopter Crashes In Italy
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The bank of the Piave river in northern Italy was the site of Thursday's crash of a U. S. Black Hawk helicopter carrying 10 U.S military personnel. A Reuters report states four were killed in this crash and six have been injured. The chopper was a single-rotor Black Hawk with four blades on a training exercise. No details on the cause of the crash have been released and a press officer at the U. S. embassy in Rome had no additional information.
The somewhat legendary Sikorsky Black Hawk is the first choice for military operations worldwide. More than 3000 Black Hawks and its derivatives have accumulated more than 6.5 million flight hours for the U.S military and international customers and now serves in 27 governments. It's range of missions is diverse - including combat assault, peacekeeping, border control, drug interdiction, disaster relief, and medical evacuation.
Helicopter Crashes, Plane Crash Kill 10 in Sao Paulo
Within two hours, three helicopters crashed in or around Sao Paulo, killing three and injuring five. The first helicopter was carrying four people when it crashed into a main thoroughfare killing a woman and child immediately - the pilot died later in a local hospital. About twenty minutes later, a second chopper went down on a golf course, injuring its two passengers. The third helicopter crashed less than two hours later - the three on board survived, but were critically injured.
Sao Paulo is Latin America's biggest and most populous city in the southern hemisphere is located in the southeastern part of Brazil. With a population of over 11,000,000 in just 588 sq, miles, it's usually very "traffic choked" so it's easy to see why using a helicopter is the favored mode of transportation - being known for it's very large helicopter fleet.
These helicopter crashes follow a deadly plane crash on Sunday which killed 8 people and completely destroyed four single family homes in Sao Paulo. The Learjet 35A, owned by Reali Taxi Aereo, crashed into a heavily populated neighborhood not long after taking off from a small airport in Sao Paulo bound for Rio de Janeiro. The cause of the crash is not yet known
Helicopters Back On Job After Deadly Mid-Air
Three months ago on July 27, helicopters from all five Phoenix television stations were following a low speed police chase on the ground when one chopper flew into another, causing both to crash killing their pilots and photojournalists. Since that incident, there has been a rethinking of procedures involving television pilots - mainly allowing pilots to double as reporters (instead of giving their full concentration to flying the craft) and the lack of rules requiring minimum space between crafts.
It amazes Frieda that 4 men have to die before a dangerous situation is examined and common sense precautions are considered and, hopefully, put into place. Does this mean "they" had no idea of the hazards prior to the helicopters midair/crash or that "chomping at the bit" to be the first to report news is more important that safety?
Continue reading "Helicopters Back On Job After Deadly Mid-Air"
Military Helicopter Crashes in Alabama
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Not much is officially known at this time about the crash of a U.S. military helicopter that crashed in Alabama, killing three. The TVA and the Redstone Arsenal, which managed the Army's helicopter fleet, were on their way to the crash site on Wednesday to investigate.
We do know the helicopter was based at Fort Campbell, KY, home to the 101st Airbourne Division. The base has not released the names of the victims nor the type of chopper involved. The area did have fog at the time of the crash, but it has not been determined if it could have been the cause or if the aircraft actually hit a high voltage power line connecting a generating plant with a substation near Huntsville as has been speculated. Due to maintenance, the lines were not carrying power at the time of the incident and the fog was so dense an air ambulance was unable to fly to the site - all we know is something went terribly wrong during this training mission from Fort Campbell to Chattanooga Municipal Airport.
One source states this was a UH-60 Blackhawk with three soldiers on board. Hopefully the investigators from Fort Campbell and Fort Rucker (Alabama) will be able to determine the cause of this disaster and the findings of this investigation will result in safer flight practices for our soldiers here at home and abroad.
Hawaiian Helicopter Crashes Still Under Investigation
Category: Helicopter Crashes
It has been six months since the two fatal sight-seeing tour helicopters crashed in Hawaii killing five and injuring seven and the answers to what happened could be as long as a year away.
Although the NTSB will give the final accident report, the FAA has done its own investigation which studies the aircraft's worthiness of flight, pilot competence, adequacy of FAA regulations, and the performance of air traffic control. None of these investigations has led to any additional regulations or modifications of the existing regulations in heli tour operations. The latest regulation of requiring pontoons of life jackets on all air tours in Hawaii for single engine helicopters that go further than the shore of any island was put in place in February before these crashes occurred.
No deadline has been set by the NTSB for the conclusion of their investigation - probable cause reports have been known to take up to three years. Frieda hopes the NTSB doesn't take this long. Their findings could prevent other helicopter crashes both in Hawaii and industry wide.
Deadliest Helicopter Crashes in Iraq
Category: Helicopter Crashes
This list starts with March 2003 and ends with the most recent crash at the time of this writing. As you read the following, remember each one of these lives has a story to tell - of goals, dreams, and a future that will never be theirs.
~ March 30, 2003: A Boeing Vertol Sea Knight crashed, killing twelve - including and four American Marines. No hostile fire reported.
~ November 2, 2003: A Boeing Chinook transport shot down, killing all 15 aboard.
~ November 15, 2003: Two Black Hawks collided and crashed (during an attack), killing 17 soldiers.
~ January 26, 2005: A Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion transport crashed in a sandstorm, killing 30 Marines and 1 sailor.
~ April 21, 2005: A Bulgarian MI-8 was shot down killing 11 people including 6 Americans.
~ January 7, 2006: A Black Hawk crashed killing 12 Americans - eight soldiers and 4 civilians.
~ January 20, 2007: A Black Hawk crashed, killing all 12 American soldiers on board.
~ August 22, 2007: A Black Hawk crashed, killing all 14 American soldiers on board. No hostile fire suspected.
Black Hawk Helicopter Crashes in Iraq
Category: Helicopter Crashes
In an article written in March of this year, Frieda addressed the issue of too many helicopters crashing in Iraq. Due to the number of helicopters and men lost in the war it was stated " the U.S. would rethink the strategy of using helicopters in Iraq". Well, it would seem they are still thinking, because we recently lost a another Blackhawk and all 14 men on board - the deadliest crash since January 2005. The men had just been picked up after a mission when the crash occurred - enemy fire is not suspected.
One of those solders was 30 year old Matthew Tallman who leaves a wife and two children behind. Specialist Tallman had been poised for the promotion he wanted to help guide young people just entering the service. This serviceman didn't live to see that promotion - he became Sergeant Tillman after his death.
Responsibility For News Helicopter Collision And Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Flowers, cards, and candles can be found in the park where two news helicopters crashed after colliding in air while covering a news story. These gifts are tributes to the four victims - two pilots and two cameramen - who lost their lives in the Phoenix tragedy. The NTSB has the wreckage at another location in the Phoenix area where they are conducting a detailed examination and plan to issue a preliminary report in a few days followed by the full report within nine months. Luckily no one on the ground was injured and no property was destroyed even though there were several hi-rise buildings in the area as well as a VA hospital.
The helicopters were following a police chase of a stolen white truck. The suspect eventually abandoned the white truck and was eventually caught by police. He has been booked on counts of assault, theft, and resisting arrest and may also be charged in connection with the helicopter deaths.
Now, Frieda agrees this is one of the deadliest news helicopter crashes and four good men are dead, but she doesn't understand how the suspect can be held accountable. Isn't that like saying the two professional football teams in a Super Bowl are responsible if the Good Year Blimp and the ESPN helicopter collide over the stadium while the game is in progress? You're thinking "that's ridiculous," right? It is - and so it this.
Continue reading "Responsibility For News Helicopter Collision And Crash"
Helicopter Crash Wreckage Inspection
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Recently Frieda had the privilege of being invited to observe a visual and nondestructive wreckage inspection of a helicopter which had been involved in a fatal crash. Her interest in the methodology used to determine the cause of an aircraft crash has heightened considerably since writing this blog - reporting on NTSB findings and reading the results of its investigation. It has amazed her - and still does - how investigators take pieces of what was once a whole functioning aircraft, reassemble it, and say, "this is probably what happened". So, on the day of the inspection Frieda was excited, nervous, not at all sure what to expect, and thinking, "just how long can one look at a mangled helicopter and what can it tell us".
Navy Helicopter Crashes - Five Dead
Category: Helicopter Crashes
NAS Fallon base spokesman, Zip Upham, is calling the death toll "the worst in recent memory at the Naval Air Station". He is referring to the deadly crash of a Navy SH-60F helicopter on May 8, in a area described as "rugged and remote" near Austin, Nevada. All five servicemen aboard were killed.
Pilot Avoids Helicopter Crash on Maui
Pilot Avoids Helicopter Crash on Maui
Another tour helicopter was in trouble on the island of Maui when it had to make a "hard landing" just off the runway with six passengers and the pilot on board. The pilot had reported tail rotor trouble. At this time we don't know exactly what kind of trouble the chopper was having - an investigation has started - the good news is no one was hurt in this incident.
Hawaiian Helicopter Crash-A Personal Story
Category: Helicopter Crashes
When they got married a year ago, there was no time for a honeymoon. For a long time this couple from Santa Maria dreamed of going to Hawaii - now, finally, all their plans had come together and here they were on the island of their dreams celebrating their honeymoon. On March 8, the last day of their vacation, the young couple boarded a helicopter for a sight-seeing tour of this magnificent island. Their joy was short lived when the tour ended in tragedy - the chopper went down, one survived the crash - the other did not.
So ended the year long love affair and marriage of Margriet and Cornelius Scholtz. Margriet died in the crash and Cornelius had major injuries - surgery on his leg and a machine to help him breath. "He is sedated and doctors are hoping for the best" says his friend Johann Beukes, who witnessed the crash. According to Beukes, Cornelius had not been told about his wife as of a couple days following the crash.
Margriet and Cornelus were not the only couple separated by tragedy on this day. Three married couples boarded that fateful sight-seeing tour - each one of them lost a spouse. The pilot also died in the crash.
Sometimes I think when we hear of plane crashes or helicopters going down, we think of the loss of life, but we can forget to remember these lives lost were real people with hopes and dreams like the rest of us - it's hard to put "a face" on the victims. I wanted to give Mr. and Mrs. Scholtz their "face" - I don't think we will soon forget them or the two other couples who joined them for a sight-seeing tour in Hawaii.
Another Fatal Tour Helicopter Crash In Hawaii
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Following the NTSB's February recommendations for new safety standards for air tour companies and tougher standards for monitoring tour operators after investigating two earlier crashes on Kauai - one involving a Heli-USA helicopter - another Heli-USA tour chopper crashes killing four and critically injuring three on the island of Kauai. The crash occurred only minutes from landing and moments after the pilot reported hydraulic problems. Heli-USA reports this is only their second crash but the island of Kauai reports more than one-third of all the tour helicopter fatalities in Hawaii. (See our Feb. 18, 2007 article). The FAA has announced new safety standards for air tour companies BUT the safety rule does not take effect until August - that's a six month lag time between Feb. 13 when safety increases were called for and the implementation of these new safety measures - now four more people are dead.
NTSB and FAA investigators are at the crash scene to determine the cause of the crash. The pilot was experienced having flown helicopters in Viet Nam and had more than 10,000 hours flying the A-Star, the same model that crashed last Thursday.
Helicopter Crashes In Iraq Too Numerous?
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Mechanical problems caused an OH-5k Kiowa helicopter -which is used mainly for surveillance and light attack missions - to crash in Kirkuk on Thursday injuring two of it's crew. Early reports have ruled out hostile fire in this incident, but last week a Black Hawk was downed due to ground fire and at least eight U.S. helicopters have crashed or been brought down by hostile fire this year. In February, the fifth deadliest loss of life this year occurred when a transport helicopter crashed killing all seven of it's crew.
In light of these losses, the U.S. has stated they will "rethink" their strategy on the use of helicopters in the Iraq war. Frieda wonders exactly what "rethink" means . . .
Hawaiian Execs & FAA Respond to NTSB Recommendations
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Since 1964, there have been 207 tour helicopter accidents in Hawaii - 34 of them fatal - killing 75 people. The fatalities were reported on five islands with one third of the fatalities reported from the island of Kauai. The NTSB investigated the latest two crashes on this island, found both crashes were probably caused by erroneous decisions by the pilots, then made recommendations to the FAA.
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NTSB Recommendation Following Hawaiian Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A Bali Hai Helicopter Tours helicopter crashed on the island of Kauai in September, 2004, killing the pilot and all four passengers on board for a sight seeing tour. On September 23, 2005, another chopper crashed killing three passengers.
After a thorough investigation of these crashes, the NTSB wants tougher new regulations on Hawaii tour helicopters.
Finding pilot error (poor decision making) while flying in bad weather caused both crashes, it also cited inadequate FAA administration surveillance was also a contributing factor. The investigation also found the Bali Hai Helicopter Tours had pilots flying up to eight hours a day without lunch or bathroom breaks which lead to exhaustion which in turn can lead to pilots making poor decisions - in these two cases, leading to loss of life.
The NTSB wants the FAA to require training in Hawaii weather patterns for pilots new to the islands - Frieda wonders why this isn't already being done - isn't it obvious this is needed? Why do people have to die before the right thing is done?
Medevac Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Cajon Pass, located between the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains in California is one of three passes created by the San Andreas Fault that leads into the coastal basin. It is also the site where three medevac crew members lost their lives Sunday night.
The Bell 412 helicopter crashed and burned near the top of Cajon Pass as it returned from from Loma Linda Medical Center where the crew had airlifted a patient from Phelan - near the pass' summit. Although it can not be confirmed whether the craft hit power lines prior to the crash, FAA spokesman Ian Gregor said the investigators had yet to find evidence this is what happened.
Investigators from the NTSB and the FAA were on the scene on Sunday night to determine what caused this helicopter to crash.
Disaster Training for Plane and Helicopter Crashes
Frieda could not resist reading about the "crisis management course " in Mr. Crouse's article dated 10/17/06. It makes so much sense and would appear to be invaluable.
The program seems to fall in line with "make plans before a disaster occurs" so that when chaos prevails, we can remain relatively calm and go with our plan of action. This is similar to what we are told by the fire department to protect ourselves in our homes - plan your escape routes/strategies before the fire happens. It's very difficult to think calmly in the middle of a disaster - know your plan beforehand and your "trained mind" will take over.
How many times have we been in a shocking situation - perhaps an unexpected death of a loved one - and had someone beside us helping to guide us through?
Well, this is what HAI (Helicopter Association International) is doing with "Coping with Crisis 101- Managing an Aviation Disaster Course".
Continue reading "Disaster Training for Plane and Helicopter Crashes"
Aircraft Crash? Crisis Management Course Could Help
Helicopter Association International (HAI) will present Coping with Crisis 101 - Managing an Aviation Disaster as a part of its Professional Education Series on November 9, 2006 at the Prince Resort in Honolulu, Hawaii. HAI says this has been one of the most popular programs in HAI's traveling series of educational programs.
See the course description,
See more on HAI's website.
Firefighters' Helicopter Crashes
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Fighting one of the largest fires in California's history was slowed by helitanker crash Sunday morning, spilling fuel but not inginiting another fire. This was the only incident in the battle against this fire which has destroyed 254 square miles since it started on Labor Day - a battle which has had as many as 40 helicopters in the air over the fire.
The Sikorsky-64E, flying under contract to the U.S. Forest Service, crashed as it was returning to the helispot to pick up more fire retardant and water. The cause of the crash was not immediately known - the Forest Service and the FAA are investigating.
The pilots were not hurt -
"The pilots just climbed out and walked away," said Curtis Vincent, a Forest Service spokesman.
Helicopter Crashes In Hawaii
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Instead of the scheduled sightseeing tour, the helicopter carrying two couples from Oregon crashed just minutes after lifting off.
The year old McDonnell Douglass 500 chopper owned by Tropical Helicopters lifted to about 10-20 feet before crashing back onto the landing pad. Although the passengers did not get to see much of Hawaii on this trip, they are grateful no one was seriously injured. "It started up, controls stuck on the pilot, and the helicopter went sideways and we hit the ground," says Adolph Risen, one of the passengers.
Although the crash is under investigation, officials credit the pilot's ability to prevent the rotors from hitting the ground as the reason the crash was not much more serious.
Prototype Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
McCook, Nebraska - a small town in southwest Nebraska with a population of about 8,000 - is in the news today because of a helicopter crash last night around 6:30 at the McCook Regional Airport. The aircraft, owned by Pawnee Aviation of McCook, was an experimental prototype and was hovering near the airport when the crash occurred. The two people on board were taken to the hospital, but thought not to be seriously injured.
Pawnee Aviation plans to offer kits of the helicopter to homebuilders - hopefully not until the cause of this crash is determined and eliminated.
Helicopter Crash Off Oregon Coast Kills Three
Category: Helicopter Crashes
What was to be a banquet on Sunday night became a memorial for three of the "Flight of Discovery" team when their helicopter crashed off the Oregon coast this past weekend. All three killed were from San Diego.
About 40 people planned the expedition to follow the famous 19th century Lewis and Clark trail - by air - to teach students not only about the two explorers, but also about geology, history and environmental changes in the West since that time. Although a few people closest to the victims will not continue, most of the participants which includes scientists, historians, videographers, and pilots have decided to continue the expedition in honor of their team members.
No final determination of the cause of the crash has been made - the Coast Guard reports weather may have played a role in the incident. The NTSB is investigating.
Military Looks Deeper Into Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
On July 13, 2006, a Cormorant search and rescue helicopter crashed into the ocean off Nova Scotia killing three and injuring four others. The military wants to take a second look - considering all aspects leading up to the crash.
According to the board of injury president, Col. Grant Smith, the board will not duplicate the flight safety investigation presently going on.
" We're looking beyond just the cause of the accident but overall, [to] all of our training, all of our equipment and all of our processes," he said.
Smith and the rest of the board will be gathering information in Nova Scotia until mid August and will make recommendations to prevent a crash like this in the future. The final report is should be ready by the end of the year.
Helicopter Crashes While Fighting Wildfire - Pilots Killed
Category: Helicopter Crashes
A Sikorsky helicopter crashed into the Klamath River in California as it was fighting wildfires at Happy Camp in the Klamath National Forest. This was one of three helicopters - about 500 firefighters total - fighting the wildfire started by a lightning storm almost two weeks ago.
Autopsies will be perfomed on the two pilots and the FAA and NTSB are investigating, but at this time there is no information available on the cause of the crash.
For more information about the crash and to find out what areas of the Klamath National Forest are closed due to the fire and what areas are open and safe for hiking, go to Helicopter Crash.
Five Injured In Wisconsin Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
The Saturday flight was to have been a pleasurable sight-seeing trip for a Wisconsin family of four. Instead the R44 Astor owned by WWW Helicopters LLC in East Troy, WI crashed into a metal pole near the hanger at the small municipal airport in East Troy, sending 3 of the passengers and the pilot to the hospital and a child to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.
The Walworth County Sheriff's Department is looking into the cause of the 10:36 am crash. The FAA is also expected to investigate.
Fatal Green Bay Helicopter Crash Investigation Begins
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Investigators from the FAA and the NTSB are in the Green Bay, Wisconsin area searching for answers as to why a rescue helicopter on a maintenance flight crashed April 13, 2006, killing the pilot.
The inquiry into the crash could take as long as 18 months.
The aircraft, a twin engine Eurocopter BO105LS built in 1987 was the backup rescue craft having logged approximately 4800 hours. It was most recently inspected on March 22 of this year and the radio and other instruments were inspected the day before the crash.
An autopsy on the pilot, who was able to send a Mayday call indicating a mechanical problem, has revealed no medical condition was found that could have contributed to the crash.
Ten U.S. Military Personnel Killed In Helicopter Crash
Category: Helicopter Crashes
Ten U.S. service members died when two Marine Corps helicopters from a North Carolina unit crashed off the coast of Africa. Military officials confirmed the losses on Sunday.
Two CH-53E helicopters were carrying twelve troops from a U.S. counterterrorism force, went down during a training flight Friday in the Gulf of Aden, near the northern coastal town of Ras Siyyan in Djibouti. Two crew members were resuced and were in stable condition at the U.S. military's Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.
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