Helicopter

  • | | | |

    Bolivia Bell 212 Heli Crashes During Rescue

    What: Armada Nacional Bolivariana Bell 212
    Where: Playa Valdez port off Margarita Island Venezuela
    When: Sept 14 2010
    Who: 7 aboard, 2 fatalities, 5 injuries
    Why: The Venezuelan military helicopter was engaged in rescuing 21 people aboard 2(?) small boats found adrift at sea. The helicopter had ferried doctors to a frigate, and after taking off from the frigate, collided with a navy research vessel,Armada Oceanógrafo BO-11, and fell into the ocean.

    The co-pilot co-pilot, Lieutenant Junior Grade, Alfredo Marquez and a crew member were killed. The pilot, Lieutenant Erick Martínez Sandoval, Lieutenant Edil Martinez and 3 other crew members were injured. The crash is under investigation.

  • | | | |

    Indian Chopper Crashes in Bad Weather

    What: Indian Air Force HAL Chetak/Alouette III en route from Kalaikunda to Bagdoghra
    Where: Sundarpahari area, Godda district, Jharkhand state
    When: Sept 11 2010
    Who: 3 aboard, 3 fatalities
    Why: While en route in bad weather, the flight crashed in Sundarpahari near Sinharsi air base. Two pilots and a co pilot were killed. Weather is assumed to be the cause, but the IAF has ordered an inquiry .

  • | |

    San Francisco Helicopter Crash

    What: crop-dusting helicopter
    Where: SF Bay Area near the Municipal Airport in Salinas, Highway 101 south of Airport Boulevard
    When: September 3, 2010
    Who: pilot
    Why: The pilot took off from Salinas Airport but became disoriented due to the fog, and lost control of the helicopter. No fatalities were reported.

  • | | |

    Coast Guard Rescues 4 in Gulf of Mexico

    What: Helicopter afloat in Gulf of Mexico
    Where: Terrebonne Parish
    When: September 1, 2010, 8:40 a.m.
    Who: Reid Aldrich of Nampa, Ind., David Portlock of Lafayette, Brian Meadows of Carencro, and John Howell of Cape Coral, Fla.
    Why: Helicopter over the Gulf of Mexico made an emergency landing IN the Gulf, staying afloat with flotation devices until rescued by two Coast Guard Dolphin helicopters. Good Samaritan fishing vessel, Nhu-Uyen and motor vessel CAPT. Joel assisted in the rescue. The injured were taken to Terrebonne General Medical Center. There were no fatalities.

  • | |

    Helicopter Crash Kills 2 Fish and Game Biologists

    What: Leading Edge Aviation HILLER UH-12E ROTORCRAFT chartered for Idaho Fish and Game
    Where: Near the U.S. Forest Service building in Kamiah, in the northern Idaho Clearwater Region
    When: August 31 2010
    Who: 3 fatalities:Larry Barrett, 47, of Lewiston, Idaho, Dani Schiff, 34, also of Lewiston, pilot Perry J. Krinitt, 43, of Belgrade, Mont.
    Why: The biologists were counting salmon spawning nests on the nearby Selway River.

    The crash is attributed to an apparent mechanical malfunction in the helicopter. Witnesses say the helicopter was making popping sounds and that material was coming off it before it nosedived straight down. The pilot struggled to keep the helicopter from crashing into a nearby school. It ended up in a driveway, damaging a home and a trailer.

  • | |

    MedEvac Helicopter Crashes in Arkansas


    Pictured: An Air Evac Lifeteam Bell 206L-1 LongRanger II filmed at General Dewitt Spain Airport
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Brent Beck

    What: Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter en route from Vilonia to Crabtree, Arkansas
    Where: Scotland, Arkansas
    When: August 31, 2010 4:30 AM
    Who: medivac crew based in Viloni
    Why: While on the way to pick up a patient, the helicopter crashed in a woodsy area near 6831 Highway 95 west in Van Buren County. Parts of the helicopter are in the yard of Walnut Grove Church.

  • | |

    Helicopter Crashes killing 10

    What: Venezuelan National Guard Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter
    Where: Buena Vista
    When: August 27 2010
    Who: 10 aboard
    Why: The helicopter was engaged in searching for a group of suspected drug traffickers in southwestern Apure state.

  • | | |

    Pilot rescued from San Diego Bay

    What: Helicopter en route from Fifth Avenue Terminal
    Where: San Diego Bay
    When: August 22, 2010 6:20 p.m
    Who: Pilot
    Why: When his helicopter suffered power loss, the helicopter pilot attempted landing on the Coronado Bridge. Persons on the bridge were in fear of a bridge collision, but those on the bridge need not have worried; the helicopter ended up instead in San Diego Bay.

    Flotation devices kept the helicopter from sinking, and harbor police rescued the pilot. Rescuers needed every moment as the the pilot canopy was “broken in around him” which I take to mean he was pretty well entrapped. After retrieving the pilot, he was treated at UCSD Medial Center.

  • | | | |

    Thai Helicopter Crash Kills 5


    Pictured: A Eurocopter AS-350B-2 Ecureuil owned by Thailand – Bureau of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (KASET)
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer M Radzi Desa

    What: Thai Eurocopter AS 350 helicopter en route from Phitsanulok province to take the officials to the inauguration of a river basin development project
    Where: remote area of jungle in Na Muen district of Nan province northern Thailand
    When: August 18 2010
    Who: 5 passengers including Permanent Secretary for natural resources and environment Saksit Tridech, inspector-general of the National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department and a senior adviser to the Royal Household Bureau. The pilot who worked for the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry was Major Jenwit Arunsawat. Sergeant Withoon Thienngern, who was the machinist, also aboard.
    Why: While flying over a remote jungle in stormy weather, the helicopter disappeared from radar. The search involved 350 rangers, soldiers, forestry officials, village headmen and villagers. Ground search of 17 separate search parties led by local guides and four search helicopters were utilized to find the wreckage which was located Wednesday, three kilometers from the closest settlement. The helicopter crashed into a mountainside at 1,500 meters. There was no fire.

    Wednesday, rescue teams encountered steep terrain, making the recovery of the remains difficult but the five bodies were recovered.

    Funeral services will be at Wat Phra Si Maha That in Bangkok.

  • | | | |

    Zamboanga Helicopter Lost at Sea; Pilots Missing; US to aid Search

    What: Philippine Navy Volco 411 helicopter performing routine maneuvers
    Where: 1,500 yards from Great Santa Cruz Island Philippines
    When: August 17 2010
    Who: 5 aboard, two missing pilots: First Lieutenant Cristan Corpuz and First Lieutenant Gerald Tamayo
    Why: The crew was engaged in documenting a Special Operations unit Amphibious Small Boat exercise; they were taking aerial photos and videos when they seemed to have engine trouble–although the actual cause will be a mystery until the investigation.

    The US is going to assist in recovery with their towed sonar. The crash site us 8 to 9 fathoms deep.

    Petty Officers Abdon Martinez, Noel Ridad and Rodolfo Pataweg are the survivors.

  • | | |

    Knik Glacier Rescue Update

    What: Black Hawk rescue helicopter
    Where: Knik Glacier Alaska
    Why: Attempting to rescue the five stranded on a glacier since Sunday afternoon, a Black Hawk rescue helicopter was damaged sliding and rolling on the glacier. The Air National Guard helicopter was forced to turn around.

    It took a day for the pararescue team (which arrived yesterday) to ski the three miles to the survivors with two days worth of supplies. More supplies have been dropped.

    Tuesday night, two of the original left stranded and one rescuer were flown to Palmer.

    More on Knik Glacier Rescue

  • | | |

    Japanese Coast Guard Helicopter Lost at Sea

    What: Japanese Coast Guard Bell 412EP “Akizuru”
    Where: off Kagawa, Shikoku Japan
    When: August 8 2010
    Who: 5 occupants 4 fatalities
    Why: Akizuru hit offshore power lines and crashed into the sea. The five member crew was missing; but the remains of 4 were found by searchers. One is still missing.

  • | |

    GA: Missing Helicopter found

    What: 2006 Robinson R44II en route North Palm Beach County airport to Brasstown Valley Resort and Spa in Young Harris
    Where: north Georgia mountains
    When: Monday evening
    Who: pilot Adam Reeves, of Jupiter, Fla and unidentified passenger
    Why: The helicopter had been missing since Monday. It was found Friday afternoon by the Civil Air Patrol, having crashed in the N. Georgia mountains in northern Lumpkin County around 2:30 p.m. The search began after relatives of the passengers made inquiries at the airport about a helicopter that had never arrived.

    The flight had been due in Blairsville at 7 p.m but had never arrived.

    The helicopter refueled in Madison, Ga around 6:30 pm Monday. At some unknown time it left North Palm Beach County.

    Reeves was a former U.S. Air Force medic who ran health care and realty companies in Palm Beach County.

  • | | | |

    FAA Air Traffic Controller Could Not Provide

    FAA air traffic controllers provided the pilot outdated flight visibility information that made navigation difficult for Steven Bunker. Bunker had requested an “airport surveillance radar approach”, a ground-based radar approach. After the FAA air traffic controller told him she could not provide “airport surveillance radar approach” service, the four people in Bunker’s helicopter died.

    On Sept. 27, 2008, the medevac helicopter that crashed in a wooded area of Walker Mill Regional Park: Kenneth Mallard, State police pilot Stephen J. Bunker, Trooper 1st Class Mickey C. Lippy and Ashley J. Younger.

    Jordan Wells who was also aboard, survived.

    Kenneth Mallard was an EMT for the Waldorf Volunteer Rescue Squad. Michael Loyola Rowan, his wife Tanya Mallard’s lawyer, is filing a $7 million federal lawsuit against the FAA for ” not doing everything necessary to ensure a safe landing for the Maryland State Police Trooper 2 helicopter.” Christina P. Lippy has sued for $15 million.

  • | | |

    Eurocopter Medevac Crew Perishes in AZ Neighborhood


    Pictured: A LifeNet Eurocopter AS-350B-3 Ecureuil. The one in the crash is
    registration # N509AM
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer David J Transier

    What: AirMethods American Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil en route from Marana to Southeast Arizona Medical Center
    Where: Near Park and 1st Avenue, Tucson, Arizona
    When: July 28, 2010, 2 pm
    Who: pilot, flight nurse and paramedic
    Why: On a medical helicopter service LifeNet Arizona flight, the crew had recently spoken to ATC when the helicopter crashed in a residential neighborhood behind a house. A witness said the pilot directed the helicopter away from the house; and that the engine made “popping noises” before it went silent. It’s rotors stopped, and it fell from the sky. No patients were aboard, but the crew died on the scene.

    Video

  • | |

    Oklahoma Medevac Crash

    What: EagleMed LLC Eurocopter A-Star 350 helicopter en route from Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City to a hospital about 90 miles away in Okeene
    Where: 50 miles northwest of Oklahoma City
    When: July 22 2010
    Who: Pilot Al Harrison, 56, of Edmond, and nurse Ryan Duke, 35, of Oklahoma City, died in the crash
    Why: While en route to pick up a patient, the helicopter crashed in a field near Kingfisher shortly after 7:30 p.m. The pilot and a nurse died in the crash; a paramedic sustained serious injuries.

    A source reported that the crew was having trouble with a door on the helicopter, and a piece flew off and hit the rotor shortly before the crash, but that information is unconfirmed.

  • | | |

    S African Helicopter Crash, 7 lost


    Pictured: A SAPS
    MBB BO-105CBS-4
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Lonell Swatton

    What: South African Police Service MBB-BK 117-B1 Helicopter
    Where: Open field about 4km from Witbank, Mpumalanga, South Africa
    When: 23-JUL-2010
    Who: 7 fatalities
    Why: 5 National Intervention Unit police officers, a pilot and a crew member died in a crash whose details are sketchy. The helicopter was one of two that were en route to assist local police in Witbank where armed thieves had just robbed a local supermarket. One helicopter arrived safely and ended up in a gun battle. The other, according to witnesses, exploded in mid-air and crashed.

    Paramedics from ER24 were dispatched to an open field where the helicopter was already burned beyond recognition.

    A piece of the tail was found 150 meters from the wreckage.

  • | | |

    Helicopter fire in CA

    What: private helicopter crash en route from Paso Robles to Benecia
    Where: Paicines area field
    When: June 22, 2010
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: The pilot and adult passenger were taking their daughters to choir practice. After the cockpit began to smell of smoke, the pilot landed in the field. Just prior to landing, flames erupted from the motor. The pilot and adult passenger quickly exited with their daughters, and a few moments later, the helicopter was engulfed in flames.

  • | | | |

    Helicopter Hard Landing in Oregon


    Pictured: A Hillsboro Aviation Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Ted Quackenbush

    What: Hillsboro Aviation Robinson R22
    Where: quarter mile south of the Hillsboro Airport, east of the Washington County Fairgrounds
    When: Jun 19th, 2010 8:40 pm
    Who: pilot and passenger
    Why: On approach to the airport, the pilot lost power and attempted an emergency field landing. The helicopter flipped on landing, but the pilot and passenger were unhurt.

  • | |

    Cloud Nine Emergency Landing, Palm Beach

    What: Cloud 9 Helicopters Flight Training School Robinson 22
    Where: Palm Beach Gardens, North Palm Beach County
    When: June 19 2010
    Who: Pilot and trainee
    Why: On a training flight, equipment caught on fire and the helicopter had to make an emergency landing on Aviation Boulevard. The helicopter flipped but both the pilot and trainee “walked away.”

  • | |

    Statement from the FAA

    Statement from the FAA in Response to the Associated Press Story about Temporary Flight Restrictions over the Gulf of Mexico
    For Immediate Release
    June 17, 2010

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today’s story by the Associated Press contains a number of inaccuracies with regard to the government’s oversight of flyovers in and around the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Since May 28th, the FAA has approved every request to fly over the area–more than 176 requests. While the temporary flight restriction requires pilots to stay above 3,000 feet, the FAA is working with news organizations and granting exceptions so that pilots can fly at lower altitudes throughout the day.

    The reason for these requirements is safety, pure and simple. So far, there have been a number of reported near misses over the Gulf due to heavy traffic and pilots flying above the oil spill to give their passengers a closer look.

    On Sunday, a helicopter carrying a member of the Associated Press violated the temporary flight restriction around the oil clean-up efforts in the Gulf of Mexico. The helicopter operator was not authorized to fly into the restricted area and was flying at various altitudes well below 3,000 feet. For over 30 minutes, the pilot was not in communication with the Border Patrol aircraft that is providing traffic advisories for all participating aircraft. Border Patrol was forced to divert other traffic in the area, creating a dangerous situation for everyone involved. When the pilot was finally reached he was told to leave the area.

    A pilot deviation (an action that results in the violation of a Federal Aviation Regulation) is being filed against the helicopter pilot.

  • |

    Helicopter enGulfed

    What: Petroleum Helicopter Inc. Bell 206
    Where: 43 miles into the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Port O’Connor
    When: June 10, 2010
    Who: Pilot and two passengers. One passenger was injured.
    Why: While en route, the helicopter crashed into the gulf of Mexico. The coast guard was notified at 10:40 a.m, but an offshore private vessel, named OSV Callie Jean picked up those who had been aboard the helicopter fifteen minutes after the crash, before the coastguard arrived. The passengers were taken to an oil rig platform, from which they were airlifted to the mainland.

  • | | | | |

    Helicopter Crashes in Atizapan, Mexico

    What: CRIT Helicópteros Bell 206
    Where: Atizapan , Mexico
    When: June 6 2010
    Who: 3 injured
    Why: On 11 Maple drive in the Hidden Valley golf club (el club de golf Valle Escondido), the Bell Helicopter crashed for unknown reasons. Pilot Gerardo Alberto Lujano González, and crew Eduardo Rodriguez Vértiz and Gabriel Brito Macías were taken to the Angels of Huixquilucan hospital with undisclosed injuries. The helicopter has been written off as damaged beyond repair but there were no fatalities.

  • | | | |

    Lion Air Robinson Helicopter Crash Kills Governer


    Pictured: Lion Air Robinson Helicopter fleet published on Lion Air Website

    What: Lion Air Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter
    Where: Jael Subdivision in Barangay Iyam, south of Lucena City, Philippines
    When: MAY 17, 2010
    Who: 4 aboard the flight, and two or three on the ground including Rowena Navales (14) 7 fatalities in all.
    Why: The Lion Air helicopter had just taken off. A scant 300 feet later, the chopper swerved, the propeller stopped spinning, and the helicopter slammed into three houses in a neighborhood 70 miles south of Manila. The fire spread to five houses. There were two or three fatalities on the ground, possibly all children, in addition to those aboard the flight.

    Aboard were Quezon Gov. Rafael Nantes,his military escort Master Sergeant Alfred Dominguez, police escort Police Officer Randy Roferez, and the pilot identified as Nestor Sanchez.

    The crash is being attributed to mechanical problems.

  • |

    Ark. Heli Crash

    What: “AufderHeide Flying Service LLC” Ayres/Snow S2R-600 Thrush Commander
    Where: Southwest of De Witt, AR
    When: May 4, 2010
    Who: pilot Roger Dale Nichols, 51, of DeWitt
    Why: The pilot was on a job spraying chemicals on a field west of U.S. 165. When he did not return, the the Civil Air Patrol and the Arkansas Department of Emergency commenced a search, and found the wreckage.