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Contact photographer Glenn Beasley
What: United States Coast Guard Aérospatiale MH-65C Dolphin (SA366G-1)
Where: Arcata/Eureka Airport
When: April 29 2010
Who: 3 aboard, no fatalities
Why: During a training exercise, the helicopter crashed at the airport. There were no injuries.
What: Midwestern Air Services LLC, Robinson R44 II, Raven, four-place, two-bladed, single main rotor, single-engine helicopter en route from Horseshoe Casino Heliport to Kenosha Regional Airport
Where: Kenosha, Wisconsin
When: September 21, 2008
Who: pilot Alan Sapko and passenger Joan Anzalone
Why: The National Transportation Safety Board ruled pilot error. A judge ruled that the pilot’s estate will pay the heirs of Joan Anzalone 1.2 million.
The report of the crash states that the helicopter:
“… was destroyed when it impacted an occupied house and terrain near Kenosha, Wisconsin. A ground fire subsequently occurred. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Night instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The private pilot and a passenger were fatally injured. The five occupants in the house were uninjured. The flight originated from the Horseshoe Casino Heliport (2IG3), near Whiting, Indiana, about 0507, and was destined for the Kenosha Regional Airport (ENW), near Kenosha, Wisconsin, when the accident occurred.
According to information provided by Horseshoe Casino, the pilot landed at 1907 on September 20, 2008. The pilot and passenger had dinner, they observed a concert, and gambled. The pilot had a glass of wine with his dinner about 1930. About 0139 on September 21, 2008, a beverage confirmed to be a Captain Morgan’s and diet Coke in a short glass was given to the pilot. About 0146, another Captain Morgan’s and diet Coke in a tall glass was given to the pilot. About 0213, the pilot set the first glass down empty. About 0423, the pilot took a drink from the second drink glass. The glass was about half full. The pilot gambled until about 0449 and then he and his passenger departed for 2IG3. The pilot and passenger departed from 2IG3 about 0507.
A Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper who was outside the weight facility on Interstate 94 at the Illinois and Wisconsin State Line about six miles south of the accident site heard a helicopter heading north at a “very low altitude” and estimated it at 500 feet. He did not see the helicopter or its lights due to the “dense fog.” He stated that the visibility there was about 300 to 500 feet.
A witness who lived near the accident site gave a statement to the Kenosha Police Department. The witness stated that a low flying helicopter was heard. It circled once then went away and came back. The witness saw an orange flash through the window and heard a “boom.” The witness said the helicopter sounded “really low” and the “engine sounded like it was at low RPMs.”
A witness from the occupied house on the northwest corner of 97th Avenue and 70th Street that was impacted by the helicopter gave a statement to the police department. The witness, in part, reported:
My family and I were fast asleep in our residence when I heard and
felt a loud bang like thunder, and then a cloud of debris came
[through] our bedroom door. My wife and I were in the southeast
bedroom. Our two sons were in the northeast bedroom and our
daughter was the bedroom over the garage. We got our kids and
[with] the help of our neighbors made it down the stairs and outside.
None of us were injured. I saw the flames across the street and one
of our neighbors told me a helicopter hit our house.
The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate. He held a FAA third-class medical certificate issued on April 3, 2006, with no limitations. At the time of that medical, he reported 60 hours total flight time to date and 30 hours in the six months prior to that examination. The pilot’s logbook indicated that the pilot had accumulated 329 hours of total flight time. The pilot recorded 37.25 hours of night flight time.
A certified flight instructor (CFI) that instructed the accident pilot indicated that two previous CFIs had instructed the accident pilot and had endorsed the accident pilot for solo flight training operations. According to the CFI, the two previous CFIs believed that the accident pilot was flying in violation of his solo privileges and the CFIs removed the accident pilot’s solo endorsement. The CFI stated that he had no problems with the accident pilot’s training and solo activities.
The accident pilot’s medical certificate and student pilot certificate had a solo endorsement with “revoked” written across it.”
No one in the house was injured.
What: Royal New Zealand Air Force Bell UH-1H Iroquois en route from Ohakea Air Base in Manawatu to Anzac Day commemorations in Wellington
Where: 40km NE of Wellington New Zealand
When: Apr 25 2010
Who: 4 aboard, 3 fatalities
Why: The helicopter crashed in rugged terrain near Pukerua Bay, in fog, killing 3 aboard (Flight Lieutenant Hayden Peter Madsen, pilot, 33; Officer Daniel Stephen Gregory, pilot, 28, and Corporal Benjamin Andrew Carson, helicopter crewman, 25) and injuring one.
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Contact photographer Diego Torres
What: Fuerza Aérea de Colombia MD Helicopters/Hughes 500/530
Where: Chaparral, Tolima Colombia
When: April 20, 2010 1:45 pm
Who: 7 deaths reported
Why: While performing maneuvers, a Bell 222UT helicopter and a Colombian Air Force MDH/Hughes 500/530 crashed on a military garrison near the town of Chaparral, Tolima.
Army:
– General Brigadier Fernando Joya Duarte, commander of the Task Force of the South of the Tolima.
– Colonel Brown Arturo Herrera Castaño, commander of Movable Brigade 20.
– Lieutenant Colonel Juan Gonzalo Lopera Echeverry, operations officer of the Task Force of the South of Tolima.
Air Force:
– Aviation technician Eider Vargas Avendaño, crew member.
– Aviation technician Víctor Sorza Pulido, crew member.
Vertical Aviation:
– Commander (r.) Rodolfo Garzón Venegas, pilot of Vertical Aviation Bell 222
– Lieutenant of Frigate (r.) Camilo Andrés Cujar, copilot.
The Army Captain Ejército Alejandro Suescún, professional soldier Jairo Suárez, the Air Force lieutenant Alcides Otálora Polo (pilot) and the technician José Hefner Lerma Prieto suffered burns and fractures but survived..
Pictured: A Spanish-owned Agusta-Bell AB-139 filmed in Spain, February 14, 2009
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Contact photographer Rafael Alvarez Cacho
What: Spanish Navy Agusta-Bell 212ASW
Where: Fond Verrettes area, about 50km from Port-Au-Prince Haiti
When: April 16, 2010 10:30
Who: 4 on board. No survivors.
Why: One of a detachment of four Spanish Navy Agusta-Bell 212ASW helicopters assigned to the Spanish navy amphibious ship Castilla crashed in a sparsely populated remote
rugged location called Mount Toro. The helicopter, which is part of an independent detachment is said not to be part of the 400+ Spanish soldiers engaged in Haiti’s recovery and reconstruction efforts, reportedly struck trees and slammed into the ground before catching fire. The rugged terrain is reportedly hampering recovery.
What: Kamchatka Airlines Mil Mi-8T helicopter
Where: Elizovo, Kamchatka Russia
When: April 9 2010
Who: 18 aboard, 7 fatalities
Why: After an avalanche, the bodies of 7 German tourists aboard a helicopter have been recovered. Two survivors (the captain and one tourist) have been taken to a medical center and search is ongoing for the rest of those aboard. Inhospitable mountainous terrain is impeding the search
What: Front Range Helicopters
Where: near Mount Morrison
When: April 04, 2010
Who: Pilot instructor 29-year-old Jesse Whitsett of Fort Collins and student Michael McDonald
Why: The student was practicing a “remote site landing,” a move required for a license. McDonald was practicing to get his license.
After the crash, the pilot radioed in his location. Neither instructor nor student was seriously injured, although McDonald did go to the hospital.
What: Hospital Wing Eurocopter AS.350B3 Ecureuil helicopter en route from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital to Brownsville
Where: 100 yards off Springfield School Road, about four miles east of downtown Brownsville Tennessee
When: MARCH 25, 2010
Who: 3 on board (no patients)
Why: Dispatchers lost contact with the helicopter crew before 6 a.m. A lightning strike and a fireball was seen near the field where the wreckage was found, a location that was found by GPS.
Pictured: A Kazakhstan Government Mil Mi-8MTV-1
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Contact photographer Alan Lebeda
What: Mil Mi-8 Helicopter en route from Makanchi Kazakhstan
Where: near Urdzhar, Kazakhstan
When: Mar 11 2010
Who: 8 aboard
Why: Around 2 local time, the Mi-8 was engaged in a rescue mission in conditions of bad weather and low visibility (28 have been killed in local floods); the tower lost contact with helicopter, though its partner helicopter continued on safely. Bad weather and low visibility severely hampered the search, but a day later, the wreckage was been located near Urdzhar to the northwest, with no survivors.
Two local officials and two doctors were among the deceased.
What: chopper
Where: Queensland rural area at Tally Ho, about 60km south of Emerald
When: 11 am March 10, 2010
Who: 2 unidentified pilots
Why: Information on this so far is very sparse–: The helicopter they were piloting crashed, and they walked away. One of them with minor injuries was taken to Springsure Hospital.
What: Record TV News helicopter
Where: Sao Paulo’s jockey club
When: February 10
Who: Pilot and cameraman
Why: News network’s Astar helicopter developed rear engine failure and careened to the grass of Sao Paulo’s jockey club. The pilot managed to avoid rush hour traffic on Marginal Pinheiros, and no one on the ground was injured. The cameraman Alexandre Borracha was conscious when on the way to the hospital, surviving with serious injury. The pilot Rafael Delgado Sobrinho was found slumped over the controls died on the scene. The accident was filmed by another news crew.
Pilot of the helicopter filming the crash incident was Globo pilot Dato de Oliveira, who followed and landed, and rushed to assist; he turned off the fuel pump and battery to avoid an explosion.
Both crews were in the area filming a bank robbery.
Longer video from the crashed vehicle and Portuguese newscast
Pictured: A Thai Army GAF N-22B Nomad. No Philippine photos available.
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Contact photographer Tek
What: Philippine Air Force GAF N22B Nomad en route from Awang Airport in Cotabato City to Zamboanga
Where: Virgo Subdivision in Rosary Heights 9.
When: January 28, 2010
Who: 8 fatalities including Maj. Gen. Butch Lacso, Two pilots and five crewmen and one fatality on the ground
Why: After takeoff, the plane suffered an engine failure. The pilot was attempting an emergency landing when the plane crashed in Cotabato City, a residential area outside Manila.
Pictured: A South Africa – Air Force Agusta A-109E LUH. (Photo of Nigerian Navy Agusta not available)
Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
Contact photographer Jacobus Saayman
What: Nigerian Navy Agusta A109E Reconnaissance helicopter en route from Port Harcourt to Lago
Where: Mmiri Ochiochi swams, in Obodo Isiokpo, Port Harcourt Nigeria
When: Jan 26, 2010
Who: 4 Fatalities
Why: While en route from Warri via Brass to Port Harcourt, the helicopter crashed into a swampy area about 2 minutes flying time from Port Harcourt International Airport. Apparently naval officers on the scene prevented locals and reporters from taking photographs.
The helicopter went into a spin, and emitted a bang before crashing. Locals on the scene used a machete to hack through a door to retrieve passengers in a rescue effort.
Click to view full size photo at jetphotos.net
Contact photographer JUSTO-M. PRIETO
What: “Salvamento Marítimo (Helisureste)” Agusta Westland AW.139 in a training mission out of LEAM (Almeria Airport, Spain)
Where: In sea 4 nm of Almeria airport
When: Jan 21, 2010
Who: 3 fatalities, one severe injury
Why: The marine search and rescue helicopter fell into the sea off Almería 4 miles from the runway. They were on approach to the airport and returning from aerial maneuvers with Névola (ship). Only one person was rescued, and he was in serious condition. Rescue services included four helicopters, two boats and a tugboat, as well as member of Marine Rescue, Civil Guard.
Those who died were Commander Jose Luis Lopez Alcala, of Granada; copilot Kevin Holmes of New Zealand/Granada; and Iñigo Vallejo Garcia,of Seville.
Suffering from hypothermia, rescued craneman Alberto Elvira Vallejo was taken to Torrecárdenas Hospital.
What: Prefectura Naval Argentina Schweizer 300C
Where: Cerca Aeropuerto Internacional de San Fernando Argentina
When: Jan 19 2010
Who: 2 on board.
Why: Flying from San Fernando International Airport, Argentina, during a test flight, an Argentinean Cost Guard helicopter fell out of the sky 50 meters from the main runway. The two individuals in the helicopter did not survive.
What: Saba Group Helicopter en route from Toluca to Mexico City
Where: Mina Vieja in Cuajimalpa, near La Marquesa
When: Jan 10, 2010
Who: Fatalities included Moises Saba Masri, 46, his father, Alberto Saba Raffoul, and Umberto Saba, also Capt. Armando Fernandez and Judith Casal and Yadel Toachi.
Why: The helicopter crashed during foggy weather; the tail struck a residence at 85 Melchor Ocampo Street, and the blades struck a tree. Two vehicles were damaged but no one on the ground was injured.
Sikorsky, Keystone Helicopters and their parent company, United Technologies Corp. have settled in court with the the families of passengers who died on March 12, 2009. In court last July plaintiffs “voluntarily discontinued” the lawsuit to begin negotiations on a possible settlement. That settlement has been resolved, but the details are not public.
Because pilots believed the Sikorsky met U.S. FAA regulations that the aircraft could operate for 30 minutes after losing oil, they flew toward the shore rather than landing on the water.
Pictured: An ALPA Hughes 500D (369D), Medellin Colombia
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Contact photographer Andres Dallimonti
What: Servicio Aéreo de Ibagué Hughes 369D
Where: Pitalito, Colombia
When: Dec 29, 2009
Who: 1 fatality (2 or 3 aboard.)
Why: One of the people aboard died in the crash which occurred in an area between two Pitalito neighborhoods. The Air Society Ibague helicopter apparently originated in Ibague, capital of Tolima. Its destination is unknown. Witnesses say the helicopter made strange turns in the air, but the pilot managed not to strike any houses.
There have been reports of one and two individuals injured.
What: Koryak Airlines Mil Mi-8T en route from Anavgai to Tigil
Where: 70 km north of Anavgai Russia
When: Dec 28 2009
Who: 3 crew members
Why: While en route, the helicopter sent out a distress signal and had to make an (unexplained) emergency landing/crash which destroyed the helicopter. There was one fatality and two crew members were severely injured. The helicopter was carrying 2 tons of food.
What: Bell 212 helicopter
Where: Vallecitos de Zaragoza Mexico
When: Dec 23
Who: one officer and nine soldiers onboard
Why: In the course of a drug sting, due to an undisclosed mechanical issue, the Bell helicopter crashed, injuring two and killing one. The specially manufactured Bell choppers is part of the ‘Merida Initiative’ engaged in fighting drug crimes.
What: United Heli Charters BELL 212 en route from Chennai to Pondicherry
Where: Sulerikattukuppam, at Soolerikadu near Mahabalipuram on East Coast Road
When: 9.30am. 22 December 2009
Who: 2 pilots and an engineer
Why: After developing a fuel transmission system problem ( pilot noticed a leak in the transmission) while over the sea, the helicopter descended to a lower altitude. However, the low altitude made communication with ATC difficult, and communication from ATC was triangulated through available aircraft who were able to make contact.
The helicopter made an emergency landing described as “force-landing” and “successful” in the sands near the beach–which hopefully means no injuries.
Sulerikattukuppam is a fishing hamlet off the East Coast Road
Pictured: A Gazpromavia Mil Mi-8MTV-1. The craft involved in the incident was a Mi-171
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Contact photographer Peter Taskaev
What: GazPromAvia Mil Mi-171 en route from Bovanenkovo to Vorkuta
Where: Vorkuta Russia
When: Dec 19 2009
Who: 22 passengers, 3 crew
Why: The helicopter made an emergency landing–described also as a forced landing, and a rough landing–4 kilometers from where the flight originated. Fourteen were hospitalized.
The incident is under investigation. It is suspected that the cause will be attributed to harsh weather conditions.
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Contact photographer Henry Jr Godding
What: Quebec television network TVA Robinson R44 Raven II Traffic helicopter
Where: Montreal, Quebec west of the Victoria Bridge, in the city’s south end 700 metres from Mel’s Studios, which has a helicopter landing strip
When: DEC 16, 2009 7:30 am
Who: pilot Antoine Léger and passenger journalist Réjean Léveillé
Why: TV network helicopter experienced engine problems and mechanical failure over a vacant lot, and crashed while attempting an emergency landing.
The helicopter had been refurbished; and the pilot has 12 years of flying experience.
There was no fire.
The pilot was able to exit on his own; he and the passenger suffered multiple fractures and were taken to Montreal General Hospital.
What: Robinson R44
Where: Moorabbin Airport, Australia
When: Dec 15, 2009, 10am
Who: pilot
Why: Pilot Geoffrey Edelsten was on his first solo, when the helicopter yawed quite violently to the left, to the right and into the ground. He sustained minor cuts.
Pictured: A Bristow Helicopters Nigeria Sikorsky S-92A Helibus
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Contact photographer Ken Iwelumo
What: helicopter en route to SeaBird Exploration’s seismic vessel Kondor Explorer
Where: Agbami field offshore Nigeria
When: Dec 11, 2009
Who: 18 on board (16 crew, 2 pilots)
Why: After the helicopter made a controlled “landing” and ditched into the sea, all 18 crew members aboard were rescued.
No word has been released about why the helicopter ditched.
The Agbami seismic project is run by Chevron.
