Helicopter

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    3 helicopters crash in Peru

    What: helicopter
    Where: La Convencion, Peru
    When: Thursday Oct 1 2009
    Who: pilot Luis Miguel Gonzales Aguilar, mechanic Sandro Tello Rios and the manager of the air company, Reynaldo Espinosa Fonseca
    Why: unresolved

    After three helicopter accidents occurred in two hours on Thursday, and Sunday’s accident with the plane that took off from Campo de Marte, the National Civil Aviation (ANAC) Allemander Pereira Filho has been ordered to implement an adequate surveillance system to see if the rules are complied with, and which will require stricter standards.

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    Nevada: Helicopter Crash hospitalizes 2


    Pictured: an R-44 Astro
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Jaroslaw Zaczek

    What: R-44 Astro Helicopter
    Where: Mount Charleston.NV
    When: Sept 26 2009, 7 p.m
    Who: pilot and 2 passengers
    Why: Currently the FAA report only says “A ROBINSON R44 ROTORCRAFT, CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, NEAR MOUNT CHARLESTON, NV.”

    Three people were rescued after the place crashed into the mountain and burst into flames. One person is being treated for burns, one for undisclosed foot injuries, and one person had no visible injuries.

    The accident is under investigation.

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    Helicopter Crashes Fundraiser

    What: helicopter
    Where: Tanglewood Golf Course in East Drumore Township
    When: September 26, 2009
    Who: pilot
    Why: The helicopter was attempting a special landing for a fundraising tournament when it clipped a statue on the golf course then crashed.

     

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    Helicopter Crash in UK

    What: Helicopter out of Blackpool Airport
    Where: Barnaby Sands on the Lancashire coast near Fleetwood.
    When: 23 September 2009
    Who: Pilot and student: Pilot Steven Lewis, 38, from Rainhill, Merseyside, died along with Philip Gray, 45, of Mawdesley, Lancashire.
    Why: The helicopter crashed on a training flight. The pilot issued a mayday based on engine troubles, and steered away from populated areas, hoping to find a softer landing.

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    Medical Helicopter Crashes After Delivering Patients


    PICTURED: a Eurocopter AS350B2
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Michal Nowicki

    What: OmniFlight American Eurocopter AS350B2 medical helicopter en route from Charleston to Conway
    Where: 63 miles southwest of Conway, S.C
    When: 2308 PM, ET on Friday, September 25, 2009
    Who: 3 person crew:p ilot, flight nurse and paramedic
    Why: The helicopter had dropped off a patient at about 9:35 p.m. Friday in Charleston. Thunderstorms were in the area at the time of the crash. The weather was described as “convective.”

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    Sikorsky Emergency Landing


    Pictured: A Cougar-Helicopter/Sikorsky-S-92A
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact photographer Michael Durning

    What: Cougar Sikorsky S-92 helicopter
    Where: Halifax airport
    When: Sept 23
    Who: 17 people on board
    Why: Chopper experienced engine failure in one of its engines while returning from an offshore rig. The helicopter landed safely and no one was injured.

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    Oregon R22; Canada R22


    Flicker image

    What: Hillsboro Aviation ROBINSON R22 BETA HELICOPTER
    Where: Fern Hill Wetlands, 2 miles south ofForest Grove, Washington County Oregon
    When: Sep 20, 2009
    Who: Two fatalities: Douglas Doty, a 34 year-old flight instructor from Beaverton, and Thomas Hagner, a 32-year-old student from Hillsboro.
    Why: The pilot lost control of the helicopter and crashed and caught on fire, according to witnesses at a nearby fruitstand and a farm. The difficult location made it difficult for rescue and safety personnel to reach the burning wreckage.

    What: ROBINSON R22 two-seater ROTORCRAFT en route from Island airport
    Where: Heritage Road and Steeles Avenue area of Brampton. GEORGETOWN, ONTARIO, CANADA
    When: 09/21/2009 Monday 8 pm
    Who: One fatality- pilot Keith Siversen
    Why: The helicopter is reported to have “careened out of control” in an orchard. It was owned by KEITH SIVERSEN with a temporary certificate expiring 03/05/2009.

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    Helicopter Crash in San Pasqual Valley

    What: Robinson R-44
    Where: Rancho Guejito, east of Lake Wohlford between Valley Center and Ramona in the San Pasqual Valley
    When: Sunday, September 20, 2009
    Who: pilot and passenger
    Why: passengers were airlifted to the Palomar Medical Center

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    Climber Rescue in Japan Goes Wrong


    Contact Photographer Shimizu Brothers

    What: Gifu Prefecture Bell 412 EP Ambulance/Rescue helicopter en route from Gifu Airbase.
    Where: Takayama, about 240 kilometers west of Tokyo.
    When: Sept 11 2009, 3:30pm (0630 GMT
    Who: four people (5 crew on board but at least one was on the mountain in the process of the rescue)
    Why: During an emergency rescue of a climber who collapsed with cardiopulmonary arrest while mountain climbing, the helicopter’s tail rotor hit the mountain; and it fell 400 meters into a ravine. 5 crew were originally on board, 2 crew off from the helicopter rappelling down.

    The climber and the three aboard the helicopter were pronounced dead at the scene.

    Please excuse the bad translation below but it is pretty much indecipherable unless we get names:

    Disaster Asakura Hitoshi County (57) (Kakamigahara, Gifu Prefecture), Miyoshi Hideho mechanic (47) (same), vice captain Gotou Atsushi (34) (Kasamatsu-cho, Hyogo Prefecture ) confirmed dead.

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    Mexican Crash Kills 2

    What: Armada de Mexico helicopter Russian-built MI-17 chopper en route from Veracruz to Mexico City
    Where: border between Veracruz and Puebla
    When: 10-SEP-2009
    Who: 2 fatalities, 3 injuries. The two dead are a lieutenant and a mechanic
    Why: No reason is given for the crash. The weather at the time was rainy and foggy with limited visibility. Survivors were taken to hospitalization facilities in Jalapa and Perote

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    FAA official Lost during Proficiency Check in Jackson MS

    What: Robinson R44 practicing aerial maneuvers operating out of Hawkins Field Airport
    Where: duplex-style house about half a mile east of Hawkins Field airport in Jackson, MississippI
    When: Tues September 1, 2009 at 1932
    Who: Two FAA officials, pilot Charles Farmer and pilot Larry Wells of Crystal Springs
    Why: While in the course of a standard pilot proficiency check, it appeared the helicopter was experiencing engine trouble and trying to land, when the helicopter fell from the sky, clipped a tree and crashed into the unoccupied half a duplex house in Jackson Mississippi. The two victims both of whom worked for the FAA were taken to the Mississippi Medical Center, where Charles Farmer died. Larry Wells sustained serious injuries.

    The 2007 R-44 Rotorcraft belonged to WEBB GROUP FLP of Jackson Ms.

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    Four Die in Italian Helicopter Crash

    What: dell’eliambulanza medical emergency service helicopter
    Where: Mount Cristallo/ Mount Faloria near Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
    When: Saturday, 22nd August 2009
    Who: 4 people on board: two engineers (co-pilot Marco Zago and Stefano da Forno), a doctor (Spaziani Fabrizio) and the pilot (Dario De Felipe)
    Why: The helicopter appeared to have hit a high voltage cable while flying in bad weather. The helicopter was in the process of responding to landslide near Rio Gere, towards Passo Tre Croci. Continued bad weather hampered recovery efforts.

    This would have been Zago’s last mission before transferring to another job.

    The remains have been recovered, however, and were taken to the hospitap mortuary in Cortina Codivilla. This hazardous area frequently requires mountain rescue services.

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    NY: Hudson River Crash Update


    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Tom Turner

    What: Piper PA-32 registered to LCA Partnership in Fort Washington, Pa flying out of Teteboro Airport to Ocean City and a Liberty Helicopter Sightseeing Tour Eurocopter AS 350
    Where: over the Hudson River between New York and Hoboken, New Jersey near West 14th Street
    When: Sat Aug 8 2009
    Who: Helicopter: 5 Italian tourists and a pilot;
    plane: pilot and 2 passengers (including a child)
    Why: The airplane flew into the helicopter. The impact (or rotors) severed off the plane’s wing. Both aircrafts are in the river. The helicopter is reported to have “dropped like a rock” when the aircrafts “clipped.”

    All bodies have been recovered.

    Though not necessarily considered directly responsible, two FAA employees (the plane’s air traffic controller and the ATC supervisor) have been put on administrative leave in connection with this crash. The ATC was engaged in inappropriate conversation, and the supervisor was not in the room as required.

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    R44 crashes in Maryland, 4 dead

    FlightAware Photo Photo Courtesy of FlightAware.com

    What: Advanced Helicopter Concepts MARSAN AVIATION ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER
    Where: FREDERICK, MD
    When: 07/23/2009 10:30 pm
    Who: Three of the victims worked for Advanced Helicopter Concepts, 1 passenger
    Why: AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND BURNED ON I-70 (MM37) AFTER STRIKING POWER LINES.

    Prior to the crash, the helicopter had been giving rides for a youth charity. It encountered power lines near or over Interstate 70, sparked, and hit the ground.

    Fatalities included:
    Kim R. Felix, 48, New Market

    Jeffrey D. Nordaas, 24, Columbia

    Niall R. Y. Booth, 43, New Market

    George H. Tutor, Jr., 39, Westminster

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    4 Helicopter Fatalities in Maryland

    What: a four-seat commercial Robinson R-44 in Maryland
    Where: west of the Washington County-Frederick County line, on the western slope of a ridge known as South Mountain, in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 70.
    When: Thursday night
    Who: 4 on board
    Why: After a night of storms and fog, Washington County emergency services got a call around 10:30 pm regarding the crash.

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    Helicopter Crash Kills 6 in Russia


    Pictured: a Gazprom Avia Mi-8 helicopter
    Click to view full size photo at Airliners.net
    Contact Photographer Senior

    What: Gazprom Avia chartered by Lukoil Oil company Russian-built Mi-8 helicopter
    Where: Volgograd
    When: July 22, 2009
    Who: 8 aboard: five engineers and one crew member killed. Two crewmembers survived
    Why: The helicopter crashed into the ground and burst into flames. The crash is attributed to engine failure.

    George’s Point of View

    Maintenance, Maintenance, maintenance

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    Helicopter Crashes after Tail Rotor Strikes Power Lines

    What: R44 Astro Helicopter en route to Nelson in rural Butte County
    Where: Near Yuba River, Marysville, California
    When: 07/13/2009 at 1700 hrs
    Who: 3 crew members aboard
    Why: N244HP, A ROBINSON R44 ROTORCRAFT, STRUCK A POWERLINE AND FORCE LANDED on its side 10 MILES FROM MARYSVILLE, CA on the bank of the South Yuba River.

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    Helicopter Lands in Lake

    What: Tonnesen Aviation’s Robinson R44
    Where: Y-Landing Marina on Meredith Neck, Lake Winnipesaukee
    When: May. 26, 2009 11:30 a.m.
    Who: 4 aboard
    Why: The helicopter was struck by wind gusts on approach to the landing pad, and landed in 15 foot water. Everyone made it safely to shore. Pilot was Glenn Tonnesen. Passengers include Phil Davidson.

    George’s Point of View

    I saw a comment online where someone cites the Robinson Helicopter Safety Notice:
    “Flying in high winds or turbulence should be avoided..”
    Sounds like a good idea to me.

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    Helicopter Crash in Santo Domingo

    What: Amable Aristy’s Enstrom E480B en route from Bavaro, Punta Cana to Isabela terminal at Higüero Santo Domingo
    Where: Batey Lechuga, Guaymate, La Romana province, Dominican Republic in a cane field
    When: noon
    Who: Miguel Perez and passenger
    Why: Cause unknown

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    Hawaii Helicopter Crash

    What: 25th Combat Aviation Brigade OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter
    Where: Hawaii Wheeler Army Airfield runway
    When: 3:34 p.m May 27 2009
    Who: 2 deaths
    Why: While two soldiers assigned to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade were running a maintenance test flight on the two seat rotor when the OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Helicopter made a hard-landing.

    *Col. Matthew Margotta:”the accident a “hard landing” because the pilots were in control of the aircraft when it went down.”

    George’s Point of View

    The helicopter in question has been in service since 1991. Isn’t this well past the date for a helicopter’s active duty?

  • Helicopter Down South of San Diego

    What: Carrier Air Wing 11 HH60 Navy Seahawk helicopter en route from the USS Nimitz
    Where 13 miles south of San Diego near the Coronado Islands
    When: 11:36 p.m. Tuesday
    Who: The bodies of three of the five people aboard have been recovered
    Why: The helicopter had been on a training exercise.

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    Bird Strikes Pilot in the Face


    What: Northern Colorado Med-Evac Bell 407 Helicopter en route from Greeley to a hospital south of Denver
    Where: two miles from Swedish Medical Center (landed at Centennial Airport)
    When: 1:10 a.m. Sunday May 17
    Who: The 4 people aboard were uninjured.
    Why: The helicopter made an emergency landing after a bird strike left a small hole in the front windshield. The bird actually struck the pilot in the face and ended up on the floor of the helicopter.

    The pilot and passengers were not injured. No word on the bird’s condition.

    The helicopter was repaired and is back in service. The neurology patient was driven the rest of the way to the hospital.

    George’s Point of View

    I love birds, but I wish they would stay away from our aircraft.

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    Injured Helicopter Pilot Flies to Med Center

    What: crop dusting helicopter
    Where: 1778 Richvale Highway, Richvale, Butte County California
    When: Wednesday May 13
    Who: pilot Craig Compton
    Why: The pilot (and business owner of Avag ) was moving the plane when it crashed into a building. Compton was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.

    AVAG’s business is aerial seeding.

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    Helicopter Crash in Kenyan Rift Valley


    Pictured: Kenyan Mi-17
    Contact photographer Guido Potters
    What: Russian-made Mi-17 helicopter
    Where: Rift Valley province, Kenya
    When: Monday May 11
    Who: 28 on board, including Kenyan Internal Security Assistant Minister Orwa Ojode, Police Commissioner Maj. Gen. Mohammed Ali, Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner Hassan Noor Hassan and journalists suffered injuries. Fifteen injured were taken to Nairobi Hospital.
    Why: When the helicopter developed mechanical problems and lost power, it crash landed in the Rift Valley. Fuel, flight voice and data recorders have been collected, and the Russian plane builders have been invited to join the investigation.

    (unverified) Popular opinion is that the helicopter was too old to still be in service.

    George’s Point of View

    Air safety in Kenya, especially for government officials, seems to be an oxymoron.

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    R-22 Engine Failure

    What: ROBINSON R22 ROTORCRAFT
    Where: WINTER HAVEN, FL
    When: 05/07/2009
    Who: pilot
    Why: A ROBINSON R22 ROTORCRAFT owned by “NOVEMBER ALPHA LLC” at 5657 WILSHIRE BLVD STE 330, REPORTED AN ENGINE FAILURE AND FORCE LANDED ON A PARKING LOT.