What: six-seat American Eurocopter AS350 used by News Channel 8, St. Petersburg
Where: Tierra Verde
When: September 11, 2008
Who: Pilot/reporter Judd Chapin and photographer Cliff McBride
Why: After a warning light come on indicating hydraulic problems, the helicopter landed safely at Albert Whitted Airport in St. Petersburg for repairs.
A US Navy Sikorsky MH-53E Sea Dragon crashed off a Norfolk Virginia beach, killing one of five aboard. The helicopter was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron Fourteen.
Three were injured and hospitalized at at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. A rescue team is searching for one crewman who is still missing.
Photo: A Military Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Contact photographer Anthony Osborne
What: US Army Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Where: SW training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord
When: Dec 12, 2011
Who: 2 occupants, 2 fatalities
What: US Army Bell OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Where: SW training area of Joint Base Lewis-McChord
When: Dec 12, 2011 8 pm
Who: 2 occupants, 2 fatalities
Why: Two two-seat reconnaissance “Scout”choppers crashed during routine exercises at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, a few miles from Ranier Washington. Four individuals died in the event. Two were injured. It has not been released if the two injured were aboard, or if the choppers collided.
The remains were taken to Madigan Army Medical Center.
The debris field covered 300 meters. Military vehicles were securing the scene.
The Fort Rucker, Alabama Combat Readiness Center is coordinating the investigation, beginning with a six member team.
A Bell Jet Ranger helicopter crashed on a big rock on Mount Cook, near Cooktown in north Queensland, Australia, on October 7.
Apparently, the helicopter got caught in a strong gust of wind which caused it to flip shortly after it took off about 12:45 p.m.
There were 6 people aboard the helicopter at the time of accident. One of them was airlifted to Townsville Hospital, while another man, aged 60, was taken to Cooktown Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A 40-year-old passenger was also taken to Cooktown Hospital but was later discharged.
The other 3 people aboard remained uninjured.
A bird-struck helicopter had to land in emergency at the West 30th Street heliport on the Hudson River, New York City, on the afternoon of October 3.
According to the FAA, the Bell B407 helicopter was hit by a bird while it was some 6 miles west-southwest of LaGuardia Airport.
The helicopter belongs to an aerial tour company. According to the General manager Kathleen Wiig, the incident happened when the helicopter was flying at around 1,500 feet and that the protocol requires immediate landing in such situations.
There were 7 people on-board at the time of incident, none of them required any medical attention.
The FAA is investigating.
A bird strike on the HH-60G Pave Hawk at 110ft at 126mph caused the crash of a helicopter on a moonlight training mission on the Norfolk Wildlife Trust reserve, killing staff Sgt Afton Ponce, Capt Christopher Stover, Technical Sgt Dale Matthews and Capt Sean Ruane.
The crew was confirmed dead at the scene. The investigation has begun, and there is a fund opened for them.
A number of twelve pound geese struck the helicopter after the flock flew up alarmed by the noise.
The USAF chopper was flying out of Lakenheath in Suffolk.
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.
