Helicopter Experiences Hard Landing in California
February 2, 2010
Helicopter Experiences Hard Landing in California
An Arrow Falcon Exporters OH-58A helicopter landed hard in an orchard in Escalon, California on February 2, 2010. Shortly after takeoff the commercial pilot, who was flying for Cavanagh Flying Service, noticed the generator light was illuminated and the helicopter was also vibrating.
Shortly after relaying the message of the helicopter’s vibrations the pilot said “I’m going down.” The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The helicopter landed hard impacting terrain and sustained damage to the entire fuselage.
The helicopter wreckage was retained for further investigation.
Non-Fatal Hard Helicopter Landing in California
A commercial helicopter pilot flying for S and S Helicopters was in a Hiller UH-12E helicopter on February 2, 2010 when it landed hard near Los Banos, California.
The pilot had completed an aerial application of a wheat field and was returning to the landing area when the helicopter’s engine did not respond. The commercial pilot twisted the throttle, however the speed of the helicopter would not change. The pilot aborted the landing and steered the helicopter to a larger open field where he attempted to diagnose the problem by continuing to twist the throttle with no response from the helicopter.
The commercial helicopter pilot decided to perform a run-on landing. During this landing the helicopter’s speed began to decrease and the helicopter landed hard in the field.
Post-landing of the helicopter showed the tailboom separated from the aft bulkhead and the lower fuselage sustained damage.
After investigation into the crash, it was determined the throttle control lever was separated from the cam lever rod bearing, and thereby causing it to fail.
January 22, 2010
Helicopter Crash Near Shafter California
A commercial pilot operating a helicopter for Inland Crop Dusters, Inc., had to make a forced landing near Shafter, California on January 22, 2010.
While maneuvering over a field, the pilot noticed a ”pop” and then a “yaw” from the helicopter. The pilot then immediately forced a hard landing in the field.
Further examination of the helicopter showed the main rotor blades contacted and severed the tail boom, as well as the engine was separated from its mounts.
January 18, 2010
Pilot Escapes Helicopter Crash in New York
A pilot narrowly escapes a helicopter crash in New York City, New York, when the helicopter he was flying was experiencing unusual vibration on January 18, 2010.
The pilot was on a cruise flight near Chelsea Pier, when he experienced the vibrations coming from the airframe, the anti-torque pedals, and cyclic. He landed the helicopter at the West 30th Street Heliport (JRA). The vibrations remained constant throughout the flight and increased upon landing as the rotor’s rpms’ were decreasing.
Upon successful landing of the helicopter, representatives of Liberty Helicopter and the FAA inspected the helicopter for damage. Inspection revealed a hole in the right side of the tail boom and the tail cone was also damaged. Also found was the pitch change link of one tail rotor blade which was not connected to the blade control horn. The FAA retained the tail rotor for further examination.
Maintenance records on January 11, 2010, revealed the tail rotor pitch change spider bearing was taken off and replaced because it is a life limited item.
January 11, 2010
Helicopter Crash Kills Tycoon in Mexico
One of Mexico’s leading entrepreneurs, Moises Saba Masri, and his wife and son have been killed in a helicopter crash about 35 miles west of Mexico City.
The helicopter crashed in what is believed to have been a very heavy fog. The pilot, Armando Fernandez, also died in the crash.
Witnesses report seeing the helicopter flying very low, clipping a multi-story house, then plunging into a ravine where it crashed, exploded, killing everyone on board.
Moises Saba Masri was a member of one of Mexico’s wealthiest families. Mr. Masri was a director of many business and had most of his fortune in real estate.
January 8, 2010
3 Survive in Idaho Helicopter Crash
A second helicopter crashed in less than two weeks in Boise, Idaho.
The helicopter was carrying two biologists who were reportedly studying elk, wolves, and moose as a part of wolf predation study, when the helicopter they were riding in had engine problems and crashed.
Two of the men walked away from the helicopter crash with minor injuries, while the the pilot suffered from back injuries and a broken arm. Since the helicopter crashed in a remote location, the pilot had to be med-evaced in an alternate helicopter to the hospital for treatment.
The helicopter crash comes after another one approximately two weeks ago where four people were killed.
January 5, 2010
Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in California Kills Four
NTSB Identification: WPR10GA097
14 CFR Public Use
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 05, 2010 in Auberry, CA
Aircraft: BELL 206B, registration: N5016U
Injuries: 4 Fatal.
On January 5, 2010, at 1209 Pacific standard time, a Bell 206B, N5016U, collided with power lines near Auberry, California. The helicopter was registered to Palm Springs Aviation, Inc., and operated by the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) as a public-use, deer surveying flight. The certificated commercial pilot and three passengers were killed. The helicopter was destroyed by post crash fire. The local flight departed Trimmer Heliport, Trimmer, California, at 1006. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site, and a company flight plan had been filed.
Helicopter Crash Details
At the time of the accident two witnesses, who were law enforcement officers for the United States Forest Service, were located on a north facing ridge at the confluence of Willow Creek and the San Joaquin River. Both officers observed the helicopter emerge from a valley to the north, and fly southbound along Willow Creek directly towards their location. The valley was spanned from the east to west by power transmission lines. The officers reported that the helicopter continued through the valley, in straight and level flight, on a trajectory towards the power lines. As the helicopter came within the immediate vicinity of the lines it, ‘reared back’ and then began an immediate descent, colliding with the ground. The officers reported that prior to the accident the helicopter was not emitting smoke, and did not appear to be in distress. The officers stated that the weather at the time of the accident was clear, with a few high scattered clouds, and light winds out of the north.
The main wreckage came to rest on the valley floor of Willow Creek, at an approximate elevation of 1,200 feet mean sea level (msl). The elevation of the valley peaks directly to the east and west of the site was about 2,500 feet msl. The bases of the power line towers were at an approximate elevation of 1,600 feet msl, and separated by a span of 2,900 feet. The lines consisted of three parallel power transmission lines, which hung between the towers about 3/4 of the distance from their bases. The tops of the towers were spanned by two parallel, ’static’ ground lines. Examination of the static line to the south revealed that it had severed approximately midspan, and had become entangled in the remaining lines.
The main wreckage, which consisted of the cabin, tailboom, and tail rotor, came to rest inverted at an approximate elevation of 1,200 msl, 100 feet south of the power lines’ midspan point. The entire cabin area was fire consumed. The main transmission and mast were located about 300 feet north of the main wreckage. The main rotor assembly, consisting of the entire ‘red’ blade, hub, and inboard section of the ‘white’ blade, came to rest on the adjacent banks of Willow Creek, about 90 feet northwest of the main wreckage. A 4-foot-long outboard section of the white main rotor blade was located 1,100 feet south of the main rotor assembly.
Examination of the main rotor blades revealed leading edge gouges, with abrasion marks consistent in appearance with the severed static line. The helicopter was equipped with a wire strike protection system. Examination of the systems cutting surfaces revealed them to be sharp and free of scratches, gouges, and abrasions. All major sections of the helicopter were accounted for at the accident site.
This is the preliminary NTSB report for the Bell 206B Helicopter Crash in Auberry, California that killed four on January 05, 2010.
October 4, 2009
Memorial for Flight Crew Killed in Crash
Conway, SC - More than a week after a deadly helicopter crash in Georgetown, hundreds gathered at Coastal Carolina University to say goodbye.
Flying was more than their job; it was a part of their lives.
“Diana, Patrick and Claxton helped make our world better and I am truly grateful,” Bob Peiser, CEO of OmniFlight, said. OmniFlight is the owner of the medical helicopter that crashed on September 25, 2009.
In the air, 45 year old Patrick Walters, 39 year old Claxton Dove and 42 year old Diana Connor were part of a medical helicopter crew that flew critical need patients to hospitals for care.
Officials say on their way back from dropping off a patient at MUSC, their helicopter crashed just south of Georgetown.
Sunday’s memorial was a chance for the public to grieve with the families and a chance for those families to say goodbye.
“He lived life to the fullest, never looking back,” Will Dove, Claxton Dove’s brother said. “Rest in peace my brother. This world was a better place because of you.”
“He was a man, a legend and a pilot,” Patrick Walter’s friend Chuck Petrill said. “He would be the guy that would pull over on the side of the road and help a person change a tire even if he didn’t know them.”
“Diana’s life was an example of love itself unconditional from its beginning and sacrificial until its end,” Megan Gunn, Diana Connor’s friend, said.
The NTSB is still investigating the cause of that crash and the investigation could take up to a year.
October 23, 2008
Italian Sikorsky Helicopter Crash Kills 8
An Italian military Sikorsky HH3F helicopter crashed in eastern France today, killing all on board. The Sikorsky HH3F Helicopter was operated by the Italian coastguard and used as a search and rescue aircraft. The helicopter crashed and exploded in flames. According to local accident officials, there is no known cause of the crash. The polits and passengers appear to have died instantly in the crash and firey explosion.
The helicopter, which Italian newspapers said had taken off from Rimini, was taking part in a joint Franco-Italian exercise, said the Ministry of Defence in Rome. “It caught fire at 4.30pm local time in open countryside not far from Strasbourg. It was completely destroyed. We still don’t know the causes,” an Italian military spokesman said. There was no immediate word on the identity of the crew and passengers. [Oct 23, 2008]
October 13, 2008
Houston News Helicopter Crash
KTRK ABC News 13 Helicopter Crash
KTRK, a leading telivision news station in Houston, Texas, reported today that their news helicopter crashed. The helicopter pilot and television camera operator died Monday while on their way to cover a news story. The news helicopter crashed in a wooded area near Conroe, Texas. According to local reports, the crash caused a small fire in the wooded area near the crash.
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