Bad week for the industry

[Ian Corrigible]

The Palamar (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/570827-sad-incident-palamar-today.html) and Fox glacier (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/570902-nz-chopper-crash-fox-glacier.html) accidents have already been covered in depth, but -- as some of us sit down to tuck into our annual turkey (/tofurky) -- a pause to reflect on what has been a septimana horribilis for the industry:

November 26: 13 (?) killed in crash of Turuhan Avia Mi-8 operated for Rosneft (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34931374)
November 24: 3 killed in crash of Valan International Mi-17 operated for Aircraft Charter Solutions in Afghanistan; 13 soldiers reportedly captured by the Taliban (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-34918337)
November 24: 1 killed as Russian Air Force Mi-8 hit by ground fire (http://www.wsj.com/articles/jet-downing-exposes-limits-of-russian-force-in-syria-analysts-say-1448493373) (and subsequently destroyed by ATGM or mortar (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/571041-breaking-news-sky-2.html#post9190389)) during attempt to rescue crew of downed Su-24 in Syria
November 24: Pawan Hans AS365 written off (albeit without fatalities) during brownout crash (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/PawanHans-chopper-meets-with-an-accident-in-Nagaland/articleshow/49908639.cms), 3 weeks after the fatal crash of another Dauphin (http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/570144-india-pawanhans-n3-ditching-any-more-info.html)
November 23: 7 killed in crash of Himalyan Heli Services AS350 B3 ferrying pilgrims, reportedly after birdstrike on tail rotor (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Helicopter-crash-kills-seven-near-Katra/articleshow/49890767.cms)
November 23: 4 killed in U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk crash during training exercise at Fort Hood (http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/11/24/us-military-texas-idUSKBN0TD1P520151124)
November 23: 2 killed in U.S. Army AH-64 Apache crash in South Korea (http://www.pprune.org/military-aviation/571009-apache-lost-korea.html)
November 22: 2 killed in crash of Emerald Pacific Airlines Bell 206B in Taiwan during powerline work (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2015-11/22/content_22508963.htm)
I/C

[dangermouse]

PIP Herb and Pietro

DM:(

[Bladestrike]

Yeah, very bad week. My good friend Juan, rest in peace....

Bodies of Coca Cola exec, pilot recovered after chopper crash on Costa Rica-Nicaragua border - Inside Costa Rica | Inside Costa Rica (http://insidecostarica.com/2015/11/19/body-coca-cola-exec-pilot-recovered-chopper-crash-costa-rica-nicaragua-border/)

[SilsoeSid]

There are many incidents that don't get a blip the Pprune radar screens;

I find entering "helicopter" in the news section of google to be a good way of finding out about the many incidents around the world. Perhaps people don't want to post for fear of being accused of robbo bashing. (other rotary incidents are occasionaly available)

[AnFI]

no Robbies on that list

[tottigol]

Robbies don't make the news anymore.

[aa777888]

no Robbies on that list

Good observation!

[SilsoeSid]

no Robbies on that list
Good observation!

Just because there aren't any on that list …. remember this is the interweb and you shouldn't believe that all lists are complete :roll eyes:

During that same period ...

November 21 https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nrk.no%2Fvestfold%2Fhelikopterulykke-pa-torp-1.12665796&edit-text=&act=url
'Two people were aboard the helicopter (R22) when the accident happened early Saturday afternoon. Both the pilot and the student is taken to medical facility for check after the accident, but police said appeared both as unharmed after the accident.
The helicopter went down during training flight'

November 22 https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&sl=ja&tl=en&u=http://news.tbs.co.jp/newseye/tbs_newseye2641571.html
'A helicopter crashed in a mountain side at just north of Yokokawa service area, Joshin-etsu expressway. Two occupants received fatal injuries. A doctor helicopter could carry ocupants to the hospital, however, a TV helicopter could not reach the accident site due to low clouds and low visibility. So, the weather may be a factor of the accident. An eyewitness reports that the R22 was circling in the foggy air just before the impact.'

Just the seven robbo incidents so far this month.

[[email protected]]

Good observation! But wrong!

[SilsoeSid]

November 28th - Egypt military helicopter crashes near Cairo (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/egypt-military-helicopter-crashes-as-police-killed-in-drive-by-shooting-near-cairo-a6752481.html)

Mohamed Samir, a spokesperson for the armed forces, said the helicopter went down on the desert road from Ismailia to Cairo at 9.25am (7.25am GMT) today.
He said it was conducting a surveillance mission when a “technical malfunction” caused it to suddenly lose altitude in a rural area in Giza governate.




November 29th - Four people were killed in the crash of a light AS350 helicopter in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region (http://rbth.com/news/2015/11/29/4-killed-in-helicopter-crash-in-khanty-mansi-autonomous-region_545529)

Four people were killed in the crash of a light AS350 helicopter in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region on Nov. 29, press service head of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry department in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region Vadim Simonenko told Interfax.

"A district police officer who arrived at the crash scene confirmed that four out of five people onboard were dead. Information about another person is being verified, he said.

"The helicopter suffered heavy damage; it burst into pieces," Simonenko said.

According to earlier reports, the AS350 helicopter crash-landed 65 kilometers from Khanty-Mansiysk, near the town of Kedrovoye.

[SilsoeSid]

November 30th - A pilot and three passengers had to be plucked off Mt Tarawera after their helicopter's tail rotor struck a rock and broke off (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11553516)

http://media.nzherald.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/201549/SCCZEN_301115sp22_620x310.jpg

Emergency services were called about 2pm today when a Volcanic Air Safaris helicopter landed heavily on the summit of Mt Tarawera.

The company's managing director, Phil Barclay, told the Rotorua Daily Post it appeared the tail rotor struck a rock and broke off when it was close to landing.

He said no one was hurt and the helicopter only suffered minor damage.

"It's certainly not going to be an expensive fix from what we gather at the moment."

[SilsoeSid]

November 30th - Mi-2 Helicopter Crash-Landing in Russia's Far East Kills One Aboard (http://sputniknews.com/russia/20151130/1030964419/helicopter-crash-landing.html)

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – According to Kamchatka’s minister of special programs, the crash happened at about 9:40 a.m. local time [06:40 GMT].
"The landing gear was broken and the hull was damaged during the landing. Two injured persons were brought to the Yelizovsky district hospital. One person died of the sustained injuries," Sergey Habarov stated.
Emergency services, rescuers and investigators are currently at the crash site.
The reasons of the tragic incident are unknown so far.
Engine failure is one of the preliminary versions of the catastrophe.

[SilsoeSid]

December 01st - Two injured when helicopter (R22) crashes near Venice airport (http://www.tbo.com/Local/CommunityNews/two-injured-when-helicopter-crashes-near-venice-airport-20151202/) more (http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/private-helicopter-makes-rough-emergency-landing-south-of-venice-airport/article_ef1eda36-987a-11e5-9146-8b704a79e266.html)

December 02nd - Two people have tragically died in a helicopter (R44) crash this morning in Musina. (http://letabaherald.co.za/16656/breaking-news-two-die-in-helicopter-crash/)

December 02nd - Two pilots flying an AH-64D Apache from Fort Campbell were killed when the helicopter crashed during a training exercise Wednesday. (http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2015/12/02/montgomery-co-officials-searching-reported-helicopter-down/76699254/)

RiP
:(

[Ian Corrigible]

Stretching somewhat beyond the original intent of this thread, but since Sid mentions this week's Apache fatal:

Army grounds all aircraft after recent crashes (http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/12/04/army-grounds-all-aircraft-after-recent-crashes.html)

I/C

[SilsoeSid]

December 07: MD 600N Two Survive Helicopter Crash in Brazoria County (http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/2-Survive-Helicopter-Crash-in-Brazoria-County-Cause-Sought-360851281.html)

With pics;
http://m.chron.com/houston/article/Helicopter-crash-in-Brazoria-County-6681651.php#photo-9075186

[SilsoeSid]

December 10 - 4 dead in California medical helicopter crash - Bell 407 (http://www.localsyr.com/news/local-news/4-dead-in-california-medical-helicopter-crash_)

4 dead in crash of medical helicopter in Central California | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3355583/4-dead-crash-medical-helicopter-Central-California.html)
BREAKING: Medivac helicopter from Fresno missing east of (http://www.kerngoldenempire.com/news/breaking-medivac-helicopter-from-fresno-missing-east-of-mcfarland)

FRESNO, Calif. (AP) — A medical helicopter crashed Thursday night amid heavy rain and fog in Central California, killing all four people aboard, officials said.
The SkyLife air ambulance had a pilot, a nurse a paramedic and a patient aboard when it went down, American Ambulance General Manager Todd Valeri said at a news conference.
The helicopter was headed from Porterville Municipal Airport to San Joaquin Community Hospital in Bakersfield when it crashed, Kern County fire officials said. Officials did not say why the patient was being taken to the hospital, and the names of the dead are being withheld until family members can be informed.
The crash site was remote field on private property outside of the town of McFarland about halfway into the trip, officials said.
There was dense fog and heavy rain in the area and it wasn't clear whether it caused the crash, but "weather conditions are always a factor," Valeri said.
"This was a safe, experienced crew," he said.
The weather also made it difficult to find and reach the site, and rescue crews didn't get there for more than two hours after the helicopter went missing.



Fresno County officials said the Sky Life helicopter left Porterville Airport with a critical patient at 6:52 p.m. PST. The chopper was headed to San Joaquin Community Hospital according to Fresno County.
At approximately 7:05 PST the Fresno County EMS dispatch center was unable to make radio contact with Sky Life 4, while making a routine safety check which Fresno County said they do every 10 minutes when the helicopters are in the air.

[Vertical Freedom]

India Helicopter Crash Leaves Seven Dead, Including Newlyweds : News : Headlines & Global News (http://www.hngn.com/articles/153020/20151123/india-helicopter-crash-leaves-seven-dead-including-newlyweds.htm)

I knew this Lady Pilot who was a grand professional, may She & those killed Rest in Peace