206 crash in Tennessee kills five

[rotornut]

Helicopter crash in Smoky Mountains kills 5 sightseers | CP24.com (http://www.cp24.com/world/helicopter-crash-in-smoky-mountains-kills-5-sightseers-1.2845431)

[klaus_a_e]

Does anyboy know if this was smoky mountain helicopters or the other company down the road?
I used to work for them ages ago...

[Airbubba]

It was a Bell 206 from Smoky Mountain Helicopters:

The owner of Smoky Mountain Helicopters says five people people died in the crash. The group was on a sight-seeing ride as part of a popular tourist activity. The crash happened on Rainbow Road in Sevierville.

The first call came in at 4:15 p.m.

Emergency responders from Pigeon Forge are working the scene.

According to the Smoky Mountains Helicopters' website, the company has been offering tours of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Cherokee, Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville and surrounding areas since 1964.


Owner of helicopter company says 5 deaths after crash (http://www.local8now.com/content/news/Helicopter-crashes-in-Sevier-County-374531161.html)

[Lonewolf_50]

Back in 1995, I took the kids to Gatlinburg. One of the events was us waiting in line for quite a while to take a helicopter sight seeing tour. It was of course too short, but a great job done by all who took care of us, and the kids loved it.


I think it was Smoky Mountain we flew on, but that might be a foggy memory.


RIP, prayers to all.

[twinstar_ca]

RIP to those killed and condolences to friends and family... and shame to the lawyer Mr. Robb who immediately is quoted as some pilots are noted to be reckless to thrill the pax... as Chef Ramsey would say, "piss off!!"

[rotornut]

Agree 100%. It came down pretty hard - mechanical failure?

[Airbubba]

Pigeon Forge Police identified the five victims of a fiery helicopter crash on Monday.

The pilot was Jason Dahl, 38, of Sevierville. The passengers were Johna Morvant, 49, from Kodak and her two children, Peyton and Parker Rasmussen with Huntersville, NC addresses. Also killed in the crash was Michael Glenn Mastalez, 21, of Prosper, Tex.

NTSB: Helicopter crash investigation could take 1 year | 11alive.com (http://www.11alive.com/news/local/ntsb-helicopter-crash-investigation-could-take-1-year/121591611)

Jason Dahl is the namesake of the captain on United 93 that crashed in the 9-11 attacks.

Video and transcript of today's NTSB briefing in this article:

Full video from NTSB briefing for Pigeon Forge helicopter crash | WATE 6 On Your Side (http://wate.com/2016/04/05/full-video-from-ntsb-briefing-for-pigeon-forge-helicopter-crash/)

From the briefing:

QUESTION: In your early fact finding, can you give us a sense of the experience of this pilot?

We’re in the process of gathering the pilot’s records. It’s my understanding we have located his log books and I just haven’t had the opportunity to review them yet. On his most recent FAA medical examination, which was in April of last year, he reported 550 total hours of flight experience and he also reported he had been flying about 300 hours every six months and that was about a year ago.


Does this job require only a yearly second class medical? How many hours does a pilot need these days to carry passengers for hire in a helo?

[aa777888]

Yes, second class. 150 hours total time minimum for a commercial certificate.

[Reely340]

Sure? In EASA land you need a CPL to do that AND therefore a class 1 medical.

[Niner Lima Charlie]

FAR 61.23 put very simply says:

ATP requires a 1st class medical
CPL is a second class
PPL is third class
Sport Pilot, Glider and Balloon either no medical or driver's license only.

Soon the U.S. Congress may make major changes to the Private Pilot rules to reduce or eliminate the required third-class medical for small single-engine airplanes.

[[email protected]]

Soon the U.S. Congress may make major changes to the Private Pilot rules to reduce or eliminate the required third-class medical for small single-engine airplanes. yes, because having a heart attack in one of those is soooo much safer................

[Frying Pan]

Whereas, having a CPL makes you immune from a heart attack?

A medical is really only good on the day you take it. Personally, we all share the same sky, there should be one medical for all. What the limits are though will divide the crowd.

Cheers FP

[[email protected]]

Whereas, having a CPL makes you immune from a heart attack? No, but the trends that appear in terms of risk factors help identify those most likely to have one and of course it isn't just heart attacks that compromise safety in the air.
There is already one medical for all and the limits and regularity are set.

[Radgirl]

err not really Crab. The requirements for an EASA Class 1 are not the same as a Class 2, and the time to renewal is different too. In the UK the requirements for a NPPL, which are the standard for an DVLA Group 2 driving license, effectively eliminate the vast majority of risk but avoid much of the cost and infrastructure for the Class 2. Indeed there have been mutterings that the Class 2 might go.

If the US is going down a similar route which will reduce costs and help people to remain flying in small aircraft with an acceptable level of risk to third parties, I believe it should be supported.

However knowing US legislators......