State Police Helo Crash Charlottesville Virginia
Wait a sec, Fairfax County, the county where I went to high school for a couple of years, is about 2 hours by road north of Charlottesville. (With traffic these days, a bit more?) About 100 miles as the crow flies, give or take a bit, and a bit more down route 29.
I am not sure why Fairfax County cops are operating out of their jurisdiction? (Was the helo on loan to the Virginia State law enforcement effort? I imagine there are a variety of inter departmental agency MOUs on stuff like that).
In any case, very sorry to see these folks lost while doing their duty.
I am not sure why Fairfax County cops are operating out of their jurisdiction? (Was the helo on loan to the Virginia State law enforcement effort? I imagine there are a variety of inter departmental agency MOUs on stuff like that).
In any case, very sorry to see these folks lost while doing their duty.
(Granted, it is not an impoverished county by any means ....)
Cheers SLB
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An update from the NTSB:
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-rele...R20170814.aspx
NTSB Update on Investigation Into Crash of Virginia State Police Helicopter
8/14/2017
WASHINGTON (Aug. 14, 2017) — The NTSB released an update Monday into its ongoing investigation of the crash of a Virginia State Police helicopter that occured on Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The purpose of the accident flight was to provide a continuous video feed of activities on the ground, which was accomplished with multiple helicopters.
The accident helicopter (N31VA), was a Bell 407, manufactured in 2000. It departed Charlottesville airport at 3:54 pm ET and was over the downtown area at 4:04 pm and engaged in mission-related activities there until 4:42, at which time it departed the area to provide support for a motorcade carrying Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
The last observed radar coverage indicates that the accident helicopter was traveling north/northeast at about 30 knots (34 mph) at an altitude of 2,300 feet. The first 911 call reporting the crash was received at 4:44 pm. The crash site is about 7 miles southwest of the Charlottesville airport.
The helicopter’s vertical flight path was about 45 degrees when it descended into trees. The main wreckage came to rest about 100 yards from where the aft portion of the tail boom became lodged in a tree.
There was a post-crash fire.
The was no distress call from the accident helicopter.
The NTSB and the Virginia State Police are interviewing witnesses who reported seeing the helicopter in flight shortly before the crash.
The helicopter was not equipped with a flight data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder, nor was it required to be.
Investigators are working with local authorities today to recover the helicopter wreckage to a secure location where additional examination and documentation can be conducted.
The NTSB has been working closely with the Virginia State Police and appreciates it efforts to support the NTSB investigation.
A preliminary report detailing the facts and circumstances of the crash that have been developed in this early stage of the investigation will be available on the NTSB website within 2-3 weeks.
The entire investigation is expected to last 12-18 months.
8/14/2017
WASHINGTON (Aug. 14, 2017) — The NTSB released an update Monday into its ongoing investigation of the crash of a Virginia State Police helicopter that occured on Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The purpose of the accident flight was to provide a continuous video feed of activities on the ground, which was accomplished with multiple helicopters.
The accident helicopter (N31VA), was a Bell 407, manufactured in 2000. It departed Charlottesville airport at 3:54 pm ET and was over the downtown area at 4:04 pm and engaged in mission-related activities there until 4:42, at which time it departed the area to provide support for a motorcade carrying Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
The last observed radar coverage indicates that the accident helicopter was traveling north/northeast at about 30 knots (34 mph) at an altitude of 2,300 feet. The first 911 call reporting the crash was received at 4:44 pm. The crash site is about 7 miles southwest of the Charlottesville airport.
The helicopter’s vertical flight path was about 45 degrees when it descended into trees. The main wreckage came to rest about 100 yards from where the aft portion of the tail boom became lodged in a tree.
There was a post-crash fire.
The was no distress call from the accident helicopter.
The NTSB and the Virginia State Police are interviewing witnesses who reported seeing the helicopter in flight shortly before the crash.
The helicopter was not equipped with a flight data recorder or a cockpit voice recorder, nor was it required to be.
Investigators are working with local authorities today to recover the helicopter wreckage to a secure location where additional examination and documentation can be conducted.
The NTSB has been working closely with the Virginia State Police and appreciates it efforts to support the NTSB investigation.
A preliminary report detailing the facts and circumstances of the crash that have been developed in this early stage of the investigation will be available on the NTSB website within 2-3 weeks.
The entire investigation is expected to last 12-18 months.
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So I suggest we ground all the Bell 407 hellos, as some Air Forces just did with their Tiger combat helicopters after a fatal crash in Africa ....
Or maybe it has been shot down ? .... ?
Or maybe it has been shot down ? .... ?
30 Knots @ 2300 Feet (probably MSL) and not all that high off the ground in reality as Charlottesville is near some high ground with some mountain ridges in the vicinity.
I suppose we shall see that situation play a significant role in whatever happened.
I suppose we shall see that situation play a significant role in whatever happened.
The crash site was reported to be on Old Farm Road which appears to be just on the North Western side of Charlottesville and about 7 miles on the extended centreline of Rw 21/03 at the airport.
The elevation from google earth seems to be about 200m.
The elevation from google earth seems to be about 200m.
And the 30 kts Ground Speed?
Depends why the Tail departed doesn't it!
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People who know say the VSP mechanic who serviced the accident Helo claims crash was caused by catastrophic main rotor (assembly) failure. Hence, the chopped tail boom. Just what we are being told...
I suppose we shall see that situation play a significant role in whatever happened.
Sounds at least not inconsistent at all to the bits of information we have so far.
NTSB Preliminary Report released.
https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=FA
It would appear at some point there was low Main Rotor RPM, the MR Blades cut off the Tail Boom....witnesses saw the aircraft hover, oscillate in the roll axis, then spin right, and pitch down before being lost to sight.
The report removed the possibility of a mid-air collision with another aircraft or drone.
https://app.ntsb.gov/pdfgenerator/Re...relim&IType=FA
It would appear at some point there was low Main Rotor RPM, the MR Blades cut off the Tail Boom....witnesses saw the aircraft hover, oscillate in the roll axis, then spin right, and pitch down before being lost to sight.
The report removed the possibility of a mid-air collision with another aircraft or drone.
Last edited by SASless; 6th Sep 2017 at 12:59.
Thanks for the link, SASless, TRGB was intact, had oil in it, and no chips. Tail boom severed. As of this report, still a few more questions than answers. With the fire damage a tough one for the investigators to sort out. If the boom was cut in flight, the abrupt change in CG (and the horizontal stab being lost) would likely lead to a serious nose down pitch, would it not?
It would indeed cause a huge CG Shift....forward.
The answer will be in determining why the Main Rotor hit the Tail Boom.
The answer will be in determining why the Main Rotor hit the Tail Boom.
If anyone has arrangement illustrations of the tail drive and control system, it would be helpful. One thing jumped out to me was the shearing of the TRDS section 3 being missing, with only an end cap found with sheared rivets. If by 'end cap' they are referring to the end portion of the drive rather than an environmental cap, then shearing rivets could be a sign of torque overload as well as simply being ripped out. The direction of loading on the rivets, if indicating rotational, can be a clue. Like these all are, the challenge for the investigating team is to determine what fractures preceded others. Troubling that they have not located one bearing and a shaft.