Hello,
with ref to A-Star BA into the Grand Canyon Wall (7 killed)...well, that's our beat, I'm just down the road. Suffice it to say, diplomatically in this forum, you A-Star drivers need NOT worry about some secret mechanical snafu on that bird. It had NIX to do with the machine I promise. Nada. That's all I'll say, except that I'm amazed it didn't happen much earlier...
Read the NTSB report "between the lines".
As regards crashworthiness of the A-Stars.... we had one hover taxi into wires (Guiness & the rubber bouncing ball), and it peeled wide open. I posted pics on the ALEA site. Roof lets go where it joins the windshield, and now you're pilot of a convertible. My 1st choice: don't crash. 2nd choice: H.500
3rd choice: Bell 206/OH58 27th choice: A-Star.
But they fly gorgeously.
Fly safe
