"Medical evacuation helecopter crashed"
Additional information, plus three links.
Radio tower stabilized -- chicagotribune.com
cbs2chicago.com - Slideshows
Fixing the radio tower :: Suburban Chicago News :: Photo Gallery
RJ
{Courtesy of Wireless Estimator. }
Train station video confirms that tower's lighting system was operating prior to fatal crash
October 23, 2008 - Last week's fatal Air Angels helicopter crash in Aurora, IL was not caused by the absence of obstruction lighting on the guyed tower that the chopper struck, according to a preliminary report being issued by the National Transportation Safety Board.
NTSB investigator John Brannen said yesterday that strobe lights on the tower owned by WBIG-AM were operating prior to the helicopter's rotor clipping a guy wire and killing four people when it crashed.
That determination came from video shot by a parking lot surveillance camera two miles away at the Route 59 train station, which was turned over to authorities earlier this week.
"At the approximate time the collision occurred, the lights stop blinking," Brannen said, suggesting that the lights were knocked out by damage from the crash. When fire and police personnel responding to the crash just before midnight on Oct. 15 saw no lights on the tower, some wondered whether lack of lighting had contributed to the crash.
The video did not show the tower or the helicopter, but provided coverage of the flashes of the lighting system.
The 750-foot tower had two levels of white obstruction lights.
WBIG President Rick Jakle says he never doubted the lights were on, though he was relieved to hear the tape supported his belief.
"Those lights are extremely reliable," he said. "They don't go out unless there is a thunderstorm or lightning. We're happy to hear the corroborating evidence, but the fact is, we knew they were on."
Last edited by RJ Kanary; 9th Nov 2008 at 01:18.
Reason: Forgot One Link.