Wow... this thing has really heated up now - all based on RUMOURS of what happened and how. The only FACTS so far on the issue is probably the NTSB report which I include below. The little picture that somebody posted showing the 412 turning low level around a point is definately no evidence of a person getting killed. That little hump on it could be anything but a human being. I am not trying to defend the pilot or the operation as such, but there is a lot of mudslinging going on here, all based on "hear say". If we could stick with the facts would benefit the discussion.
sp
Quote:
NTSB Identification: CHI02LA232
Accident occurred Friday, August 02, 2002 at Rantoul, IL
Aircraft:Bell 412, registration: N464AC
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 10 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On August 2, 2002, at 1952 central daylight time, a Bell 412, N464AC, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was taking off from the Rantoul National Aviation Center-Frank Elliot Field Airport (TIP), Rantoul Illinois, with a load of skydivers, when its tail rotor struck a photographer on the ground. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 business flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot and nine passengers were uninjured. The photographer was fatally injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.