L.A. Production company crash - Three dead - Video 10th Feb 13

[fly911]

TV Reality show helicopter down. Three dead. Reportedly 206B

Report video: Photo and image hosting, free photo galleries, photo editing (http://s135.beta.photobucket.com/user/fly911/media/3KilledInHelicopterCrashInActonlaquoCBSLosAngeles_zps5c91607 4.mp4.html#/user/fly911/media/3KilledInHelicopterCrashInActonlaquoCBSLosAngeles_zps5c91607 4.mp4.html?&_suid=136055786841805307701849166687)

3 killed in helicopter crash on Acton reality TV set - LA Daily News (http://www.dailynews.com/ci_22559225/three-killed-acton-helicopter-crash?source=most_emailed)

http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2013/0210/20130210__BW_DN11-COPTER-CRAS+PC7BUHP.JPG

[mickjoebill]

Early reports that it occurred at 03.40am PST

"All three men in their 40s aboard the Bell 206B Jet Ranger helicopter died as a result of being thrown from it as it crashed, KTLA 5 in Los Angeles reported. "

"The helicopter crashed into an open field," Los Angeles County Fire Department Capt. Martin Smith said. "They did have camera equipment on board the helicopter, and there were ground cameras nearby." No injuries or damage were reported on the ground, and the crash did not result in a fire.

Pilot, a cast member and the cameraman have been named here...

Helicopter Crash Kills 3 TV Crew Members - NYTimes.com (http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/helicopter-crash-kills-3-tv-crew-members/)

Aerial view of scene here
"Movie Ranch" Helicopter Crash Kills 3 | NBC Southern California (http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Helicopter-Crash-Kills-Three--190587061.html)

:{

[Capt JB]

Guys,
Read in the news a Chopper went downs with three killed onboard. Sad news, as I met the pilot many years ago, in some hollywood sets..
Anyone can confirm..??
TIA:(

[beamender99]

Helicopter crash on California 'movie ranch' kills 3 - CNN.com (http://edition.cnn.com/2013/02/10/us/california-helicopter-crash/index.html)

Acton helicopter crash: Victims identified | abc7.com (http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?id=8989203&section=news/local/los_angeles)
Photos of those who perished

[mickjoebill]

A crash at 03.40hrs, crescent moon.
What are the rules in the USA regarding flying such a mission at night?
Assume that there may have been a very small area lit by ground lights.(my assumption)

Local TV report that family of victims say that filming was taking place on board (which contradicts early police statement)

Can low level shot at night be achieved by utilising the landing light for forward illumination, assuming a recce had been done in the daylight?


Mickjoebill

[mickjoebill]

Preliminary report.

WPR13FA119 (http://www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/brief.aspx?ev_id=20130210X93918&key=1)


Mickjoebill

[mickjoebill]

Final report, the use of tv lighting in the cockpit was a significant factor in the crash.

Whilst the Gopros were not the "A" camera they are very poor choice for low level light capture due to their inherent poor sensitivity.

For future jobs, suggest that a nite sun be written into the script, it gives a pilot the ground illumination point if reference needed for a high hover.

IR minicams are available that do not interfere with a pilots night vision.

Without the benifit of onboard recording that survived this crash, would the use of TV lights been condidered a cause?

I ask this as the fatal ABC TV crash in outback Australia that occured at night was blamed on the pilot being distracted by entering data into his Nav. There is no mention in the accident report of the likely hood of the reporter in the front filming a piece to camera whilst airborn (a regular occurance) which would have had to have been lit.


http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20130210X93918&key=1

Mickjoebill