24 June - Helicopter down Warwickshire, UK

[John R81]

Seeing reports (https://wmas.nhs.uk/2020/06/24/lucky-escape-after-helicopter-makes-emergency-landing/) of a helicopter down. Emergency landing close to the Masons Arms (closed during lock-down) in Long Marston, Warwickshire, UK. 2POB are reported as uninjured, machine destroyed by fire. Poor resolution photo on Twitter (no idea how to link that), not sure of make though the tail boom looks distinctive to anyone familiar with the make.

Better picture here (https://leamingtonobserver.co.uk/news/lucky-escape-after-helicopter-on-fire-makes-emergency-landing-20341/).

[Arkroyal]

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/672x676/6b5ae0b0_f7f7_45e9_bab8_100f2d0af7c0_9fc81e68be374f576364f4f dc7a3b7b8e54371af.jpeg
May be this one?

[toptobottom]

Looks like a Bell 407? N120HH?

[Rotorhead412]

Looks very like the Bell 407 - N120HH from the front of it.
Of which also appeared to be in that exact same area only a couple of hours ago... with a steep descent at the end of it's track.
More importantly glad all are OK!
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/828x1648/n120hh_track_a0aec7b3efad7fcaf5193926c88865e184170fe6.jpg

[Nige321]

From Alcester Fire Brigade...


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1824x1368/105394430_1199264680424824_2265420296775356038_o_7849dfa1431 c7bd966bff7f32b0e3166627d47cc.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1824x1368/105409500_1199265037091455_3832424231448603927_o_36375650046 63e67fce5577e7c2dc0b472fc7abf.jpg

[Hilico]

Oh blimey, that aircraft lives near St Osyth (Clacton way) - saw him up only a couple of months ago.

[nomorehelosforme]

Not much left of that! here is how it looked before.

https://www.airteamimages.com/bell-407_N120HH_-private_57060.html

And here is a local news report

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/news/coventry-news/helicopter-crash-lands-warwickshire-field-18481154

A helicopter pilot had a lucky escape after an aircraft crashed in Warwickshire.

Emergency services were alerted to an incident near to the Masons Arms pub in Long Marston earlier today (Wednesday, June 24) at around 12.20pm.
It had been reported the helicopter made an emergency landing and was well ablaze in a field.

Fortunately for the pilot and their sole passenger, both were able to exit the helicopter safely and walked away uninjured.

Both were checked over at the scene by paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Along with Warwickshire Police (https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/all-about/warwickshire-police), Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service (https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/all-about/warwickshire-fire-and-rescue) sent crews from Alcester, Stratford (https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/all-about/stratford-on-avon) and Pebworth.

Breathing apparatus, hose reels, and foam was used by firefighters to tackle to blaze.

CoventryLive has contacted the Air Accidents Investigation Branch for comment.

Warwickshire Police said in a tweet: "Officers responded to a report of a helicopter making an emergency landing before bursting into flames in a field in Long Marston this afternoon. Fortunately the 2 people on board got out safely & were uninjured. They were checked at the scene by paramedics from

[Nige321]

Is it me or in the second pic is there a piece of it laying in the field a couple of hundred yards away...?

[nomorehelosforme]

Is it me or in the second pic is there a piece of it laying in the field a couple of hundred yards away...?

Looks like the color scheme is a match.

[Bell_ringer]

From the droop it looks like it smacked the ground quite hard, understandable if you’re on fire.
curious if they were power on at landing or pulled the plug when the lights came on.

[lowfat]

Going to need my larger dust pan to sweep that one up...

[GrayHorizonsHeli]

Is it me or in the second pic is there a piece of it laying in the field a couple of hundred yards away...?

i thought the same

[Lost on the Tundra]

From Alcester Fire Brigade...
That'll buff out, but that fairway will need re-sodding. Good the souls on board are uninjured, they have work to do.

BTW, as a rule I avoid rotary. I'd prefer to slam into the next world with fixed wings, hopefully still attached...

[Fareastdriver]

It's not a fairway. One can see a tractor line straight into the ashes, maybe oats.

[Hot 'n' High]

It's not a fairway. One can see a tractor line straight into the ashes, maybe oats.

FED, from the look of the height of the greenery against the fire-peeps boots, looks like my carefully manicured lawn - which gets cut once the cat complains she can't see over it to get home of a morning - usually at about 0500 (er getting home that is )! ;)

Seriously, glad both OK. I started off life as a heli engineer. That experience alone put me off flying in the blooming RW things! Too many whirly bits to go T. U. FW all the way for me - unless I had to fly RW as pax. Even then, I was highly selective as to where I sat - particularity post doing the "dunker" for the first time. H 'n' H has this curious "self-preservation" instinct!!!! :ok:

Have played "flying" some RW and even had a lesson in an R22 - but more out of idle curiosity to find out why the heli instructor at the place I worked at was so strange. One lesson = I realised why he was so odd!!!! Poor bloke!!!!!! :eek:

Still, apart from the craft written off, glad a safe outcome. Cheers, H 'n H

[Lost on the Tundra]

It's not a fairway. One can see a tractor line straight into the ashes, maybe oats.
ok, oatway then. Still needs re-oating. :cool:

[gulliBell]

Why would it be on the N register operating in the UK? I hope for the owner it was insured.

[megan]

Literally hundreds of N register aircraft permanently based in the UK, gets around rules that owners find odious, and costs of ownership involved.

http://www.peter2000.co.uk/aviation/faa-nreg/index.html

[Ollie Walker]

Looks like a lot of N platers are going into the agricultural business in the UK.

[John R81]

Now reported on aviation-safety.net (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/237303) site; no additional information to that above but useful collection of links to the various news reports and the N-Register

[rugmuncher]

Hopefully the Data Plate was not too badly damaged,,,,,,,,,,:ouch:

[cafesolo]

# 7. Reporters never learn. 50 years ago we had a lecture from a fireman (as they were then described) who expressed his disenchantment with news reports in which firemen were invariably described as "wearing breathing apparatus" -- like WOW! He said it was now full time to describe them as "wearing trousers."

[Saint Jack]

Reference Post #18. It which it was said, "Literally hundreds of N register aircraft permanently based in the UK." Perhaps a little exaggeration but I'm assuming it refers to both fixed- and rotary wing. If true, where are they all based and who is taking care of them?

[RMK]

BTW, as a rule I avoid rotary. I'd prefer to slam into the next world with fixed wings, hopefully still attached...

If helicopters are not for you, WTF are you on the Rotorheads Section of this forum?

[megan]

Saint Jack, a little hyperbole in the statement, difficult to know exactly how many UK based aircraft carry FAA registration, they often hide behind trustee organisations. One UK based trustee currently has 957 N registered aircraft on its books, as the trustee is the registered owner you have no idea who the "real" owner, or beneficiary, is, or where the aircraft is based. The helicopter, which this thread is about, is "owned" by a US based trustee. A 2009 photo citing Richard Mathews as the then owner.

http://www.ukemergencyaviation.co.uk/user/cimage/N120HH-001.jpg

[FSXPilot]

The only way you can have an aircraft on the N reg if you live in the UK and are not a US citizen is by using a trust.

[PoacherNowGamekeeper]

If helicopters are not for you, WTF are you on the Rotorheads Section of this forum?

That's a tad harsh, isn't it? I myself wouldn't ride in a rotorcraft now unless my life depended on it, but there's no reason not to peruse and learn from all areas of this forum.

Chill bro'

[PoacherNowGamekeeper]

Reference Post #18. It which it was said, "Literally hundreds of N register aircraft permanently based in the UK." Perhaps a little exaggeration but I'm assuming it refers to both fixed- and rotary wing. If true, where are they all based and who is taking care of them?

Yep, a fair number, including rotorcraft. Who is taking care of them? Good question in a lot of cases.

And the AAIB's report on N264DB makes informative reading.