R-22 & R-44 Midair Over Torrance.
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R-22 & R-44 Midair Over Torrance.
Two Helicopters Crash 2 Dead, 1 Injured
TORRANCE — Two persons were killed and another injured today in the crash of two helicopters over the west end of the Torrance airport, a police lieutenant said.
The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. at Torrance Airport, 2500 Airport Drive, said Lt. Mark Matsuda of the Torrance Police Department.
Aerial footage appeared to show at least one burned hulk of a helicopter.
The station reported that both helicopters are believed to be Robinsons, which are manufactured on the east end of the airport. The station also reported that many people train in the helicopters out of that airport, and take test flights.
The airspace above the airport was closed for the ensuing crash investigation.
A man identified as Guy Hinderberger told one local news network that he was working on the roof of a Mercedes-Benz dealership nearby when he heard a "loud popping noise and unusual rattling."
He said two white helicopters, their broken tails entangled about 300 feet above the airport, separated, then went down. One landed on the runway and exploded in flames, Hinderberg told the station.
The second apparently landed in a nearby corn field, where one person is believed to have survived.
TORRANCE — Two persons were killed and another injured today in the crash of two helicopters over the west end of the Torrance airport, a police lieutenant said.
The crash occurred about 3:30 p.m. at Torrance Airport, 2500 Airport Drive, said Lt. Mark Matsuda of the Torrance Police Department.
Aerial footage appeared to show at least one burned hulk of a helicopter.
The station reported that both helicopters are believed to be Robinsons, which are manufactured on the east end of the airport. The station also reported that many people train in the helicopters out of that airport, and take test flights.
The airspace above the airport was closed for the ensuing crash investigation.
A man identified as Guy Hinderberger told one local news network that he was working on the roof of a Mercedes-Benz dealership nearby when he heard a "loud popping noise and unusual rattling."
He said two white helicopters, their broken tails entangled about 300 feet above the airport, separated, then went down. One landed on the runway and exploded in flames, Hinderberg told the station.
The second apparently landed in a nearby corn field, where one person is believed to have survived.
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Further info I have available indicates that the aircraft were
- an R44 on a safety course with an RHC safety pilot on board
- an R22 from a flight school based on the field.
Seems like the R44 was taking off west bound and had just passed mid field approximately 70 mph/200' while the R22, which had been operating on the north helipad, was transitioning mid field to the South Ramp for landing when they collided over Runway 29 Left.
Both occupants of the R44 perished, while the R22 pilot survived with minor injury and was rushed to Harbor General Hospital.
E&OE
- an R44 on a safety course with an RHC safety pilot on board
- an R22 from a flight school based on the field.
Seems like the R44 was taking off west bound and had just passed mid field approximately 70 mph/200' while the R22, which had been operating on the north helipad, was transitioning mid field to the South Ramp for landing when they collided over Runway 29 Left.
Both occupants of the R44 perished, while the R22 pilot survived with minor injury and was rushed to Harbor General Hospital.
E&OE
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Mid-air fatalities at Robinson, Torrance
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Here's a couple links from local California news...
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/news/110...ter_crash.html
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2618376/detail.html
Updated Information...
Apparently, the R22 pilot was a student pilot with Pacific Coast Helicopters on his first solo flight! Take a look at this article...
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/news/nmcrash7.html
According to Donn Walker, a spokesman for the FAA, both pilots had been talking to the Torrance air traffic control tower before the crash. TOA is Class D airspace.
What a terrible tragedy.
(Edited to provide updates)
http://www.nbc4.tv/news/2618376/detail.html
Updated Information...
Apparently, the R22 pilot was a student pilot with Pacific Coast Helicopters on his first solo flight! Take a look at this article...
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/news/nmcrash7.html
According to Donn Walker, a spokesman for the FAA, both pilots had been talking to the Torrance air traffic control tower before the crash. TOA is Class D airspace.
What a terrible tragedy.
(Edited to provide updates)
Last edited by RDRickster; 7th Nov 2003 at 21:26.
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Its never a nice thing to learn about more helicopter accidents.
The student in the 44 was Brett Boyd, from Silver State Helicopters, Arizona. My symapthies go out to both Bretts' and the Robinson Pilots' families and friends, and to old those involved, as well as a quick recovery to the solo student in the 22.
The student in the 44 was Brett Boyd, from Silver State Helicopters, Arizona. My symapthies go out to both Bretts' and the Robinson Pilots' families and friends, and to old those involved, as well as a quick recovery to the solo student in the 22.
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I know this is a major tragedy but the question I have is what the hell was the tower doing. They crashed while over the runway, shouldnt those in the tower have been watching them???
Answers anyone.
Answers anyone.
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Autorotate,
Don't blame ATC - or anyone else for that matter - without knowing the facts. A student on a first solo flight...did he misunderstand instructions, get overloaded, lose control? Did something go wrong with one of the two helicopters? Anything is possible, and we don't know yet.
Don't blame ATC - or anyone else for that matter - without knowing the facts. A student on a first solo flight...did he misunderstand instructions, get overloaded, lose control? Did something go wrong with one of the two helicopters? Anything is possible, and we don't know yet.
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No news yet of the RHC instructor who died. Having been with them all in September at Torrance, it's a horrible feeling.
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2003 12:00 AM
A routine safety-instruction flight turned into a crash of two helicopters on Thursday in Torrance, Calif., killing a Tempe man and his flight instructor while hospitalizing the student pilot in the other helicopter.
Brett Dean Boyd, 36, of Tempe, who was taking a three-day safety-training course, and an instructor were in a Robinson R44 that was taking off as a student pilot in a Robinson R22 made a downward left turn from the Torrance Municipal Airport and collided with the first helicopter.
Boyd's helicopter plummeted upside down and burst into flames, according to the Torrance Daily Breeze.
The name of the instructor who died has not been released.
The other helicopter dropped into a cornfield and the student pilot, Gavin Heyworth of Hollywood, Calif., suffered critical injuries.
Boyd had been a pilot for six years and had recently been named manager of the Mesa office of Silver State Helicopters, a commercial helicopter operator that trains students, gives tours and operates helicopters for law enforcement.
Boyd, an Idaho native and a 10-year resident of Tempe, is survived by two children, ages 13 and 15.
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 8, 2003 12:00 AM
A routine safety-instruction flight turned into a crash of two helicopters on Thursday in Torrance, Calif., killing a Tempe man and his flight instructor while hospitalizing the student pilot in the other helicopter.
Brett Dean Boyd, 36, of Tempe, who was taking a three-day safety-training course, and an instructor were in a Robinson R44 that was taking off as a student pilot in a Robinson R22 made a downward left turn from the Torrance Municipal Airport and collided with the first helicopter.
Boyd's helicopter plummeted upside down and burst into flames, according to the Torrance Daily Breeze.
The name of the instructor who died has not been released.
The other helicopter dropped into a cornfield and the student pilot, Gavin Heyworth of Hollywood, Calif., suffered critical injuries.
Boyd had been a pilot for six years and had recently been named manager of the Mesa office of Silver State Helicopters, a commercial helicopter operator that trains students, gives tours and operates helicopters for law enforcement.
Boyd, an Idaho native and a 10-year resident of Tempe, is survived by two children, ages 13 and 15.
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Brett Boyd who was doing the R44 Safety Course was the General Manager of Silver State Helicopters office at Gateway Airport Phoenix, AZ and, from what I hear, a highly respected and very popular man.
I've been told the name of the FI but haven't been able to confirm that it's been officially released so won't post it yet.
A very sad day.
FAA FSDO: LONG BEACH, CA (WP05) Entry date: 11/07/2003
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 442RH Make/Model: R44 Description: R-44 Astro
Date: 11/06/2003 Time: 2325
Event Type: Accident
Highest Injury: Fatal
Mid Air: Y
Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: TORRANCE
State: CA
Country: US
DESCRIPTION
THE ACFT, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER HELICOPTER, A ROBINSON R22, OVER TORRANCE CA, MUNICIPAL ARPT AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX. 200FT.
THE R44 CRASHED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND THE R22 CRASHED ONTO THE GRASS. BOTH ACFT WERE DESTROYED.
THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES ON THE R44
THE R22 STUDENT PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.
TORRANCE, CA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
# Crew: 2 Fat: 2 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: NOT REPORTED
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown
Phase: Cruise
Operation: General Aviation
Departed: TORRANCE, CA Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: TORRANCE, CA Flt Plan: Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
I've been told the name of the FI but haven't been able to confirm that it's been officially released so won't post it yet.
A very sad day.
FAA FSDO: LONG BEACH, CA (WP05) Entry date: 11/07/2003
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 442RH Make/Model: R44 Description: R-44 Astro
Date: 11/06/2003 Time: 2325
Event Type: Accident
Highest Injury: Fatal
Mid Air: Y
Missing: N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: TORRANCE
State: CA
Country: US
DESCRIPTION
THE ACFT, A ROBINSON R44 HELICOPTER, COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER HELICOPTER, A ROBINSON R22, OVER TORRANCE CA, MUNICIPAL ARPT AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX. 200FT.
THE R44 CRASHED ONTO THE RUNWAY AND THE R22 CRASHED ONTO THE GRASS. BOTH ACFT WERE DESTROYED.
THERE WERE 2 FATALITIES ON THE R44
THE R22 STUDENT PILOT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN.
TORRANCE, CA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 2
# Crew: 2 Fat: 2 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: NOT REPORTED
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown
Phase: Cruise
Operation: General Aviation
Departed: TORRANCE, CA Dep Date: Dep. Time:
Destination: TORRANCE, CA Flt Plan: Wx Briefing:
Last Radio Cont: UNKN
Last edited by Heliport; 8th Nov 2003 at 19:42.
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Whirlybird - Who said I am blaming anyone, simply asking shouldnt those in the tower have been keeping an eye on them. In my opinion if you have a helicopter working in an area and give another one permission to take off in that same area, then common sense would rule that you make sure it departs without impacting the other.
I ran this buy some locals in the tower here and they said basically what I posted above.
NTSB will say who caused what, not me.
Autorotate.
I ran this buy some locals in the tower here and they said basically what I posted above.
NTSB will say who caused what, not me.
Autorotate.
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The instructor in the R44 was Rob (BoB) Bailey.
Very sad for the family and friends of both men who died, but also for the pilot of the R22 - regardless of where fault (if any) lies.
Very sad for the family and friends of both men who died, but also for the pilot of the R22 - regardless of where fault (if any) lies.
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What a shocker!
I just was there to pick up a ClipperII to bring it to Panama. Left the factory on 28th of October, so I was off the net for a couple of days. It is a weird feeling to know exactly where this is, having been there recently and having flown a copy of the helicopter involved.
Already any news on how this happened?
3top
I just was there to pick up a ClipperII to bring it to Panama. Left the factory on 28th of October, so I was off the net for a couple of days. It is a weird feeling to know exactly where this is, having been there recently and having flown a copy of the helicopter involved.
Already any news on how this happened?
3top
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More updates...
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/n...rashfolo8.html
This is more background information on the pilots and conditions that day... nothing specific as to cause. It doesn't look like we'll know any details until the official report comes out nine months from now. One of the other CFI's at Silver State also witnessed the accident from the ground... must be gut-wrenching to watch your buddy in an accident like that.
This is more background information on the pilots and conditions that day... nothing specific as to cause. It doesn't look like we'll know any details until the official report comes out nine months from now. One of the other CFI's at Silver State also witnessed the accident from the ground... must be gut-wrenching to watch your buddy in an accident like that.
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For Your Information...
Here is the NTSB's preliminary report on this tragedy:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...19X01921&key=2
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...19X01921&key=2
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RHC's 2004 Spring Newsletter...
I know the reports aren't final concerning last years tragedy at Torrance (mid-air collision), but I was surprised there was absolutely NO mention of the incident in the recent news letter. I understand that the RHC marketing machine wants to keep a positive focus on their product line, but I'm a bit disappointed that they didn't even give a one paragraph farewell to their own test pilot!
