R22 Wellesbourne Crash
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 489
Likes: 2
From: UK
Latest from the BBC
Man killed in helicopter accident
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A man has died in a helicopter crash near Stratford-on-Avon.
Warwickshire Police say the two-person helicopter was seen dropping rapidly before crashing into a field by the A3400 near the town of Bearley.
Air ambulance and the police were called to the scene on Thursday afternoon. The victim was the only person on board.
Relatives of the victim, who is not thought to be from the area, are being informed.
Police believe the helicopter was making a journey between Herefordshire and Wellesbourne in Stratford-on-Avon.
Air accident investigators are trying to establish the cause of the crash.
CRAN
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A man has died in a helicopter crash near Stratford-on-Avon.
Warwickshire Police say the two-person helicopter was seen dropping rapidly before crashing into a field by the A3400 near the town of Bearley.
Air ambulance and the police were called to the scene on Thursday afternoon. The victim was the only person on board.
Relatives of the victim, who is not thought to be from the area, are being informed.
Police believe the helicopter was making a journey between Herefordshire and Wellesbourne in Stratford-on-Avon.
Air accident investigators are trying to establish the cause of the crash.
CRAN
Hovering AND talking

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Was at Wellesbourne this afternoon for a refuelling stop. Heard the aircraft on the radio departing the airfield for Shobdon. The weather was bad and closing in.
My condolences to family and friends.
Whirlygig
My condolences to family and friends.
Whirlygig
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
From: ----------
For personal reasons could I ask all P-Prunes to refrain from to many comments on this untill the occupants parties have been informed.
please guys a few days is all that is asked.
RIP to all concerned
B99
please guys a few days is all that is asked.
RIP to all concerned
B99


Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 680
Likes: 2
From: An Airport Near You
Today it was a Gloucester based Enstrom 480 landing at Droitwich, landed hard severing the tail then rolled several times finishing on its roof. All 3 occupants apparently OK but taken to hospital for observation.
Lets hope these things don't come in threes.......a lucky escape today.
Lets hope these things don't come in threes.......a lucky escape today.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Cheltenham UK
The aircraft was an Enstrom 480, N480DS owned & piloted by a local (Cheltenham) chap, a good friend and fellow flyer. An experienced and diligent pilot with whom I've flown many times in the (his) Enstrom and various H500s. Spoke with pilot Friday evening who was shaken but not injured. His pax was likewise.
Bravo Mike Kilo - Cheltenham
Bravo Mike Kilo - Cheltenham
Last edited by Bravo Mike Kilo; 13th November 2004 at 10:56.

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 571
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From: Alderney or Lancashire UK
As an interested observer of accident stats, the fact that the crew walked away from the Enstrom wreck is significant. Today I got a brief description of the damage to N480DS and it is surprising that they survived at all. These are tough helicopters.
Edit (I just saw Peter Bs thread on crashworthyness. this should be there really.)
I also heard a feint rumour that 2 people were recovered from TGRR. I hope this is wrong. Anyone have any hard facts?
RIP.
Edit (I just saw Peter Bs thread on crashworthyness. this should be there really.)
I also heard a feint rumour that 2 people were recovered from TGRR. I hope this is wrong. Anyone have any hard facts?
RIP.
Last edited by Gaseous; 13th November 2004 at 19:59.


Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 680
Likes: 2
From: An Airport Near You
An engineer on the ground at Droitwich saw the Enstrom go down and from what he said the crew are incredibly lucky to have escaped with only minor injury...............
Helicopter Pilots Get It Up Quicker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 885
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From:
gaseous
Why? How can you say that without any reports, (other than media ones), on the accidents? Or maybe you have inside info?
Maybe the R22 pilot couldn't 'fly' the machine to the ground while the Enstrom guy could.... MAYBE the R22 pilot was u/c before the machine headed downwards? Maybe it was a complete mechanical failure?
Do you know why the 480 went down? Maybe his emergency was a lot more simple and therefore survivable... not that I m trying to take anything away from his flying skills.
Let's wait for the AAIB reports...
PW
the fact that the crew walked away from the Enstrom wreck is significant
Maybe the R22 pilot couldn't 'fly' the machine to the ground while the Enstrom guy could.... MAYBE the R22 pilot was u/c before the machine headed downwards? Maybe it was a complete mechanical failure?
Do you know why the 480 went down? Maybe his emergency was a lot more simple and therefore survivable... not that I m trying to take anything away from his flying skills.
Let's wait for the AAIB reports...
PW


Joined: Apr 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATCO
Posts: 680
Likes: 2
From: An Airport Near You
...because it hit the deck very hard and broke up into several pieces........thats probably why. Something to do with landing with a 20 knot tailwind and still having some forward airspeed.
Helicopter Pilots Get It Up Quicker
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 885
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From:
360baktak
..which machine?
Also while not the quite the same I ve seen massive damage to cars and no injuries but simple wrecks and the occupants are dead.
The mechanism of trauma are strange and difficult to predict.
As said the R22 maybe simply have been an unrecoverable mechanical failure and the pilot became simply a passenger...
RIP...
PW
..which machine?
Also while not the quite the same I ve seen massive damage to cars and no injuries but simple wrecks and the occupants are dead.
The mechanism of trauma are strange and difficult to predict.
As said the R22 maybe simply have been an unrecoverable mechanical failure and the pilot became simply a passenger...

RIP...

PW

Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Alderney or Lancashire UK
PW
The significance of the Enstrom crash is that the passenger comparment survived a very hard landing, loss of tail and landing gear, rolling over a couple of times, and ending up upside down without hurting anyone. I think that is pretty significant and a potential explanation of the perception that Enstroms are tough. Inside information? not really. My engineer knows those involved and confirmed the details already posted here. I do know the circumstances leading to the crash but did not mention them or pass any comment about the pilot. I'm just glad he is OK.
I made no reference to the R22 accident other than to check if there were 2 on board. Agreed - wait for AAIB.
The significance of the Enstrom crash is that the passenger comparment survived a very hard landing, loss of tail and landing gear, rolling over a couple of times, and ending up upside down without hurting anyone. I think that is pretty significant and a potential explanation of the perception that Enstroms are tough. Inside information? not really. My engineer knows those involved and confirmed the details already posted here. I do know the circumstances leading to the crash but did not mention them or pass any comment about the pilot. I'm just glad he is OK.
I made no reference to the R22 accident other than to check if there were 2 on board. Agreed - wait for AAIB.





