S76 down in Baltic Sea (Now incl NTSB Safety Recommendation)
Helicopter crashes in Baltic Sea
A helicopter with 14 people on board has crashed into the Baltic Sea off the Estonian coast.
Rescue services said the crash was about five kilometres (three miles) from shore, near the capital Tallinn.
Two pilots and 12 passengers were on board the Sikorsky 76 helicopter flying from Tallinn to Helsinki, according to the Estonian rescue service.
There are no details of casualties or why it crashed. The area has been stormy. A rescue mission is under way.
A helicopter with 14 people on board has crashed into the Baltic Sea off the Estonian coast.
Rescue services said the crash was about five kilometres (three miles) from shore, near the capital Tallinn.
Two pilots and 12 passengers were on board the Sikorsky 76 helicopter flying from Tallinn to Helsinki, according to the Estonian rescue service.
There are no details of casualties or why it crashed. The area has been stormy. A rescue mission is under way.
AlwaysOnFire
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2 US passengers, 4 Estonian passengers and rest Finns onboard, the crashed near the island of Narissar (Nargö in Swedish) and
Estonian coast guard has lifted the helo with inflatable rafts.
No word about the outcome for the people onboard....
Estonian coast guard has lifted the helo with inflatable rafts.
No word about the outcome for the people onboard....
Chopper with 14 passengers crashes
From correspondents in Tallinn
August 10, 2005
A HELICOPTER with 12 passengers and two crew on board has crashed into the Baltic Sea off the coast of the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
"The tail of the helicopter can be seen sticking out of the water, t there is no sight of any people," a pokeswoman for the Estonia border guard, which is in charge of the rescue operation, said.
"The water at the site of the crash is 60 metres deep.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76 C+, was operated by the Copterline company, and was flying a regular route between Tallinn and the Finnish capital, Helsinki, 80km away.
"The helicopter left Tallinn for Helsinki at 12:40pm (19:40 AEST) and crashed into the sea 5km from Tallinn," a rescue services spokesman said.
Rescue officials were alerted to the crash at 12:45pm, the spokesman said.
The spokesman was unable to give information about the fate of the people on board the helicopter.
Finnish company Copterline has been running the Tallinn-Helsinki service since 2000.
The company has a clean safety record.
From correspondents in Tallinn
August 10, 2005
A HELICOPTER with 12 passengers and two crew on board has crashed into the Baltic Sea off the coast of the Estonian capital, Tallinn.
"The tail of the helicopter can be seen sticking out of the water, t there is no sight of any people," a pokeswoman for the Estonia border guard, which is in charge of the rescue operation, said.
"The water at the site of the crash is 60 metres deep.
The helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76 C+, was operated by the Copterline company, and was flying a regular route between Tallinn and the Finnish capital, Helsinki, 80km away.
"The helicopter left Tallinn for Helsinki at 12:40pm (19:40 AEST) and crashed into the sea 5km from Tallinn," a rescue services spokesman said.
Rescue officials were alerted to the crash at 12:45pm, the spokesman said.
The spokesman was unable to give information about the fate of the people on board the helicopter.
Finnish company Copterline has been running the Tallinn-Helsinki service since 2000.
The company has a clean safety record.
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Hello,
some more details that you might want to know.
First of all it is more or less comfirmed that all people in the chopper are dead and still trapped inside. Secondly, it was premature information that the chopper is lifted from the bottom of the sea, itŽs not.
The pilots were Finns. A 41 years old ex frontier guard pilot (I believe that he was the captain) and a 57 years old pilot who have flown for Copterline 10 years.
Even though there are reports of storm, wheather was not a factor (most likely). It seems that there were no thunderstorms at the area, visibility was good and cloud base was not very low. The accident site is located in an area of low pressure but a satellite photo some 15 minutes after the accident shows no significant weather. It should have been a normal flight but during the cruise phase something went wrong.
Even though the company has a clean safety record it has had itŽs shere of problems with the FAA. About a year ago their operating lisence was limited for only good weather operations for three months. Thats because their pilot had too much trouble at check rides. Also some under minima flying was discovered and some other things.
This is a bad day in Finnish aviation.
some more details that you might want to know.
First of all it is more or less comfirmed that all people in the chopper are dead and still trapped inside. Secondly, it was premature information that the chopper is lifted from the bottom of the sea, itŽs not.
The pilots were Finns. A 41 years old ex frontier guard pilot (I believe that he was the captain) and a 57 years old pilot who have flown for Copterline 10 years.
Even though there are reports of storm, wheather was not a factor (most likely). It seems that there were no thunderstorms at the area, visibility was good and cloud base was not very low. The accident site is located in an area of low pressure but a satellite photo some 15 minutes after the accident shows no significant weather. It should have been a normal flight but during the cruise phase something went wrong.
Even though the company has a clean safety record it has had itŽs shere of problems with the FAA. About a year ago their operating lisence was limited for only good weather operations for three months. Thats because their pilot had too much trouble at check rides. Also some under minima flying was discovered and some other things.
This is a bad day in Finnish aviation.
More details here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4138170.stm
and here:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/inte...r=MOREOVERNEWS
Jim
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4138170.stm
and here:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/inte...r=MOREOVERNEWS
Jim
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Can't add much to this except that wind was 10-15 meters per second. I'm used to mph or kp/h so I can't translate the above, but weather has been discounted as a problem.
Yes, all 14 aboard apparently perished because the copter plunged into the Gulf of Finland and did not feather into the water. The crash happened 3-5 minutes after takeoff.
As has been pointed out in above posts, the company has enjoyed a good safety record during the 10 years it has been in operation. We're also talking about two experienced Finnish pilots and not some ex-Soviet cowboys, whose last command was a Hind.
Yes, all 14 aboard apparently perished because the copter plunged into the Gulf of Finland and did not feather into the water. The crash happened 3-5 minutes after takeoff.
As has been pointed out in above posts, the company has enjoyed a good safety record during the 10 years it has been in operation. We're also talking about two experienced Finnish pilots and not some ex-Soviet cowboys, whose last command was a Hind.
Still behind the curtain
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To PPrune admin,
I believe the that the Tallin, Estonia, chopper crash in which 14 (all) people died in today should be moved back to Rumours & News. The cax count is too high to be devoted only to Rotorheads. This is a general interest story.
I believe the that the Tallin, Estonia, chopper crash in which 14 (all) people died in today should be moved back to Rumours & News. The cax count is too high to be devoted only to Rotorheads. This is a general interest story.
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Tallin:
EETN 101520Z 12013KT 9999 -RA SCT008 OVC012 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101450Z 13014KT 9000 -RA OVC012 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101420Z 12013G23KT 9999 -RA OVC014 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101350Z 13014G24KT 9999 -RA OVC014 15/12 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101320Z 12013G23KT 9999 BKN014 OVC018 15/12 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101250Z 13014KT 9999 FEW010 OVC014 15/12 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101220Z 12013G23KT 9999 BKN011 OVC016 15/12 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101150Z 12014G25KT 9999 BKN009 OVC014 15/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101120Z 12014G26KT 9999 OVC009 14/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101050Z 12013KT 9000 -RA OVC008 14/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101020Z 12013KT 9999 -RA BKN008 OVC014 14/13 Q0989 RERA
NOSIG=
EETN 100950Z 11014KT 9000 -RA BKN008 OVC014 14/13 Q0989 NOSIG=
EETN 100920Z 11014KT 6000 RADZ OVC008 14/12 Q0989 TEMPO 3000=
EETN 100850Z 11013KT 8000 -RA BKN006 OVC014 14/12 Q0989 RERA
NOSIG=
Helsinki:
EFHF 101450Z 10016G27KT 070V140 9999 BKN011 BKN016 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101420Z 10017G28KT 070V140 9999 SCT011 BKN015 BKN019 15/13
Q0993=
EFHF 101350Z 11015G26KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN026 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101320Z 11016G27KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN025 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101250Z 10015KT 070V150 9999 SCT011 BKN015 BKN025 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101220Z 11014KT 070V150 9999 BKN012 BKN017 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101150Z 11015G28KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN016 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101120Z 11013KT 060V150 9999 BKN012 BKN017 15/13 Q0992=
EFHF 101050Z 09014KT 060V130 6000 -RA FEW008 BKN010 BKN018 14/13
Q0992=
EFHF 101020Z 10016G26KT 060V130 9999 -RA BKN013 BKN019 14/13 Q0992=
EFHF 100950Z 10015G27KT 040V140 9999 -RA BKN017 15/12 Q0992=
EFHF 100920Z 09015G27KT 050V140 9999 -SHRA BKN017 15/12 Q0992=
EFHF 100850Z 09017G31KT 060V140 9999 -SHRA SCT018 BKN021 15/12 Q0992=
Norwegian media states, that the company involved was not auth. to fly in "bad weather" by the finnish regulator due to lack of crew training. The company have since taken measures to fix this, and they stress that the crew of the accident helo was very experienced
www.dagbladet.no
(Whatever that means in hard facts, no operations in IMC?)
EETN 101520Z 12013KT 9999 -RA SCT008 OVC012 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101450Z 13014KT 9000 -RA OVC012 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101420Z 12013G23KT 9999 -RA OVC014 15/13 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101350Z 13014G24KT 9999 -RA OVC014 15/12 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101320Z 12013G23KT 9999 BKN014 OVC018 15/12 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101250Z 13014KT 9999 FEW010 OVC014 15/12 Q0991 NOSIG=
EETN 101220Z 12013G23KT 9999 BKN011 OVC016 15/12 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101150Z 12014G25KT 9999 BKN009 OVC014 15/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101120Z 12014G26KT 9999 OVC009 14/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101050Z 12013KT 9000 -RA OVC008 14/13 Q0990 NOSIG=
EETN 101020Z 12013KT 9999 -RA BKN008 OVC014 14/13 Q0989 RERA
NOSIG=
EETN 100950Z 11014KT 9000 -RA BKN008 OVC014 14/13 Q0989 NOSIG=
EETN 100920Z 11014KT 6000 RADZ OVC008 14/12 Q0989 TEMPO 3000=
EETN 100850Z 11013KT 8000 -RA BKN006 OVC014 14/12 Q0989 RERA
NOSIG=
Helsinki:
EFHF 101450Z 10016G27KT 070V140 9999 BKN011 BKN016 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101420Z 10017G28KT 070V140 9999 SCT011 BKN015 BKN019 15/13
Q0993=
EFHF 101350Z 11015G26KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN026 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101320Z 11016G27KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN025 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101250Z 10015KT 070V150 9999 SCT011 BKN015 BKN025 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101220Z 11014KT 070V150 9999 BKN012 BKN017 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101150Z 11015G28KT 070V140 9999 BKN012 BKN016 15/13 Q0993=
EFHF 101120Z 11013KT 060V150 9999 BKN012 BKN017 15/13 Q0992=
EFHF 101050Z 09014KT 060V130 6000 -RA FEW008 BKN010 BKN018 14/13
Q0992=
EFHF 101020Z 10016G26KT 060V130 9999 -RA BKN013 BKN019 14/13 Q0992=
EFHF 100950Z 10015G27KT 040V140 9999 -RA BKN017 15/12 Q0992=
EFHF 100920Z 09015G27KT 050V140 9999 -SHRA BKN017 15/12 Q0992=
EFHF 100850Z 09017G31KT 060V140 9999 -SHRA SCT018 BKN021 15/12 Q0992=
Norwegian media states, that the company involved was not auth. to fly in "bad weather" by the finnish regulator due to lack of crew training. The company have since taken measures to fix this, and they stress that the crew of the accident helo was very experienced
Finske luftfartsmyndigheter bestemte i fjor at helikopterselskapet Copterline bare skal fly under gode værforhold på grunn av manglende kunnskaper hos besetningen. Begrensningene ble innført etter at Copterline gjentatte ganger hadde ignorert pålegg om å sørge for bedre opplæring, ifølge nyhetsbyrået STT. Selskapet har siden tatt skritt for å rette opp manglene, og understreker at pilotene i ulykkeshelikopteret var svært erfarne.
(Whatever that means in hard facts, no operations in IMC?)
ZbV
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14 dead
Helicopter in question was a Sikorsky S76C registration OH-HCI.
Crew of two was from Finland with 6 Finns, 4 Estonians and 2 Americans as PAX.
Copterline operates 30 flights a day between Tallinn and Helsinki during weekdays and 9 flights during weekends.
Crew of two was from Finland with 6 Finns, 4 Estonians and 2 Americans as PAX.
Copterline operates 30 flights a day between Tallinn and Helsinki during weekdays and 9 flights during weekends.
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Helsinki-Tallinn Crash
Anyone got any info on this. As far as i know they fly S76's, not sure which model. There was a little bit on the news last night, and a small article in today's paper, but not much in the way of details.
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Baltic S76 down!
Not a good day!
Condolences to those affected.
DK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4140988.stm
Condolences to those affected.
DK
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4140988.stm
Sikorsky S-76C+, OH-HCI, (c/n 760508)
All trapped inside the wreckage.
Divers today recovered the first of 14 bodies.
Estonia's police commander Robert Antropov said divers were not able to open the doors of the helicopter and had to lift the bodies through the shattered front windows.
Last year, Finnish aviation authorities temporarily banned the company from flying helicopters in bad weather due to inexperience of pilots. The restriction was lifted after the company made policy changes.
All trapped inside the wreckage.
Divers today recovered the first of 14 bodies.
Estonia's police commander Robert Antropov said divers were not able to open the doors of the helicopter and had to lift the bodies through the shattered front windows.
Last year, Finnish aviation authorities temporarily banned the company from flying helicopters in bad weather due to inexperience of pilots. The restriction was lifted after the company made policy changes.
From Copterline website:
Very sad news...
Condolences to the families.
Aser
Press release
A Copterline helicopter on its normal route between Helsinki and Tallinn crashed into the sea near Tallinn today. Inside were 12 passengers and two crew members. Copterline expresses its deepest condolences to the families of possible victims.
The flight from Tallinn to Helsinki departed on schedule at 12.30 pm. According to yet unconfirmed information from the National Board of Aviation, the connection was lost at 12.40 after which the helicopter fell into the sea. The crash took place in horizontal flight, at normal altitude. The weather at the crash area was windy but quite normal and safe for a helicopter. The company has no knowledge of the cause of the crash or the course of events.
The helicopter was an American Sikorsky S76C+ and it was built in 2000. The model is one of the most used and safest ones in the world. It has two engines and can be flown and landed safely by using only one of them. It also has two emergency pontoons for landing on water. The helicopter was last inspected on 9th of August, 2005 and no faults were detected. The last 50 fly hour service had been carried out on July 21st, 2005 in Finland. The annual service was carried out on June 20th, 2005. The helicopter had 6253 flying hours before the crash.
The captain of the helicopter was an extremely experienced 41-year-old former captain of a frontier guard rescue helicopter, who has been serving at the Finnish Frontier Guard for over 20 years. The copilot was a 57-year-old, extremely experienced professional which had been with Copterline since 1995. Both pilots had effective helicopter pilot licences, which met every licence condition.
The personal information of the passengers can not be released. There were six Finnish, four Estonian and two American passengers on board. Both pilots were Finnish.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes that all information requests by the families would be made to the Central Police, phone number 09-8388 6766.
A Copterline helicopter on its normal route between Helsinki and Tallinn crashed into the sea near Tallinn today. Inside were 12 passengers and two crew members. Copterline expresses its deepest condolences to the families of possible victims.
The flight from Tallinn to Helsinki departed on schedule at 12.30 pm. According to yet unconfirmed information from the National Board of Aviation, the connection was lost at 12.40 after which the helicopter fell into the sea. The crash took place in horizontal flight, at normal altitude. The weather at the crash area was windy but quite normal and safe for a helicopter. The company has no knowledge of the cause of the crash or the course of events.
The helicopter was an American Sikorsky S76C+ and it was built in 2000. The model is one of the most used and safest ones in the world. It has two engines and can be flown and landed safely by using only one of them. It also has two emergency pontoons for landing on water. The helicopter was last inspected on 9th of August, 2005 and no faults were detected. The last 50 fly hour service had been carried out on July 21st, 2005 in Finland. The annual service was carried out on June 20th, 2005. The helicopter had 6253 flying hours before the crash.
The captain of the helicopter was an extremely experienced 41-year-old former captain of a frontier guard rescue helicopter, who has been serving at the Finnish Frontier Guard for over 20 years. The copilot was a 57-year-old, extremely experienced professional which had been with Copterline since 1995. Both pilots had effective helicopter pilot licences, which met every licence condition.
The personal information of the passengers can not be released. There were six Finnish, four Estonian and two American passengers on board. Both pilots were Finnish.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes that all information requests by the families would be made to the Central Police, phone number 09-8388 6766.
Condolences to the families.
Aser
Last edited by Aser; 12th Aug 2005 at 01:36.
Combine Operations
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The copilot was a 57-year-old, extremely experienced professional...
So very, very sad.
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Can we wait for the Accident Report before we start guessing and making up things we might have heard or read.
After all the Pilot's are dead and they can not defend themsevles.
Manners please.
After all the Pilot's are dead and they can not defend themsevles.
Manners please.
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Thank you Brilliant Stuff. In the country of a VERY small helicopter business almost everybody know each other personally and speculation without facts just makes things worse. We are all still shocked.