US EMS Helicopter Fatal Crash....Three Crew Killed
Thread Starter
On the 76 that crashed....the glass windshield had been replaced with a lighter non-glass windscreen. As I recall there was an issue with the Testing of the replacement as well as a reduced resistance to a bird strike.
Also, the wreckage was pressure washed and much of the bird remains were removed as a result.
That was an interesting event and generated much discussion here at Rotorheads.
PHI reached a Settlement in the Civil Suits that stemmed from the crash of the S-76C that collided with the Red Tailed Hawk.
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index....56837-p-2.html
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56849
Also, the wreckage was pressure washed and much of the bird remains were removed as a result.
That was an interesting event and generated much discussion here at Rotorheads.
PHI reached a Settlement in the Civil Suits that stemmed from the crash of the S-76C that collided with the Red Tailed Hawk.
http://www.pprune.org/archive/index....56837-p-2.html
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=56849
Last edited by SASless; 24th Nov 2017 at 02:50.
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Surprised that people are unaware that birds migrate mostly at night. They use the day to feed. The nexrad radar in the US gives a ringside seat. One can watch the masses of birds take off at dusk and gradually settle in near dawn. UW-Madison Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
From the NTSB, Preliminary Report
On November 19, 2017, about 1855 central standard time, a Bell 407 helicopter, N620PA,
impacted terrain near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The pilot and two medical crew members were
fatally injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to
and operated by Air Methods under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as
a positioning flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which
operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Pines Bluff,
Arkansas, and was en route to pick up a patient in Helena, Arkansas.
Residents near the accident site reported hearing a boom and seeing a fire plume. Local law
enforcement located the wreckage on private property on the bank of a reservoir. A post impact
fire consumed a majority of the fuselage. All major helicopter components were located at the
accident site. Several bird carcasses were located in the wreckage of the helicopter.
The helicopter was retained for further examination.
impacted terrain near Stuttgart, Arkansas. The pilot and two medical crew members were
fatally injured, and the helicopter was substantially damaged. The helicopter was registered to
and operated by Air Methods under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as
a positioning flight. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which
operated on a company visual flight rules flight plan. The flight originated from Pines Bluff,
Arkansas, and was en route to pick up a patient in Helena, Arkansas.
Residents near the accident site reported hearing a boom and seeing a fire plume. Local law
enforcement located the wreckage on private property on the bank of a reservoir. A post impact
fire consumed a majority of the fuselage. All major helicopter components were located at the
accident site. Several bird carcasses were located in the wreckage of the helicopter.
The helicopter was retained for further examination.
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quote: Arkansas County Sheriff Todd Wright said at the time that a witness saw the helicopter spiral out of the sky, disturbing thousands of geese to the point that "they were louder than she had ever heard before."
I don't think so, is there a possibility that the aircraft hit the birds while "spiralling down out of the sky" ?
ATN
I don't think so, is there a possibility that the aircraft hit the birds while "spiralling down out of the sky" ?
ATN
Last edited by ATN; 3rd Dec 2017 at 08:09. Reason: add a quote from a witness
Thread Starter
ATN,
Yes, I suppose so.
Logically and statistically.....No.
The odds of having a catastrophic mechanical failure immediately followed by hitting several Geese hard enough to have them wind up inside the aircraft.....well I would think winning the Powerball Lottery has better odds.
Yes, I suppose so.
Logically and statistically.....No.
The odds of having a catastrophic mechanical failure immediately followed by hitting several Geese hard enough to have them wind up inside the aircraft.....well I would think winning the Powerball Lottery has better odds.
Plus when spiralling down the forward speed and kinetic energy probably wouldn't be enough for the geese to penetrate the front screen.
It is always fascinating to which lengths people go in order to assume the weirdest possible accident scenario while there is one scenario with a 99% probability staring you right in the eyes....
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My youngest niece (pediatric emergency nurse for Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa), was recently selected to join the air transport team, for emergency runs and transport runs involving children. She is thrilled - but this old ex-USMC avionics tech can't help but think about these sorts of incidents.
