Helicopter down in New Mexico
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Helicopter down in New Mexico
Sadly, another helicopter crash killing five.
RATON, NM — State police said response was slow to a fiery helicopter crash in Raton, New Mexico, that left five people dead, and the victims hailed from Colorado, Texas and Africa. One victim was a key Zimbabwean opposition leader to former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.
A privately owned Huey Bell UH-1 helicopter crashed around 6 p.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday in a mountainous region about 15 miles east of Raton Municipal Airport, officials said. One person in the crash called 911 and said three people were hurt and three were unaccounted for, state police said in a release Thursday afternoon.
Several agencies responded to try to find the crash site, which wasn't immediately apparent. A fire was reported at a ranch nearby and troopers said the helicopter likely caused that blaze. Firefighters and law enforcement vehicles responded to the area but "response was slow" due to the the area being "extremely remote with rugged terrain and limited road access," troopers said. Wreckage was found on a rancher's property east of Raton. A grass fire had scorched an area about a mile around the crash site.
State troopers reported seeing the helicopter wreckage consumed in flames, making identification difficult. Three people were declared dead at the scene and two males were found critically hurt. One of them died at the scene shortly thereafter and the other died while being airlifted to a hospital.
The remaining passenger, who called 911, was hurt but able to provide some information. That person suffered serious injuries and is expected to live.
The victims were identified by state police as pilot Jamie Coleman Dodd, 57, of Trinidad, Colorado; co-pilot Paul Cobb, 67, of Conroe, Texas; Charles Ryland Burnett, 61, of Houston, Texas; Roy Bennett, 60, of Colorado and South Africa; and Heather Bennett, 55, of Colorado.
Roy Bennett was a white man who spoke fluent Shona and drew the wrath of former President Robert Mugabe, The Associated Press reported. Despite being white, he had won a parliamentary seat in a rural constituency, angering Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party. Bennett won a devoted following of black Zimbabweans for passionately advocating political change and was known as "Pachedu," meaning "one of us" in Shona. He was often called the sharpest thorn in Mugabe's side.
The nature of the flight remains a mystery. The helicopter was identified as a private Huey helicopter but the tail number wasn't immediately available.
Limited flight details indicate the helicopter was traveling from Raton to Folsom, New Mexico. Investigators were trying to determine the aircraft's tail number, Lynn Lunsford of the Federal Aviation Administration told Patch in an email. The FAA will release that information once it becomes available.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, he said. The NTSB confirmed on Twitter it was investigating.
Raton is located on Interstate 25, about 175 miles northeast of Albuquerque, right on the Colorado border.
RATON, NM — State police said response was slow to a fiery helicopter crash in Raton, New Mexico, that left five people dead, and the victims hailed from Colorado, Texas and Africa. One victim was a key Zimbabwean opposition leader to former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.
A privately owned Huey Bell UH-1 helicopter crashed around 6 p.m. Mountain Time on Wednesday in a mountainous region about 15 miles east of Raton Municipal Airport, officials said. One person in the crash called 911 and said three people were hurt and three were unaccounted for, state police said in a release Thursday afternoon.
Several agencies responded to try to find the crash site, which wasn't immediately apparent. A fire was reported at a ranch nearby and troopers said the helicopter likely caused that blaze. Firefighters and law enforcement vehicles responded to the area but "response was slow" due to the the area being "extremely remote with rugged terrain and limited road access," troopers said. Wreckage was found on a rancher's property east of Raton. A grass fire had scorched an area about a mile around the crash site.
State troopers reported seeing the helicopter wreckage consumed in flames, making identification difficult. Three people were declared dead at the scene and two males were found critically hurt. One of them died at the scene shortly thereafter and the other died while being airlifted to a hospital.
The remaining passenger, who called 911, was hurt but able to provide some information. That person suffered serious injuries and is expected to live.
The victims were identified by state police as pilot Jamie Coleman Dodd, 57, of Trinidad, Colorado; co-pilot Paul Cobb, 67, of Conroe, Texas; Charles Ryland Burnett, 61, of Houston, Texas; Roy Bennett, 60, of Colorado and South Africa; and Heather Bennett, 55, of Colorado.
Roy Bennett was a white man who spoke fluent Shona and drew the wrath of former President Robert Mugabe, The Associated Press reported. Despite being white, he had won a parliamentary seat in a rural constituency, angering Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party. Bennett won a devoted following of black Zimbabweans for passionately advocating political change and was known as "Pachedu," meaning "one of us" in Shona. He was often called the sharpest thorn in Mugabe's side.
The nature of the flight remains a mystery. The helicopter was identified as a private Huey helicopter but the tail number wasn't immediately available.
Limited flight details indicate the helicopter was traveling from Raton to Folsom, New Mexico. Investigators were trying to determine the aircraft's tail number, Lynn Lunsford of the Federal Aviation Administration told Patch in an email. The FAA will release that information once it becomes available.
The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, he said. The NTSB confirmed on Twitter it was investigating.
Raton is located on Interstate 25, about 175 miles northeast of Albuquerque, right on the Colorado border.
Very unfortunate and sad accident. Undoubtedly there will be (and should be) questions concerning the carrying of passengers, even if not for hire, in a US restricted category aircraft. There is no way that may be done legally.
There are ways, but I doubt this flight fell into those categories. Public use is one, the aircraft may have been changed to experimental also.
For public use you need not have a TC at all but you must be a public agency, on the governmental mission for which the aircraft is required. Experimental was not how this aircraft was listed in the registry, it was restricted. Of course that could be out of date, it isn't like the FAA is on top of that all the time but
even if it were experimental the following applies as regards uses of the aircraft that either has no type certificate or does not conform to it's type certificate.
It doesn't sound like this flight was any of these.
Research and development: to conduct aircraft operations as a matter of research or to determine if an idea warrants further development. Typical uses for this certificate include new equipment installations, operating techniques, or new uses for aircraft.
Showing compliance with regulations: to show compliance to the airworthiness regulations when an applicant has revised the type certificate design data or has applied for a supplemental type certificate or field approval.
Crew training: for training the applicant’s flight crews in experimental aircraft for subsequent operation of aircraft being flight tested in type certificate programs or for production flight testing.
Exhibition: to exhibit an aircraft’s flight capabilities, performance, or unusual characteristics for air shows, motion pictures, television, and similar productions, and for the maintenance of exhibition flight proficiency.
Air racing: to operate an aircraft in air races, practice for air races, and to fly to and from racing events.
Market surveys: to conduct market surveys, sales demonstrations, and customer crew training for U.S. manufacturers of aircraft or engines.
even if it were experimental the following applies as regards uses of the aircraft that either has no type certificate or does not conform to it's type certificate.
It doesn't sound like this flight was any of these.
Research and development: to conduct aircraft operations as a matter of research or to determine if an idea warrants further development. Typical uses for this certificate include new equipment installations, operating techniques, or new uses for aircraft.
Showing compliance with regulations: to show compliance to the airworthiness regulations when an applicant has revised the type certificate design data or has applied for a supplemental type certificate or field approval.
Crew training: for training the applicant’s flight crews in experimental aircraft for subsequent operation of aircraft being flight tested in type certificate programs or for production flight testing.
Exhibition: to exhibit an aircraft’s flight capabilities, performance, or unusual characteristics for air shows, motion pictures, television, and similar productions, and for the maintenance of exhibition flight proficiency.
Air racing: to operate an aircraft in air races, practice for air races, and to fly to and from racing events.
Market surveys: to conduct market surveys, sales demonstrations, and customer crew training for U.S. manufacturers of aircraft or engines.
Like I said, they "could" have had it in the experimental category for a "motion picture". I have done it with one of mine in the past, done the job then put it back in the restricted category. Again, I did say that I doubted he fell into that category but it is not impossible.
I know of some restricted helicopters in the US that are being operated in some "inventive" ways.
I know of some restricted helicopters in the US that are being operated in some "inventive" ways.
I don't believe there is anything to indicate the machine was operating in anything other than Restricted Category. The Owner of the helicopter was one of the individuals killed in this accident, which may well include him as a Crewmember for whatever type of operation they were engaged in, and presumably certified for. Restricted Category allows for many types of legitimate operation, especially when performing that function in a non-commercial (i.e.: private) operation. Very sad and will be interesting to see the investigation report as to what exactly happened. RIP.
For reference:
Special Airworthiness Certificate
Restricted Category
A restricted category special airworthiness certificate is issued to operate aircraft that have been type certificated in the restricted category. Operation of restricted category aircraft is limited to special purposes identified in the applicable type design. These special purpose operations include the following:
Agricultural (spraying, dusting, seeding, and livestock and predatory animal control).
Forest and wildlife conservation.
Aerial surveying (photography, mapping, and oil and mineral exploration).
Patrolling (pipe lines, power lines, and canals).
Weather control (cloud seeding).
Aerial advertising (skywriting, banner towing, airborne signs, and public address systems).
Any other operation specified by the Administrator. (My emphasis)
§91.313 Restricted category civil aircraft: Operating limitations.
(a) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft—
(1) For other than the special purpose for which it is certificated; or
(2) In an operation other than one necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(b) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, operating a restricted category civil aircraft to provide flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated is considered to be an operation for that special purpose.
(c) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire. For the purposes of this paragraph, a special purpose operation involving the carriage of persons or material necessary to accomplish that operation, such as crop dusting, seeding, spraying, and banner towing (including the carrying of required persons or material to the location of that operation), and operation for the purpose of providing flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation, are not considered to be the carriage of persons or property for compensation or hire.
(d) No person may be carried on a restricted category civil aircraft unless that person—
(1) Is a flight crewmember;
(2) Is a flight crewmember trainee;
(3) Performs an essential function in connection with a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated; or
(4) Is necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(e) Except when operating in accordance with the terms and conditions of a certificate of waiver or special operating limitations issued by the Administrator, no person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft within the United States—
(1) Over a densely populated area;
(2) In a congested airway; or
(3) Near a busy airport where passenger transport operations are conducted.
(f) This section does not apply to nonpassenger-carrying civil rotorcraft external-load operations conducted under part 133 of this chapter.
(g) No person may operate a small restricted-category civil airplane manufactured after July 18, 1978, unless an approved shoulder harness or restraint system is installed for each front seat. The shoulder harness or restraint system installation at each flightcrew station must permit the flightcrew member, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened or the restraint system engaged, to perform all functions necessary for flight operation. For purposes of this paragraph—
(1) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(2) A front seat is a seat located at a flight crewmember station or any seat located alongside such a seat.
For reference:
Special Airworthiness Certificate
Restricted Category
A restricted category special airworthiness certificate is issued to operate aircraft that have been type certificated in the restricted category. Operation of restricted category aircraft is limited to special purposes identified in the applicable type design. These special purpose operations include the following:
Agricultural (spraying, dusting, seeding, and livestock and predatory animal control).
Forest and wildlife conservation.
Aerial surveying (photography, mapping, and oil and mineral exploration).
Patrolling (pipe lines, power lines, and canals).
Weather control (cloud seeding).
Aerial advertising (skywriting, banner towing, airborne signs, and public address systems).
Any other operation specified by the Administrator. (My emphasis)
§91.313 Restricted category civil aircraft: Operating limitations.
(a) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft—
(1) For other than the special purpose for which it is certificated; or
(2) In an operation other than one necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(b) For the purpose of paragraph (a) of this section, operating a restricted category civil aircraft to provide flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated is considered to be an operation for that special purpose.
(c) No person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft carrying persons or property for compensation or hire. For the purposes of this paragraph, a special purpose operation involving the carriage of persons or material necessary to accomplish that operation, such as crop dusting, seeding, spraying, and banner towing (including the carrying of required persons or material to the location of that operation), and operation for the purpose of providing flight crewmember training in a special purpose operation, are not considered to be the carriage of persons or property for compensation or hire.
(d) No person may be carried on a restricted category civil aircraft unless that person—
(1) Is a flight crewmember;
(2) Is a flight crewmember trainee;
(3) Performs an essential function in connection with a special purpose operation for which the aircraft is certificated; or
(4) Is necessary to accomplish the work activity directly associated with that special purpose.
(e) Except when operating in accordance with the terms and conditions of a certificate of waiver or special operating limitations issued by the Administrator, no person may operate a restricted category civil aircraft within the United States—
(1) Over a densely populated area;
(2) In a congested airway; or
(3) Near a busy airport where passenger transport operations are conducted.
(f) This section does not apply to nonpassenger-carrying civil rotorcraft external-load operations conducted under part 133 of this chapter.
(g) No person may operate a small restricted-category civil airplane manufactured after July 18, 1978, unless an approved shoulder harness or restraint system is installed for each front seat. The shoulder harness or restraint system installation at each flightcrew station must permit the flightcrew member, when seated and with the safety belt and shoulder harness fastened or the restraint system engaged, to perform all functions necessary for flight operation. For purposes of this paragraph—
(1) The date of manufacture of an airplane is the date the inspection acceptance records reflect that the airplane is complete and meets the FAA-approved type design data; and
(2) A front seat is a seat located at a flight crewmember station or any seat located alongside such a seat.
Not suggesting this was the case, but an aircraft can have multiple valid AWCs. The only one listed in the registry would be the one issued first. So if this particular aircraft had an "Experimental" AWC, in addition to a "Restricted" one, then this flight could have been legal with pax as a sales demo.
Not a good day all around.
W1
Not a good day all around.
W1
