Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Rotorheads
Reload this Page >

5 dead, Kenya Bell 505 crash

Rotorheads A haven for helicopter professionals to discuss the things that affect them

5 dead, Kenya Bell 505 crash

Old 4th Mar 2019, 13:42
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Asia
Posts: 96
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
5 dead, Kenya Bell 505 crash

Four American tourists and a local pilot were killed in a helicopter crash near Central Island National Park in Kenya, Citizen TV Kenya reported Monday.
An investigation is underway at the scene. The names of the victims have not yet been released as recovery efforts are ongoing.
The crash occurred Sunday night, shortly after 8 p.m. local time. Two helicopters landed earlier in the day, but the crash occurred when the choppers were departing the area.
“Security personnel dispatched to the scene confirmed that among the five were four Americans and the Kenyan Pilot,” said the National Police Service in a statement Monday morning.
Sikpilot is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 14:16
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 392
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
.
Very sad news

Is that the first fatal accident involving the new jet ranger ?
FLY 7 is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 15:44
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Brantisvogan
Posts: 1,033
Received 57 Likes on 37 Posts
Originally Posted by FLY 7
.
Very sad news

Is that the first fatal accident involving the new jet ranger ?
seems that way.
The japanese coast guard broke one during training a few days earlier but not fatal.
Bell_ringer is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 15:54
  #4 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Iceland
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
rotorrookie is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 16:56
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: england
Posts: 66
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Could be wrong, but looks more like a Squirrel in the photo posted by rotorrookie - no roof window in the 505 as far as I can recall?
heli14 is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 17:15
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: TX
Posts: 57
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by heli14
Could be wrong, but looks more like a Squirrel in the photo posted by rotorrookie - no roof window in the 505 as far as I can recall?
agree. That’s not a 505. Door shell is messed up too. The window goes much lower on the door and they are much larger. That pic is of an AS350 family... must be a different crash.
bellblade2014 is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 18:31
  #7 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: London/Atlanta
Posts: 444
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
More info on the BBC

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47438361

A helicopter has crashed in northern Kenya, killing four American tourists and their Kenyan pilot, officials say.

The helicopter reportedly crashed in Central Island National Park on Sunday.

Police said two helicopters had landed on the island's Labolo tented camp on Sunday evening - one flew away safely. The cause of the crash is not known.

Local media say the pilot, Mario Magonga, once worked for the country's deputy president and had extensive training and experience.

He had previously served as a Kenya Defence Forces pilot, but had been working for a private firm, KIDL Helicopters, since March 2017.

The US embassy in Nairobi confirmed the death of four Americans and named three of them as Anders Asher Jesiah Burke, Brandon Howe Stapper and Kyle John Forti.

nomorehelosforme is offline  
Old 4th Mar 2019, 20:57
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: France
Age: 58
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Sunset at 18.51 local. Night at 19.06
VFR helicopter, VFR pilot
Night VFR prohibited in Kenya
Take off variously reported as between 20.15 and 20.35
Little or no cultural light

Is anyone really surprised at the outcome?

RIP the innocent passengers
helialan is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 05:16
  #9 (permalink)  
hueyracer
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
The area in which the accident happened is extremely dark at night.

Even with Night Vision Goggles, flying there is extremely difficult-due to the volcanic ash everywhere sucking up every tiny bit of light remaining.
 
Old 5th Mar 2019, 10:33
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Lost and Legless somewhere in LaLaLand
Age: 77
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The fact still remains that KCAA bans night flying in helicopters unless the crew and aircraft are certified for IFR flight.

I think Everett are the only commercial company using NVG in Kenya and that’s in BK117s on the medevac contract to BATUK out of Nanyuki (which they took over from 669 Squadron AAC).
Phone Wind is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 11:29
  #11 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: TX
Posts: 57
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Moon light was about 3 or 4% as well. incredibly dark. not a good night for flying.
bellblade2014 is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 12:41
  #12 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Out West
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I think Everett are the only commercial company using NVG in Kenya and that’s in BK117s on the medevac contract to BATUK out of Nanyuki (which they took over from 669 Squadron AAC).
The Everett BK's on that contract are also crewed by two pilots, both instrument rated and with lots of NVIS experience. It is still a challenge at times with brown-outs a regular hazard.
Same again is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 14:53
  #13 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Iceland
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 1 Post
You guys bellblade2014 and heli14 are right, this what happens when you stupidly re-post some crap news of the internet without double checking it first
rotorrookie is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 16:12
  #14 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Mecklenburg Vorpommern
Posts: 73
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What Make and Type was this Helicopter ?
Michael Gee is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 18:40
  #15 (permalink)  
hueyracer
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Should have been a Bell 505..

 
Old 5th Mar 2019, 20:00
  #16 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 1999
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Age: 75
Posts: 4,378
Received 24 Likes on 14 Posts
https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Willia...f9g/index.html

The Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) said the Bell 505, registration 5Y-KDL, crashed soon after take-off.
My edit to the misreported rego
John Eacott is offline  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 21:36
  #17 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Montreal
Posts: 714
Received 13 Likes on 10 Posts
Was the second helicopter also from KIDL and do we know who was flying it, also after dark? Points to systemic management-sanctioned breaking of regulations.
malabo is online now  
Old 5th Mar 2019, 22:00
  #18 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Lost and Legless somewhere in LaLaLand
Age: 77
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thumbs down

I think both the helicopters were from KIDL (but not 100% certain).

From what I hear, one of the passengers in the crashed aircraft was a Californian entrepreneur who had actually bought a stake in Lobolo Camp, on the western shore of Lake Turkana. All of the passengers in both helicopters were friends of his who he hoped would invest in a new adventure tourism project in Kenya. Now all those dreams will probably have perished because of disregard for the rules by people who ‘knew better’.

Irrespective of the actual cause of the crash, the fact still remains that flight in non-IFR helicopters with non-instrument rated crews is illegal in Kenya and in hostile terrain like that at night, the chance of surviving a major failure is minimal
Phone Wind is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2019, 21:53
  #19 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: The Wild West... and Oz
Posts: 866
Received 9 Likes on 2 Posts
Wasn't the pilot ex Defence Force?, so IFR rated?
BigMike is offline  
Old 6th Mar 2019, 22:07
  #20 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: yorkshire uk
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
looks like it was a 505 after all .... still don’t understand why they would be flying around in that part of the world in the dark .
nigelh is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.