TV news AS350B2 crash New Jersey

[euroastar350]

Happened last night around 8pm, no word what caused it to go down.

https://6abc.com/action-news-helicopter-6abc-chopper-6-crash-new-jersey-philadelphia-crew-wpvi-tv/14205051/

[USHEMSPILOT]

Very sad news, prayers and condolences to the families of those involved.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...606hd#334d1cc5

[212man]

Originally Posted by USHEMSPILOT

Very sad news, prayers and condolences to the families of those involved.

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...606hd#334d1cc5

I don't normally speculate, but the altitude and speed traces do look a bit like CFIT. Fairly constant speed and a steady loss of about 800 ft over 3 + minutes

[[email protected]]

Yes, sadly it looks very much like that, RIP.

[Flch250]

Way too early. I saw another post another forum. Operations may have been in vicinity of (3) C-130 at low altitude. This is unconfirmed. The investigation will tell us.

[212man]

Originally Posted by Flch250

Way too early. I saw another post another forum. Operations may have been in vicinity of (3) C-130 at low altitude. This is unconfirmed. The investigation will tell us.

Well, if you think being in the vicinity of 3 Hercules can cause a descent from 800 ft to the ground, in 3 minutes 20 seconds, at a 90-104 kts groundspeed, be my guest!

[jetrotor1]

Lots of questions need to be answered on this one among them:

1. Why was the return cruise altitude so low?
2. Did sky conditions create a VFR black hole situation?
3. Health history of the 67-year-old PIC?
4. Did the B2 have an AP?

Eighteen months from now we may know.

[wjcandee]

I flew rotors out of North Philly many years ago. The area it went down is a large dark forest that I have flown over years ago. The moon was a quarter moon last night, but they were heading west, so it would have been behind them. Not clear what kind of visible horizon they would have had. Weather was pretty-clear, so unlikely they were scud running. In any event, absent a loss of situational awareness, the lack of a clear horizon shouldn't have been an issue in a Squirrel (AStar) flying its home area, and I have to assume that the very-experienced pilot was instrument rated and sensitive to these kind of issues.

[Airbus H160]

Aviation Investigation Preliminary Report: N606HD

NTSB Accident Number: ERA24FA069

[[email protected]]

A recently serviced/inspected (the same day as the crash) aircraft crashes in VMC conditions in the dark with, it appears, all mechanical components working correctly up to impact.

There is no mention of medical issues (probably due to impact damage and post-crash fire) but whilst CFIT is still possible due to disorientation at night, some sort of medical issue would be my guess. The pilot was 67.

[India Four Two]

https://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?...4-6F4F45A9A2FB

[Uplinker]

Static vent(s) or altimeter disturbed during the maintenance perhaps ?

Autopilot, if fitted, ditto or misbehaving and not noticed over the dark forest ?

Do all single Squirrels have Rad alts and alerts ?

RIP

[Gordy]

Originally Posted by Uplinker

Do all single Squirrels have Rad alts and alerts ?

If they are being operated in the US under part 135 then yes.

[lelebebbel]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

A recently serviced/inspected (the same day as the crash) aircraft crashes in VMC conditions in the dark with, it appears, all mechanical components working correctly up to impact.

There is no mention of medical issues (probably due to impact damage and post-crash fire) but whilst CFIT is still possible due to disorientation at night, some sort of medical issue would be my guess. The pilot was 67.

The flight track shows a long and steady descent without any dramatic changes in rate, speed, or even heading. I can't imagine that the pilot was incapacitated, unless that machine also had at least SAS / attitude hold fitted.

My guess is an unintended slow descent while failing to check the altimeter for a few minutes, without any outside references to alert him. Maybe combined with some visual illusions from distant city lights. Deterioration of eyesight in the darkness due to the pilots age could well be a contributing factor.

[Hot and Hi]

The pilot was 67.

Your age pessimism (or, let’s call a spade a spade: your ageism) certainly annihilates all increases of life expectancy made in the recent past.

[[email protected]]

Originally Posted by Hot and Hi

Your age pessimism (or, let’s call a spade a spade: your ageism) certainly annihilates all increases of life expectancy made in the recent past.

My ‘ageism’ is based on my age - I’m gusting 63 and I know the risk factors of increasing age as well as any. I am also well aware that I’m not as sharp in the air as I was even 10 years ago.

Those that deny the effects of age are the dangerous ones.

In this case I can’t see disorientation as a cause since it was pretty much a straight line descent.

I can see a gradual incapacitation such as a TIA or a heart issue being the sort of thing a tired guy I in the other seat might not notice in the dark until it is too late.

It is possible they both fell asleep.