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-   -   5 dead, Kenya Bell 505 crash (https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/619062-5-dead-kenya-bell-505-crash.html)

Sikpilot 4th Mar 2019 13:42

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.

FLY 7 4th Mar 2019 14:16

.
Very sad news

Is that the first fatal accident involving the new jet ranger ?

Bell_ringer 4th Mar 2019 15:44


Originally Posted by FLY 7 (Post 10406616)
.
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.

rotorrookie 4th Mar 2019 15:54

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8c76ce3132.jpg

heli14 4th Mar 2019 16:56

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?

bellblade2014 4th Mar 2019 17:15


Originally Posted by heli14 (Post 10406753)
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.

nomorehelosforme 4th Mar 2019 18:31

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.


helialan 4th Mar 2019 20:57

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

hueyracer 5th Mar 2019 05:16

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.

Phone Wind 5th Mar 2019 10:33

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).

bellblade2014 5th Mar 2019 11:29

Moon light was about 3 or 4% as well. incredibly dark. not a good night for flying.

Same again 5th Mar 2019 12:41


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.

rotorrookie 5th Mar 2019 14:53

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:*

Michael Gee 5th Mar 2019 16:12

What Make and Type was this Helicopter ?

hueyracer 5th Mar 2019 18:40

Should have been a Bell 505..


John Eacott 5th Mar 2019 20:00

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 :rolleyes:

malabo 5th Mar 2019 21:36

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.

Phone Wind 5th Mar 2019 22:00

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

BigMike 6th Mar 2019 21:53

Wasn't the pilot ex Defence Force?, so IFR rated?

nigelh 6th Mar 2019 22:07

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 .


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