I was surprised early on when I read the accident AW139 was bought used. Usually the rich guys order exactly what helicopter and factory fitted options they want, bought new and delivered directly from the factory.

Up to two years to work out what happened, seriously?

You'd think once the recorders were analyzed in the next few weeks they'd have a pretty good idea of what happened.

https://nypost.com/2019/07/09/invest...ay-take-years/

AW139
 

Chris was a true gentleman. I was one of 3 Captains who flew his Challenger 850 in 2017/18 .One day in CRW he walked on the airplane after coming off his Embraer 175 acting like he owned it; which he did. Just asked who was who and introduced himself said hello and went his own way. No drama just a really fine fellow. If he bought a used helicopter it was because it was what he needed not that it was cheap. From what I heard as a fixed wing pilot his crew on the rotor side were all very professional and very experienced. When we flew the CH850 we always had 40000 hours plus and close to 50 years of experience in the front seats I doubt he was cheaping out on the rotor side.
Just my comments. Sad to see the loss of all those folks.

This thread has more than the usual amount of post-crash criticism, but this is ridiculous.

Those young women were all 21 or older. Did they have fully developed decision making ability? Nope. But they were adults, and it's silly to state Cline should have been following them around supervising their behavior.

Your wealth envy is showing.

You're not right. There is tons of IMC here in Florida. We fly deep fog west coast, heavy thunderstorms during months from May-November the whole state and then there's the over open sea night flying that is very common here. We all do it regularly. But, as I mentioned previously, with a moon-less night, transitioning from over land to over water is the deepest IMC you will ever fly. Tragedy happens down here all the time on moon-less nights even with the most experienced pilots. It was either the direct cause or contributed greatly. July 2 was the new moon. This accident happened July 3, not much difference in conditions. I flew that night, July 3rd and it was deep IMC over water.

Six of those seven souls have been repatriated back to the United States. Reports suggest investigators are still accounting for all the aircraft parts.

https://ewnews.com/bodies-of-six-hel...ck-to-us-today

Mike 33 No wealth envy just parenting! My youngest son is 21 and a rugby player at university - he can decide how much he drinks but we will always caution him about excess with alcohol, especially with spirits. I have seen spring break in Florida and kids go crazy, often because they are not used to drinking much at university while they are studying - then they are let off the leash. Ask the local hospitals how many alcohol related admissions they have during that period.

I'm not saying he has to follow them around but he should at least be aware what they are drinking - he was also responsible for the other girls whose parents would assume they were in a safe environment. You said they don't have fully developed decision making ability - which is further impaired by booze - it's just responsible parenting.

Fair enough. I overreacted.

Completely disagree. They are all adults so fully capable of making their own decisions. The idea that he should be aware what they are drinking at 2am is ludicrous! How would he be unless he is awake and sneaking around checking up on them? Of course they are young adults and likely to over drink.. but you never did too? It is how we all learn.

Also dislike how you imply it is his responsibility that the other girls weren't in a "safe environment" Jees the amout of times me and my friends stumbled back into whoever's house at 4am completely wasted with no idea where anyone else was. Here you have a billionaire decide at 2am to dedicate a highly advanced helicoptor, from what sounds so far like a professional setup, with 2 instrument rated pilots solely to fly them to a hospital and to go with them too... How much more could he do?

Probably more related to the alcohol drinking age laws

Superterminal - I am guessing you have never had to deal with someone with alcohol poisoning or you might not be so cavalier with your attitude - if you have other people in your house, you are responsible for them whether you like it or not.

There is a very big difference between being drunk and being incapable due to alcohol poisoning - one can be fun but the other is easily avoided.

The problem is many people underestimate the effect of spirits and how your blood alcohol level can continue to rise to dangerous levels for a long while after you have stopped throwing it down your neck.

Some thread drift here - didn't mean my throwaway line about spring break to cause such offence.

212 man - good point.

Tail Boom
 

Looking into the Qatar A139 boom failure on the ground - would this aircraft (being a 2008 model) have still had the old/original composite nomex honeycomb boom vs. the new aluminium boom?

Not that it has any implication whatever on this thread, but the aircraft was painted in the London Air Service colors, they are a VIP outfit in Vancouver, Canada. Can be why he bought that particular machine.

Regards
H.

No I've never had to deal with alcohol poisoning but that's irrelevant to my point. My point was in relation to you implying that it's his fault or he was in any way responsible for the others, when he had basically done everything money (and a lot of money) could do to get them to a hospital.

And FYI having lost 8 friends all 20 - 30 years old in the last 10 years to the various sports and hobbies I do I am the least "cavalier" person about.

Anyway irrelevant thread drift like you say.

Superterminal - consider the logic - supervise the drinking and keep it to non-excessive levels = no alcohol poisoning (if indeed that was the reason for the flight) = no 2 am sortie in a rush = no accident (whatever the cause) = seven lives saved just for the want of a little control.

If you believe three 21 year-old highschool/university girls from a country where they can't drink until 21 should be allowed unfettered access to booze, then maybe think about it a bit more before you become a parent of teenagers.

Crab.....please.....can we stick to relevant issues here.

I have been called out in rat **** weather in the dark to deliver newspapers and a copying machine to a North Sea Oil Rig.....it doesn't't matter why you get dispatched if the flight falls within the Law, Rules, Regulations, SOP's, etc.

You get called....you check weather, notams, pre-flight, and go carry out your flight.

In the USA...we can file a flight plan in the air or by telephone....even those cellular or satellite kinds of talking bones.

US Customs needs a one hour notification at AOE airports.

The Bahamas may have a requirement for IFR clearances at night....but we do have to remember it is the Bahamas and not the UK.

Can we stick to the aviation part of this tragedy and not wander off down the rabbit hole you seem focused upon now?

Sasless - i think you'll find that I didn't start this rabbit-hole journey.

The aviation element here is that without the need for the flight, the accident wouldn't have happened so it is hardly unrelated.

Your statement about being called out in crap weather to deliver newspapers is far less relevant to this thread than any of my comments.

What is most depressing about this is the fact despite all the technology, the regulation and the smart men in the room it seems relatively easy for very many experienced hands to believe it is entirely credible for a 10 buck helicopter to be drilled by 2 professional pilots just after take off and then the view explained by flakey process that many seem comfortable expressing. That doesn't seem cool even if it is a reality.