Enstrom 280 down Idaho
 

Another crash into a field that resulted in a burnt out mess unfortunately with this one were 2 serious injuries.

https://www.krem.com/article/news/lo...c-8337104ccb28

https://www.asias.faa.gov/apex/f?p=1...JUN-20,ENSTROM

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho — Two men are in critical condition after a helicopter crash on the Rathdrum prairie on Tuesday evening.

Jay Schrank, 42, and Jim Charbonneau, 78, were taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after the crash just west of Highway 41. Bystanders helped to pull the men from the wreckage.

Charbonneau had previously drawn scrutiny from neighbors and county officials regarding an illegal helipad on his Spokane County property.


Based on initial investigation, it appears that the helicopter collided into the field from a low level altitude on Tuesday. Alcohol and drugs do not appear to be a factor at this time, and the investigation is ongoing regarding the exact circumstances of the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified and is performing its own investigation. The occupants of the helicopter were initially taken to Kootenai Health for treatment of their injuries, but were then transferred to Harborview Medical Center, according to the sheriff's office.

Online FAA records show that Charbonneau had a student pilot's license. Schrank is a certified commercial pilot and flight instructor.

For now, it's not clear who was flying the helicopter at the time of the crash.

Charbonneau had made headlines earlier this year after Spokane County officials prepared to sue him over a helipad he had constructed at his home off of South Mohawk Drive, just south of Spokane Valley.

Well, watching the video on krem.com - rotor running helicopter with no one on board - and an old man crunching in, it seems, it was really only a matter of time.
Even the departures weren't on the safe side...

Witness who helped rescue pilot mentions it struck wires.
https://cdapress.com/news/2020/jun/2...opter-crash-5/

This one is in my neck of the woods. Instructor in start up flight school had very limited time in 280 and student was previously washed out of established flight school. No surprise to anyone something bad happened. Wish the student have never gotten into helis.

It appears to me that Charbonneau's helipad required a vertical arrival and departure with no chance to achieve translational lift near the ground. Added to that, the helipad appeared (could be the result of a telephoto lens) to be pretty closely surrounded by tall trees. I'm not a helicopter pilot by any stretch of the imagination, but I think that sort of a helipad configuration would be quite challenging for both man and machine.

Let's hope that both men involved recover fully.

Regards,
Grog

Enstrom. No g.

Well those main rotor blades certainly weren't turning at impact!

The 78 year old subsequently died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident.

Very very sad.