Turbomeca Squirrel
 

Anyone have any details of the Squirrel that crashed at Turbomeca in France yesterday? Apparently celebrating the 1000`nth Arriel engine, had prominent employees on board, went out of control and crashed, everyone on board dead.. .. .This isnt a journo job, Im a uk employee of the engine people, it was announced today and Im just curious if anyone can shine a light. . .. .Thoughts to all on board and there families.. .. .Speedy.

<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2002-03/27/content_332501.htm" target="_blank">http://news.xinhuanet.com/engli sh/2002-03/27/content_332501.htm</a>. .. .Link from <a href="http://www.helicopters.com" target="_blank">www.helicopters.com</a>. .. .Not sure if it is up to date.. .. .et [URL=http://fr.news.yahoo.com/020326/85/2j2qr.html. .. .si tu parles francais. .. .TARNOS (Reuters) - the Public prosecutor of Dax (Moors) announced the opening of a preliminary investigation concerning the accident of a helicopter, Tuesday afternoon, on the ground of test of the factory Turbomeca de Tarnos, during which two people were killed and four others wounded. " We do not know exactly the causes of the accident. What we know, it is that the helicopter, for an unspecified cause, made a fall of fifty meters. It fell like a died sheet ", declared the prosecutor Serge Mankowiak at the time of a point of press. The helicopter, a Squirrel of Eurocopter mark pertaining to a subsidiary company of Turbomeca, was crushed on an unused building of the factory without causing of fire. All the victims were on its board. The two people deceased are the pilot of the helicopter, old 35 years, and an engineer of the sales department of Turbomeca, 60 years old. Four wounded, one is seriously reached, old from 25 to 50 years and pertaining to the personnel of the factory, were led to the hospital of Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). The apparatus carried out a demonstration at the time of the anniversary of the output of 5.000ème driving ARRIEL. Turbomeca, which forms part of group SNECMA, is specialized in the design of the gas turbines of small and average power for helicopters and manufactures turbines for planes and missiles. . .. .Altavisa translation of above link.. . . . <small>[ 27 March 2002, 23:02: Message edited by: widgeon ]</small>

This story was here yesterday, but the thread was removed?. .. .Condolences to all at Turbomeca. Very sad to see something of this nature at a celebration.. .. .From the Turbomeca website.. .Bordes, 27.03.2002. .. .Helicopter Accident at Turbomeca. .. .Turbomeca regretfully announces that on Tuesday, March 26, 2002 at 5 :25 p.m., an Ecureuil helicopter belonging to its CGTM subsidiary crashed into an industrial building at the Turbomeca factory located in Tarnos (Landes). The building was vacant at the time. . .The aircraft was being used to give inaugural helicopter rides in celebration of the delivery of Turbomeca’s 5000th ARRIEL engine. . .. .In addition to the CGTM pilot, five passengers – all Turbomeca employees - were on board. The pilot and one passenger were killed with the four others suffering minor injuries. . .. .The cause of the accident is not known and is being investigated. . .. .Turbomeca and its employees extend their deepest sympathies to the families.

Thanks Cyclic, im a fixed wing man myself but I work for Turbomeca in the UK.. .. .Very sad, and as you said, deepest condolences to the families of the Pilot and passenger / colleague.