Helicopter crashes into field in Devon
 

According to the BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3pdv1gl41o

A helicopter has crashed into a field in an incident police have called "ongoing". Devon and Cornwall Police said emergency services were at the scene in the Sourton Down area of Devon, near Okehampton. A road closure was put in place at about 05:00 BST on the A386 between the A30 at Sourton Down and the A3079 Fowley Cross in Okehampton while the incident is investigated. "The incident is ongoing and we will share more updates as we have them," a statement posted by police on Facebook said, external.

Various reports saying Navy machine, 3 dead, one injured. Nothing verified.

ADSBexchange shows an HM coastguard AW139 in that location at the time of the incident

Hutch

Out of St Athan - got there at 05.45 local

RN Helicopter incident nr Okehampton
 

Emerging incident this morning.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3pdv1gl41o

Royal Navy confirms incident involved one of its helicoptersA Royal Navy spokesperson said: “An incident occurred involving a Royal Navy helicopter just before 4am on Wednesday, June 3 near Sourton, Devon. An investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

Returned to St Athan, landing back there at 07:46 local

https://www.navylookout.com/royal-na...shes-in-devon/

Nothing left of it 😖

Daily Mail has photos but can’t link.

If the serial linked is correct, it was a Jungly Merlin. My thoughts and prayers are with those on board and their families.

Links up with this report on a Junglie Merlin down. Thoughts with all of those involved from an ex-WAFFU. :uhoh:

Not quite. The tail rotor blades are nearly intact, the rest of the tail is more-or-less complete and what might be the tail end of a disconnect coupling is visible (in the Times photo). I felt sick seeing it.

Please remove if not appropriate.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f79369d9e4.jpg
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5282cafc4d.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....cf186580f3.jpg

that’s a curious debris field. Essentially vertical

I've seen reports that Culdrose and Yeovilon have been asking for photos to be removed from social media

Similar to pictures have just been shown on the BBC 1 o clock news, rightly or wrongly the cat is out of the bag.

It's all over the news channels, that horse has bolted.
Not sure what removing it would achieve, can't see anything inappropriate in it vs the many other accident images the public like to gawk at.

Thoughts are with those on board and also families and colleagues.

Looking at the crash site photos I see nothing that would justify removing them from view here in this Forum.

Should such a possible justification be found it shall be considered. If you think you know of one reach out to a Mod by PM.

On thing they do offer is a reminder of the risks that helicopter flight involves.

Please weigh the fact that some of our fellow Aviators and Flight Crew perished in this tragedy and keep that in mind as you make your posts.

When these tragedies occur we should learn what led to the mishap so that we might prevent another if possible. Thus, discussing the various factors is appropriate when done in a professional manner.

Reporting as a fatal

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/202...shes-in-devon/

3 dead. Blue skies :sad:

Absolutely........... :uhoh:

The only saving grace is that, as it was a Junglie, they appear not to have been carrying any pax at the time........

Sincere condolences and strength to the families who have their lost loved ones, and to their friends and colleagues in this devastating tragedy. RIP.

Shy it is an odd impact. The MRBs look “Stacked”, typical of a roll over with the NR high. But the TRBs look relatively undamaged and no ground scoring to indicate the were rotating when the hub met the ground. Obviously a serious fire either prior to or as a result of impact. Looks like engineers parts ejected to the port side. The AAIB will no doubt unravel the sequence. Sad day for the families.

A very sad and sombre time for the Jungly/Commando force to loose colleagues, coming 2 years after the Lyme Bay ditching. My thoughts to the crew and their families.

Are any UK Mil helos still fitted for/with Schermuly flares...?

Let’s hope the CVFDR can be recovered so that the cause can be positively determined.

My thoughts and prayers are with all involved.

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4aa015f4f2.jpg

Very similar debris field to the 2002 Bristow S.61N crash resuting from catastrophic engine/gearbox failure.

Fate is the hunter. A reminder of the risk the people of our armed forces take every day.

That wasn’t a crash - that was a controlled forced landing followed by consumption by post landing fire (that started before landing)

I am truly sad at this occurrence and for the families and colleagues of the lost crew.
However, it is obvious that the Rotors weren’t turning? The TRBs are relatively intact but should be bent from hitting the ground - same with the visible MRBs, not bent or broken. The very small crash site indicates a practically vertical descent. The last time I saw this there was doubt about the fuel status but the fire indicates fuel was there…My apologies for this speculation.

212 do you mean the 61 or this incident?

I was replying to the reference to the 61, hence the quotation

The 61 Accident Report

Cause was an Engine Bearing failure that led to an uncontrolled fire and a Crew decision to make an Immediate Emergency Landing.

https://skybrary.aero/sites/default/...kshelf/382.pdf

I’m a ex engineer so not ignorant of aviation or the dangers and feel for all involved. Sqdn personal will be hugely impacted and I hope being appropriately supported. I’ve deleted the remainder as it was unknowingly the wrong aircraft.

Aircraft concerned is ZJ131, not the ZJ119 mentioned above.

A tragic event.
We can only mourn those lost and think of their grieving family, friends and squadron mates.

It be appropriate to delay speculation for at least a few days until facts are known.

Assuming the graphic is correct, ZJ119 was c/s Sword2, as Ammo Boiler points out. ZJ131 was c/s Sword1. The accident site is just over 900ft amsl. The posted graphic (if correct) would appear to show Sword2 orbiting the accident site.

Thoughts are with everyone involved in this accident - both directly and indirectly. Always sad when something like this happens.

RIP to those no longer with us.

I was glad to hear that the King is writing personally to the families.