Fatal Accidents

13-Mar-15 B511 Eurocopter AS565MB Gageodo Island, Korea (4F)

Crashed in waters off Gageodo Island, while trying to land near a seawall to carry out a mission to transport an emergency patient to an inland hospital. The accident left one dead and three others aboard the helicopter missing.... Read more

13-Mar-15 ZK-IWL Robinson R44 French Pass, New Zealand (1F)

Heilcopter struck wires crossing an 800m wide sea inlet known as French Pass between D’Urville Island and the mainland.  Sole occupant pilot named as Ian John Simcox, 65, from Blenheim was killed... Read more

12-Mar-15 CC-CLD Eurocopter SA315B Rancagua, Chile (1F)

External load operations (carrying food and supplies to a mining camp in Colchagua) at 12,700ft amsl but only 50m above the ground when an engine problem caused pilot to jettison the load and take evasive action, descending to the right intending flying down a gorge. Sadly the pilot, named as Francisco Bismara from Argentina, died... Read more

12-Mar-15 N919EM Airbus AS350B2 Stidham, US-Oklahoma (1F)

flying to McAlester from Tulsa when it crashed, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, and no patients were on board.  Timed at around 11.25pm 3 POB, 1 Fatal... Read more

09-Mar-15 Sikorsky UH-60 Pensacola, US-Florida (11F)

7 Marines and 4 Army personnel killed in poor visibility on Florida coast. The missing Marines were from a special operations regiment out of Camp LeJeune in North Carolina – identified as  Capt. Stanford Henry Shaw III , Master Sgt. Thomas Saunders, Staff Sgt. Liam Flynn, Staff Sgt. Trevor P. Blaylock , Staff Sgt. Kerry... Read more

09-Mar-15 LQ-FJQ Airbus AS350B3 Villa Castelli, Argentina (5F)

Mid air crash of two AS350 helicopters resulting in the fatal crash of both aircraft with a total of 10 lives lost.  Aircraft burnt out in post-crash fire, and were involved in the filming of a reality TV show called Dropped. Eight French nationals, including three sports stars, and the Argentine pilots died when the... Read more

09-Mar-15 LQ-CGK Airbus AS350B3 Villa Castelli, Argentina (5F)

Mid air crash of two AS350 helicopters resulting in the fatal crash of both aircraft with a total of 10 lives lost.  Aircraft burnt out in post-crash fire, and were involved in the filming of a reality TV show called Dropped. Eight French nationals, including three sports stars, and the Argentine pilots died when the... Read more

08-Mar-15 ZS-HBV Bell UH-1 Olifantsbos, South Africa (1F)

The helicopter went down in mountainous terrain while water bombing the area, killing the pilot – named later here as Hendrik Marais... Read more

06-Mar-15 JA6741 Airbus AS332L1 Kihokucho, Japan (2F)

Helicopter was engaged in low level powerline work, hit powerline and crashed killing both on board.  Post crash fire.... Read more

06-Mar-15 N356AM Airbus EC130 St Louis, US-Missouri (1F)

Security video shows helicopter search light spinning to the left. The video shows that the helicopter entered a steep descent and impacted the side of the hospital building and parking lot at night.  Operated by Air Methods for ARCH Air Medical.  Pilot named here as Ronald Rector... Read more

05-Mar-15 D-HDDD Eurocopter BK117 Stuttgart, Germany (1F)

Hospital worker walked into spinning tail rotor shortly after helicopter had landed, and died from his injuries... Read more

26-Feb-15 Imamzadeh Ebrahim, Iran (3F)

No details released apart from fatality numbers.  One unconfirmed report quotes the type as AB212... Read more

19-Feb-15 ZK-IPY Robinson R44 Queenstown, New Zealand (2F)

Fatalities named in the press as Stephen Anthony Nicholson Combe, aged 42, of Wanaka, and James Louis Patterson Gardner, aged 18, of Queenstown... Read more

16-Feb-15 Sikorsky UH-60 Hafar al-Batin, Saudi Arabia (4F)

Crashed on night training flight, killing four – The ministry identified the dead crew members as Lt. Col. Ali al-Arfaj, 1st Lt. Majid al-Fifeefi, 1st Lt. Jadie Qablan and technician Raed al-Jahni.... Read more

13-Feb-15 CC-PHY Robinson R44 San Lorenzo, Chile (3F)

Helicopter with four on board crashed in forest area.  One passenger (named as Miguel Zunino Valenzuela) jumped clear just before the helicopter crashed and the other three died in the accident, including Ítalo Zunino Muratori, Nicolás Fossatti and pilot Luis Alvarado.... Read more

12-Feb-15 8781 MD Helicopters MD500E Ebino, Japan (3F)

Two instructors and one student died on a training accident.  Weather was a factor and cause them to change their planned route after take-off.... Read more

12-Feb-15 N111ZP Rotorway A600 Bohusovice nad Ohri, Czech Republic (1F)

Test flight of newly imported helicopter.  Pilot killed... Read more

11-Feb-15 HAL Dhruv Ganderbal, India (2F)

Instructor and student killed on night training flight.  Crashed in rocky mountainous area and burnt out... Read more

28-Jan-15 7912 Bell UH-1H Binh Chanh, Vietnam (4F)

Crashed on training flight killing all four on board... Read more

28-Jan-15 Eurocopter Bo105 Cortes de la Frontera, Spain (2F)

Crashed killing both on board after hitting powerlines at night.  Helicopter was carrying 800-900 kg of hashish and on an illegal (unbooked with air traffic) flight.  One of those on board was from the Albanian Air Force. Photos show a Bo105 in dark camouflage colours... Read more

26-Jan-15 N86235 Enstrom F280FX Erie, US-Colorado (2F)

Crashed adjacent to the threshold of runway 15 and burnt out.  Mountain View Fire & Rescue issued a statement saying there were two fatalities.  This short video interview suggests that part of the helicopter separated in mid air.  Operator Mountain One Helicopters announced on their Facebook page that the victims were instructor Alex Viola and... Read more

23-Jan-15 Bell UH-1Y Twentynine Palms, US-California (2F)

Marines helicopter out of MCAS Miramar crashed on a training flight at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms.  Both on board died in the accident, named later as Capt. Elizabeth Kealey and 1st Lt. Adam Satterfield... Read more

16-Jan-15 N416JB CHR Safari The Woodlands, US-Texas (1F)

Helicopter crashed killing the 51-year old pilot at 2510 Northline Road, nr  College Park Drive, later named as Michael Mims.... Read more

10-Jan-15 N348VH Robinson R22 Catano Bay, Puerto Rico

Crashed into water killing the sole occupant pilot... Read more

10-Jan-15 PR-HPR Robinson R44 Santa Monica, Brazil (1F)

The pilot was killed and an occupant was seriously injured after a helicopter crashed in the PR-576 highway, in Santa Monica, Paraná.  Post crash fire.  Helicopter reportedly hit a large bird, and wires during emergency landing... Read more

08-Jan-15 XA-SMG Airbus EC130B4 Juarez, Mexico (2F)

Crashed at night killing owner Mauro Garza Fernandez, and passenger Alejandro Lopez Lopez.  Pilot Ciro Huerta Martinez and the other two passengers named as Balden Lorenzo González and Jorge Armando Gonzalez Bustos were injured.  Some reports say that the helicopter was not equipped for night flights.  Video of the crash site here.... Read more

02-Jan-15 N3183T Robinson R44 San Juan, Puerto Rico (1F)

Fatal accident, no further details yet... Read more

31-Dec-14 N57AW Bell 206L4 Benson, US-Arizona (2F)

Helicopter crashed on post-maintenance ferry flight from Phoenix to Sierra Vista, killing pilot Jeff Steele and mechanic Marc Hansen, who were both employed by Airwest Helicopters LLC. The helicopter was operated for Cochise County Sheriff’s Department... Read more

29-Dec-14 N771MM Robinson R22 Lantana, US-Florida (1F)

Crashed in unknown circumstances just outside boundary fence of Lantana Airport – killing instructor Luis Aviles, and seriously injuring student pilot Johnathan Desouza... Read more

27-Dec-14 PT-HNC Helibras HB350B Bertioga, Brazil (5F)

Crashed into Mangrove swamp not long after take-off from Condo Iporanga in Guaruja when en route to Sao Paulo, killing all five on board.  This included Marcelo Muller, grandson of the founder of the Muller beverage company, his wife Lumara Rocha Müller, their 2 year old daughter Georgia and her nanny Raquel dos Santos Vilas... Read more

07-Dec-14 RA-06138 Mil Mi-8T Varandy, Russia (2F)

Heavy landing after reported engine failure.  Impact killed two of the six on board, named here as Vladimir Novikov and Flarit Galyavutdinov... Read more

04-Dec-14 CS-HFD Schweizer 300CBi Ponte de Sor, Portugal (2F)

Crashed on training flight, killing Portuguese instructor and Angolan student... Read more

02-Dec-14 N3234U Robinson R44 Bountiful, US-Utah (2F)

Main rotor and mast separated shortly after take-off from Sky Park Airport on post-maintenance test flight to track and balance the blades.  Two fatalities named later as Claus Hauer and Bruce Orr... Read more

29-Nov-14 5H-TWA Robinson R44 Kipunguni, Tanzania (4F)

Helicopter crashed killing all 4 POB – Two pilots from the police force, a civilian pilot and a police officer were killed.  On final approach to Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.  Potential wake vortex issue from recently landed airliner?  Anti Poaching flight... Read more

20-Nov-14 RA-04032 Airbus AS350B3 Mikhalchikovo, Russia (5F)

Crashed in foggy conditions en route from Moscow to Kstovo (Nizhny Novgorod region) between the villages of Mihalchikovo and Korabotovo. Killing the pilot and four passengers, including an 8-year-old girl.... Read more

06-Nov-14 Boeing AH-64 Boise, US-Idaho (2F)

Crashed on night training mission.  The two pilos were named as Chief Warrant Officers Stien P. Gearhart, 50, of Meridian and Jon L. Hartway, 43, of Kun... Read more

02-Nov-14 Mil Mi-2 Yamal, Russia (2F)

Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has confirmed the death of two persons in the crash of a private Mi-2 helicopter in Yamal, northwest Siberia.  Heliccopter crashed into a lake and only the tail visible above the water... Read more

28-Oct-14 ZK-ITJ MD Helicopters MD500E Brunswick, New Zealand (1F)

Struck wires while spraying at low level, killing pilot Peter Robb... Read more

23-Oct-14 N7518Q Robinson R44 Frederick, US-Maryland (3F)

Mid-air collision with Cirrus fixed wing N122ES.  Helicopter crashed fatally in an industrial area.  Total of three fatal – named later as Christopher David Parsons, 29, of Westminster, an instructor for Advanced Helicopter Concepts.  William Jenkins, 47, of Colorado, and Breandan J. MacFawn, 35, of Cumberland, were also killed... Read more

14-Oct-14 Robinson R44 Rooibokkraal, South Africa (1F)

2000 hr pilot Bernhard de Beer flying his own helicopter on a route he covers most days.  Crashed fatally and completely burned out... Read more

12-Oct-14 Sikorsky SH-60 Kartepe, Turkey (4F)

Turkish Navy Black Hawk had controlled flight into terrain in poor weather.  All 4 POB killed... Read more

10-Oct-14 Mil Mi-8 Tuva, Russia (14F)

Helicopter crashed into a mountainside amid low cloud and falling snow and caught fire when it hit the ground   There were 11 passengers and 3 crew members on board .  Wreckage not found until 07-Aug-15 and reported 08-Aug-15... Read more

08-Oct-14 Bell 407 Beiji, Iraq (2F)

The helicopter was allegedly downed by IS with a shoulder fired missile.  One report says three fatalities... Read more

07-Oct-14 ZK-HBQ Robinson R44 Kahurangi, New Zealand (1F)

Cause unknown.  Helicopter went missing on flight from Karamea to Nelson and the wreckage was not found for a further four days.  The deceased pilot was named as Damian Webster... Read more

04-Oct-14 N335AE Bell 206L.1 Wichita Falls, US-Texas (3F)

Accident on night EMS flight just one block short of its intended landing spot at United Regional Hospital in Wichita Falls, inbound from Waurika, OK.  Patient (named here as 26-year-old Buddy Rhodes) killed in the accident, and the three crew named here as pilot Zechariah Smith, flight nurse Leslie Stewart and flight paramedic Erasmus J. Vandercolff... Read more

02-Oct-14 HB-ZJC Eurocopter EC130 Bart, France (5F)

Helicopter took off from Lausanne, Switzerland and has crashed in France – reportedly just prior to landing at Montbéliard – Courcelles Aerodrome. Weather reported as foggy and press report says that pilot was looking for a gap in the cloud to land at the airfield.  Five of seven POB killed when helicopter landed on a... Read more

01-Oct-14 HAL Cheetah Bharthaul, India (3F)

Cheetah helicopter of the Indian Army taking part in the ongoing military exercise at the Jat Regimetanl Centre (JRC) at Bareilly crashed minutes after take-off killing all three on board.  It had gained only a few hundred metres in height when it caught fire mid-air.  Another report states it was a maintenance flight.  The three... Read more

01-Oct-14 Bell-Boeing MV-22 Arabian Gulf, Bahrain (1F)

Osprey temporarily lost power after taking off from the amphibious ship Makin Island. temporarily hitting the water before the pilot regained control.  In that moment, two Marine air crewmen aboard jumped out when it looked like the Osprey was going into the ocean, with only one recovered.  The search for the second has been called... Read more

28-Sep-14 N7062U Helicycle Gallatin, US-Tennessee (1F)

Crashed on take off from private property near the intersection of Old Douglas Lane and Old Flynn Road.  Owner/pilot James Lee died in the accident... Read more

27-Sep-14 HS-CCN Eurocopter EC130 Naung Mon, Myanmar (1F)

Crashed in jungle on flight searching for two missing mountaineers.  Wreckage found three days later.  Two occupants (pilot  Capt Chatchawal Thanthong and experienced mountain trekker U Shwe Yin Taw Gyi) hiked for some time and were located further days after that according to this report.  The third (Myanmar co-pilot Aung Myat Toe who navigated) was... Read more

25-Sep-14 ZS-OFJ Robinson R44 Rand Airport, South Africa (2F)

Crashed in open field not far short of landing at Rand Airport. Both people on board killed – pilot named here as Blake Simpson.   The helicopter caught fire after impact and was completely destroyed.... Read more

23-Sep-14 YV-2537 Bell 206B Tumeremo, Venezuela (3F)

Crashed into heavy wooded area and wreckage not found until 05-Oct-14.  Pilot David Guerra had reported loss of power and autorotated into the jungle... Read more

20-Sep-14 PR-CIG Robinson R44 Fama, Brazil (2F)

Helicopter crashed into lake during a scenic flight, although Military Police reported that this type of operation was not permitted for this helicopter and/or pilot.  Pilot Abitbol Bruno Nogueira de Andrade got out (and reportedly fled the scene) while the two passengers were trapped inside and drowned.  Press report stated “According to police, the driver... Read more

19-Sep-14 RA-1233G Eurocopter SA341G Vasilievsky Island, Russia (1F)

Helicopter overflew a boat before flying at low level and high speed, getting lower very gradually until hitting the water. The water surface was glassy smooth, perhaps contributory.  After crashing, the helicopter is said to have sunk almost immediately.  The pilot/owner who died has been identified as 41 year old Alexei Afonchenkovu.  Passenger survived... Read more

16-Sep-14 G-SUEX Bell 206B Flamborough, UK (2F)

Initial reports coming in. Witnesses say they heard a “loud crack” shortly be fire the helicopter started descending rapidly. The helicopter took off from Dechmont, near Livingston in West Lothian and was due to land at Humberside Airport for refuelling before flying on to Gamston, presumably en route it’s home base at Manston. It had... Read more

13-Sep-14 EC-KSD AgustaWestland AW119 Alpera, Spain (1F)

Pilot killed in crash on firefighting ops – Type and operator confirmed by this report.  Registration confirmed from photo on this page – enlarged here.  Pilot named as Fernando Baraza on this tribute page... Read more

05-Sep-14 OY-HRG Robinson R44 Samsoe Sea, Denmark (4F)

Helicopter ditched.  Three bodies recovered, fourth not found and presume drowned. Owner/pilot was billionaire Michael Henriksen of MH Gruppen, which specialises in container shipping.  Another name published was that of Morten Friis, an executive in Norrecco, also part of MH Gruppen.  Volvo Trucks Denmark named the other two as their CEO Søren Wettergreen and Sales... Read more

05-Sep-14 N60JD Robinson R44 Roeselare, Belgium (2F)

Crashed shortly after take-off into the car park of a football stadium.  Post crash fire.  The two deceased were named as Lieven Ghekiere and Johan Deceuninck Note – despite being registered in the US, this helicopter has been based in Belgium... Read more

04-Sep-14 RA-24255 Mil Mi-8 Gelendzhik, Russia (2F)

Crashed near Gelendzhik airport and caught fire. Full video of accident here.  From a steady hover the helicopter lost height and hit the ground heavily and bounced.  The impact caused the tail boom to shear off and thus the helicopter became dynamically unstable, it immediately crashed onto its belly and caught fire.  It burned out... Read more

03-Sep-14 XC-ALM AgustaWestland AW109S Lerma, Mexico (2F)

While en route from the Mexico City area to Toluca, helicopter went down just 5 miles from destination... Read more

26-Aug-14 RA-22430 Mil Mi-8AMT Bentiu, South Sudan (3F)

During operations for the UN, the helicopter was shot down over the area of Bentiu in Southern Sudan. Three crew members died, a fourth was seriously injured.... Read more

25-Aug-14 VH-YPC Robinson R22 Halls Creek, Australia (1F)

During the ferry flight, the helicopter collided with terrain. The helicopter was destroyed by fire and the pilot died in the accident.... Read more

24-Aug-14 HU.15-90 Airbus Bo105CBS-4 Marana, Spain (3F)

Blades struck mountain side during rescue operation of a climber, causing helicopter to crash.  All three on board killed, named as Captain Emilio Pérez Peláez Lieutenient Marcos Antonio Benito Rodríguez José Martínez Conejo (Mountain specialist) The helicopter is officially serialled HU.15-90.  It also carried the Guardia Civil code 09-118 See also Guardia Civil tribute video... Read more

20-Aug-14 FAG-132 Bell 206L1 LongRanger El Aguacate, Guatemala (5F)

Bad weather had prevented the helicopter from from touching down at the base where they had planned to land. The accident happened during the diversion. One of the occupants was Major General Israel Rudy Ruiz Ortiz, Chief of Staff of National Defense of Guatemala... Read more

20-Aug-14 09 Yellow Mil Mi-24VP Heorhiyivka, Ukraine (2F)

Separatists downed one Mil Mi-24 helicopter from the Ukrainian Air Force with a portable air defence system... Read more

19-Aug-14 N444RS MD Helicopters MD500E Tuscaloosa, US-Alabama (2F)

Crashed on powerline patrol, killing both on board – 51-year-old pilot Matthew Wallace of Hiram, Georgia and 63-year-old David Carson of Tuscaloosa, Alabama who was employed by Alabama Power.... Read more

16-Aug-14 ZK-HYO Eurocopter AS350B2 Mount Alta, New Zealand (1F)

Heliski helicopter crashed on mountain.  Boom detatched from cabin, which rolled further down the slope.  1 fatal (named as Jerome Box) of 7 on board – five skiers, their guide and the pilot. The other six all to hospital, none with life-threatening injuries... Read more

12-Aug-14 N7089J Bell 47G-5 Mansfield, US-Illinois (1F)

Helicopter clipped powerlines and crashed killing pilot Paul Reynolds during a low level transit between fields he was working on.... Read more

12-Aug-14 Mil Mi-17 Sinjar, Iraq (1F)

Helicopter was involved in evacuating people in a humanitarian emergency situation in northern Iraq.  Crashed – killing the pilot (reported as “Majed”) – possibly due to overloading. Those on board included Yazidi member of parliament, Vian Dakheel New York Times reporter Alissa Rubin – see story Australian photographer Adam Ferguson, freelancing for the New York... Read more

10-Aug-14 N4690 Bell 47G-2 Jeanerette, US-Louisiana (1F)

Crashed on the edge of a sugar cane field killing pilot Kenneth E. Squires, age 60.  Five years ago age 55 the pilot was quoting himself as having flown 19,000 hours... Read more

08-Aug-14 I-PAAD Eurocopter SA318C Gaby, Italy (2F)

Crashed into mountain during a thunderstorm killing pilot Domenico Praiale (55) and passenger Sara Piredda Piras (29).  Local reports suggest ​​poor visibility due to fog and clouds.  Helicopter was original an SA318 Alouette but had been extensively modified and was classed as a homebuild... Read more

27-Jul-14 I-LUPU Eurocopter AS350B3 Varco Sabino, Italy (2F)

Firefighting reconnaissance flight from Fassinoro.  Helicopter encountered difficulties and emergency landing procedure made – but hit a low level cable  shortly prior to intended landing point.  One killed in crash, second died during recovery operation.  Third and last occupant flown to hospital.... Read more

25-Jul-14 HAL Dhruv Ataria, India (7F)

Emergency declared shortly after take-off, then crashed killing all seven on board.  Copilot named here as Sqn. Ldr. R. Manu... Read more

23-Jul-14 N949FM Bell 206B Wenatchee, US-Washington (1F)

Crashed from low level killing the sole occupant pilot, while flying agricultural ops drying orchards... Read more

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