15-Dec-18 Leonardo AW109S Serra de Pias, Portugal (4F)

The helicopter was returning to its base in Macedo de Cavaleiros, Bragança district, after carrying out a medical emergency mission to transport a seriously ill patient to the Santo António Hospital in Porto.  The accident was located some 4-5 hours after the helicopter was reported missing.  All four on board died in the accident, named in this report as pilot João Lima, co-pilot Luís Rosindo, doctor Luis Vega and nurse Daniela Silva

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, AW109, Civil, EMS, Fatal, Portugal, Safety

UK AAIB Bulletin – December 2018

The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness.

However, the AAIB separately released a “Special Bulletin” the same day, which is as follows:

AAIB Special Bulletin S2/2018 on Agusta AW169, G-VSKP

Tags: AAIB, Accidents, Civil, Safety, UK

01-Dec-18 HL9419 Kamov Ka32 Guri, Korea (1F)

Crashed into river when hovering and taking up water for firefighting operation for a fire on Mount Youngchuk.  The rescue services said the helicopter crashed into the Han River near Gangdong Bridge around 11:20 a.m. The pilot and copilot were able to exit the aircraft immediately prior to impact, but the mechanic was trapped in the wreckage and later died

Once source is quoting the registration as HL9419 on the basis that they think the three digit code on the engine cover of the recovered helicopter in this image is “613” but we cannot be sure of that and thus cautious of this registration

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, Firefighting, Ka32, Kamov, Korea, Korean Forest Service, Safety

26-Nov-18 Bell UH-1 Sancaktepe, Turkey (4F)

A Turkish military UH-1 has crashed in the Sancaktepe district of Istanbul, with four fatalities and a fifth person with serious injuries

Tags: Accidents, Bell, Fatal, Military, Safety, Turkey, Turkish Army, UH-1

27-Oct-18 G-VSKP Leonardo AW169 Leicester, UK (5F)

Helicopter took off from Leicester City FC stadium and crashed shortly after in the adjacent car park.  Five fatalities named by police as Club chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, two members of his staff, Nursara Suknamai and Kaveporn Punpare, pilot Eric Swaffer and passenger Izabela Roza Lechowicz.

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, AW169, Civil, Fatal, Leonardo, Safety, UK

30-Sep-18 N440SH Robinson R44 Westminster, US-Maryland

Helicopter was trying to take off from the top level of a parking garage when the operator lost control, striking a parked car

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Maryland

29-Sep-18 N849NA Airbus AS350B2 Alto, US-New Mexico

Heavy landing with some forward momentum, then pitched up on the front of its skids, slid forward, then down a slope, moving round as it did, but still ending on its skids (see video)

Aircraft operated by Trans Aero, part of Roberts Aircraft – and operated under “Trans Aero Medevac” titles from a base at Artesia, NM.  3 POB reported by FAA as not being injured

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, EMS, Eurocopter, Roberts Aircraft Co, Safety, US-New Mexico

09-Jan-18 N’gokro, Ivory Coast

French military helicopter crashed at N’gokro in the Alépé region, about 60km from Abidjan.  3 POB not seriously injured

Tags: Accidents, French Air Force, Ivory Coast, Military, Safety

01-Jan-18 ZS-??? Airbus AS350B3 Cathedral Peak, South Africa

Police helicopter ended up on its side during a search operation. The pilot and crew‚ who included a search and rescue unit operator and his search dog‚ survived the crash. Photos suggest the subject helicopter is ZS-RDL (msn 4170) or ZS-RPL (msn 3468)

Tags: Accidents, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Law Enforcement, Safety, South Africa, South African Police

11-Nov-17 N744BS Robinson R44 Page, US-Arizona

Crashed at the end of the runway

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Arizona

09-Nov-17 N500DC MD Helicopters 500D York, US-Pennsylvania

Precautionary field landing, per FAA report

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Haverfield Aviation, MD500D, Safety, US-Pennsylvania

08-Nov-17 N138WH Hughes 500D Sulphur, US-Louisiana (2F)

Two men working on power lines from the helicopter,  and  heir safety harness failed because it had been rubbing against the power lines causing it to “snap” the release from Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office reportedly said.  Both men fell about 100 feet to their deaths from the helicopter – they were later named as Nicholas Gamalski, 27, and Travis Chiokai, 26.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, MD Helicopters, MD500D, Powerline Patrol, Safety, US-Louisiana

08-Nov-17 JA9672 Airbus AS332L Ueno, Japan (4F)

Helicopter crashed and burnt out on a road bridge.  Scene photo shows part of tail on river bank below bridge.  All four POB received fatal injuries.  Local power cuts indicate a wire strike but unclear if that was cause of accident or result of the flight altitude at the time

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS332, Civil, Eurocopter, Fatal, Japan, Safety, Toho Air Service

07-Nov-17 N93PH Bell 206B Rolling Fork, US-Mississippi

Force landing during aerial application work.

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Civil, Provine Helicopter Service, Safety, US-Mississippi

08-Nov-17 N275AE Bell 206L3 Union City, US-Tennessee

Air Evac Lifeteam aircraft had in-air problem on approach to the local 911 centre and put down in a hurry.  Power lines cut – not known if that was cause or effect of the heavy landing. Helicopter ended up on its skids, tail boom creased, main blades missing, upper part of tail bent and significant damage in area of rotor head, starboard windshield broken – see photo

3 POB to hospital but no serious injuries reported

Tags: Accidents, Air Evac Lifeteam, B206, Bell, Civil, EMS, Safety, US-Tennessee

06-Nov-17 N7085M Robinson R44 Inwood, US-Iowa

The sheriff was reported as saying Pilot Robert Krier with Ride the Sky Helicopters and passenger Steve Ahrendt, the owner of the cattle, were in the helicopter when it clipped a power line looking for loose cattle. Both occupants reported as suffering serious injuries.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Ride the Sky Helicopters, Robinson, Safety, US-Iowa

05-Nov-17 N522RL Bell 407 Rig MP281, US-Gulf of Mexico

Bird strike en route to offshore rig

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Civil, Offshore, RLC, Safety, US-Gulf of Mexico

21-Aug-17 RA-05750 Robinson R66 Maly Utrish, Russia (1F)

Sole occupant pilot suffered fatal injuries when helicopter crashed into a mountain, per press reports

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R66, Robinson, Russia, Safety

20-Aug-17 OE-XTM Airbus AS350B3 Cabril, Portugal (1F)

Firefighting operations and helicopter hit powerlines, causing it to crash to the ground.  Sole occupant pilot, named as Americo Sousa age 51, suffered fatal injuries

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Everjets, Fatal, Firefighting, Safety

20-Aug-17 N9526 Bell 47G2A St Marys, US-Pennsylvania

Heavy field landing after reported engine failure.  Little/no damage to tail boom suggests mainly vertical impact, although main blades broken at the rotorhead.  Aircraft is registered to James Delullo at an address in the same town as the accident location.

Tags: Accidents, B47, Bell, Civil, Safety, US-Pennsylvania

18-Aug-17 VH-LGN Robinson R44 Channel Point, Australia

Passing 500 ft in a descending turn at approximately 50 kt, the pilot reported the helicopter began to vibrate. The pilot was unable to stop the vibration and conducted a precautionary landing. The helicopter landed hard and severed the tail boom. The helicopter sustained substantial damage and the pilot and three passengers were not injured.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety

17-Aug-17 OE-XGM Schweizer 300C Engelhartszell, Austria

Pilot made emergency landing after experiencing problems during photo flight, and subsequent landing in open field left the aircraft on its starboard side.  Passenger received light head injuries

Tags: Accidents, Austria, Civil, S300, Safety, Schweizer

10-Aug-17 7T-WU? Bell 206L Douira, Algeria (4F)

Helicopter crashed on a photo survey flight – it was chartered by the National Agency for Studies and Follow-up on Railways Investment, who were conducting cartography of the new railway line linking Algiers downtown to the western suburb of Zeralda.  Images show the helicopter completely burnt out.

Tags: Accidents, Algeria, B206, Bell, Civil, Fatal, Safety, Tassili Airlines

07-Aug-17 Sikorsky UH-60 Nuevo Leon, Mexico

Blown over on its starboard side in strong winds while parked on the ramp – photo

Tags: Accidents, Mexican Air Force, Mexico, Military, Safety, Sikorsky, UH-60

10-Jun-17 N7482F Hughes 300C Tallulah, US-Louisiana

Substantially damaged by ground resonance

Tags: Accidents, Civil, S300C, Safety, Schweizer, US-Louisiana

10-Jun-17 B-31118 Bell 206B Fengbin, Taiwan (3F)

Helicopter took off at 1046 from Taidong for an aerial photography mission at Fengbin Township, Hualien County. At around 1220, the helicopter was loss of contact and crashed at Fengbin Township, Hualien County. One pilot and two aerial photographers aboard were killed – one was named as Chi Po-Lin, an acclaimed film director.  Helicopter almost completely burnt out

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Civil, Emerald Pacific Airlines, Fatal, Safety, Taiway

10-Jun-17 VH-ONE Bell 206B Avalon, Australia

Successful emergency landing in public park after engine problems.  Helicopter not damaged, all passengers safe.  Helicopter was on a tour flight from Mascot to Palm Beach

Tags: Accidents, Ausjet Helicopters, Australia, B206, Bell, Civil, Safety

09-Jun-17 902 Airbus AS565MB Varna, Bulgaria (1F)

Crashed into the sea during artillery exercise, after colliding with the Bulgarian Navy Wielingen-class Drazki 41 frigate.  Pilot (named as Captain Georgi Atanasov) later died in hospital, with the other two occupants seriously injured but stable.  Serial confirmed in this article

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Bulgaria, Bulgarian Air Force, Eurocopter, Fatal, Military, Safety

09-Jun-17 VT-NRK AgustaWestland AW119 Badrinath, India (1F)

Helicopter had difficulties on take-off and it appears that a crew member jumped from the aircraft prior to it impacting the ground, but was hit by the rotor blades and died – named as Vikram Lamba.  Helicopter had its skids ripped off and all four main blades ended up much shorter than they should have been.  Photos show the helicopter close to a rocky outcrop and the could possibly have impacted the rock, although unclear either whether that had actually happened, or whether it was cause or effect in the whole scenario.

Pilot Sanjay Wasi and co-pilot Alka Shukla suffered minor injury.

Passengers Naveen Bhai, Leela Ben, Harish Bhai and Ramesh Bhai were not seriously injured.

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, AW119, Civil, Fatal, India, Krestal Aviation, Safety

09-Jun-17 N590GG Robinson R44 Douglas, US-Wyoming

Main blades sliced tail boom and skids splayed out on heavy landing in gusty conditions.  2 POB injured

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Wyoming

04-Jun-17 N601HA Robinson R22HP Kenosha, US-Wisconsin

Helicopter ended on its side on the concrete apron with the sole occupant pilot seriously injured, who was then airlifted in a Flight for Life BK117

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Lakeshore Helicopter, R22, Robinson, Safety, US-Wisconsin

04-Jun-17 OE-BXY Airbus EC135 Hochsteiermark, Austria (2F)

During hoist operations with the rescuer and two patients being lifted, the wire separated from the helicopter causing all three to plunge into a ravine. The police rescuer age 28 and a woman aged 48 died from their injuries and a 47 year old man is seriously injured.  It is unknown why the wire separated from the helicopter

The police report of the accident says there were strong winds and the bad weather.

Tags: Accidents, Austrian Police, Civil, EC135, Eurocopter, Fatal, Safety

03-Jun-17 N7091F Robinson R44 Dimmit, US-Texas (1F)

Date was recorded as 04-Jun-17 when helicopter wreckage was found, but as reports state the pilot’s family were looking “in the middle of the night” for him, and he was last seen on 03-Jun-17, we believe the accident date would most likely have been 03-Jun-17. NTSB also tweeted on 4th June that they were attending “investigating yesterday’s crash of a Robinson R-44 helicopter in Dimmit, TX”.  No details of the situation have been reported, bar that it was working low level checking on cattle.

The accident killed 68-year old Don Oppliger – whos company owns ranches and farms in Texas, New Mexico and Nebraska to support the feeding of 230,000 cattle in six large feedlots. More than 90,000 acres of the roughly 150,000 acres held by the company are in Nebraska, including properties near Paxton, Wallace, Atkinson, Tryon and Johnstown.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Texas

02-Jun-17 Eurocopter AS355F Newark, US-New Jersey

Helicopter made emergency landing on main runway of Newark Airport.  No reported damage

Tags: Accidents, AS355, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety, US-New Jersey

02-Jun-17 D-HFCQ Robinson R44 Rostock, Germany

Main blades struck street light on final approach to land at the Hohe Düne marina, and the instability created led to the crash.  Tail (including rotor) separated in the accident.  The complete scene is best seen in this YouTube video. Light injuries to the 4 POB – although some reports say 3 POB and one injury on the ground.

There is a marked helipad at this location – see map

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Germany, R44, Robinson, Safety

31-May-17 Airbus AS532 Uludere, Turkey (13F)

Crashed after hitting high voltage wires shortly after take-off (one report says three minutes after take off).  All 13 POB deceased.  DHA news agency is reported as saying the helicopter was carrying a delegation, headed by a major-general, which was inspecting the Senoba region.

All 13 POB deceased, named as 23rd Border Division Command Major General Aydoğan Aydın, Colonel Oğuzhan Küçükdemir, Colonel Gökhan Peker, Colonel Songül Yakut, Major Koray Onay, Captain İlker Acar, Captain Nuri Şener, Pilot Captain Serhat Sığınak , Pilot Lieutenant Alldmüttalip Kesikbaş, Chief Sergeant Mehmet Erdogan, Technical Sergeant Fevzi Kıral, Sergeant Zeki Koç, and Infantry Specialist Sergeant Hakan İncekal

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, Fatal, Military, Safety, Turkey, Turkish Army

31-May-17 Boeing AH-64 Dornstadt-Tomerdingen, Germany

Emergency landing in a field of crop. No apparent damage from photos in press.  Quote > Instruments indicated that the hydraulics powering the flight control system had a loss in pressure, prompting a “land-as-soon-as-possible condition”

Tags: Accidents, AH-64, Boeing, Germany, Military, Safety, US Army

31-May-17 Z402 Airbus SA316 Dayarampura, India

Precautionary landing due to change of weather – it was a very soggy field

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, India, Indian Army, Military, SA316, Safety

30-May-17 Airbus AS365N3 Moorea, French Polynesia

French Navy Dauphin made a wheels up landing on the runway, with the helicopter remaining upright on its belly. Three POB not injured

The French Navy have two examples based at Papeete/Tahiti-Faaa (PPT / NTAA), serialled 6872 and 6928

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Eurocopter, French Navy, French Polynesia, Military, Safety

29-May-17 SMH-589 Mil Mi-17 Baddegama, Sri Lanka

While involved in flood relief support, helicopter landed in a residential garden, with the boom breaking off against the roof of the house. Registration validated by photo on this page

None of the 11 POB injured.  Helicopter substantially damaged

Tags: Accidents, Mi-17, Mil, Military, Safety, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Air Force

28-May-17 XB-CCP Robinson R44 II Chiconquiaco, Mexico

Crashed and destroyed by fire.  3 POB seriously injured.  Passengers named as Carlos Marcelo Ruiz Sánchez and Juan Domínguez were transferred to a hospital in Naolinco, while the pilot was taken to a hospital in Xalapa.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Mexico, R44, Robinson, Safety

27-May-17 Mil Mi-17 Neluwa, Sri Lanka

37-year- old SLAF airman, YMS Yaparathna, fall off a helicopter while conducting a rescue operation, along with the two individuals he was rescuing.  All three were injured when they fell, and were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital where the airman later died of his injuries.  He was posthumously promoted from Flight Sergeant to the rank of Warrant Officer

Tags: Accidents, Mi-17, Mil, Military, Safety, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Air Force

27-May-17 Mil Mi-17 Chilov Island, Azerbaijan

Successful emergency landing after reported engine failure.  Helicopter was en route to the Oil Rocks field with 15 pax and 3 crew.  No damage, no injuries

Tags: Accidents, Azerbaijan, Civil, Mi-17, Mil, Offshore, Safety, Silk Way Helicopter Services

27-May-17 VT-ENX Airbus AS365N Ahmedabad, India

Helicopter was flying from Manekpur in Valsad to Himmatnagar when the engine reportedly heated up.  Successful safe emergency landing made.  VVIP – the Chief Minister of Gujarat (Vijay Rupani) was on board.  The actual helicopter involved has not yet been identified and may have been a replacement in any case – after other issues with the CM’s helicopter earlier in the year.

Rupani was travelling with his personal secretary Shailesh Mandaliya

Registration assumed from a photo of the CM’s helicopter posted online by the Gujerati Government

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Civil, Eurocopter, India, Safety

27-May-17 Mil Mi-8 Maritime Territory, Russia

One of 7 POB injured in a rough landing of a Mil Mi-8 helicopter in the Far East’s Maritime Territory

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Mi-8, Mil, Russia, Safety

25-May-17 N62UP Airbus EC135 New Castle, US-Delaware (1F)

Air ambulance on training flight. Crash shortly after take off, killing the pilot. No patients or medical crew were on board.  Pilot named as Michael Murphy

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Civil, EC135, EMS, Eurocopter, Fatal, Metro Aviation, Safety, Training, US-Delaware

25-May-17 VT-CMM Sikorsky S76C++ Nilanga, India

Helicopter came down less than 30 seconds after take-off.  Video shows a sudden spark 41 seconds after take-off on a very low climb-out (which could suggest it hit wires), and the helicopter descended quickly from there.  4 POB including the Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra, but no significant injuries.  The helicopter did not gain any significant height between take-off and impacting the wires.

Thge official line from the state press dept is > ”The pilot decided on an emergency landing within 2 minutes of take-off. The helicopter didn’t crash-land, but got caught in wires while landing. We experienced sudden jerks, but no one suffered any injury. The CM has called for a detailed probe into the incident,’’ said Ketan Pathak, officer on special-duty (OSD) with the Chief Minister’s Office.

This report states air temperature was 45C.  The “brown out” from blown up earth/dust could be contributory – one suggestion was that the helipad had not been sufficiently watered and thus the dust cloud greater than it could have been.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Government of Maharashtra, India, S76, Safety, Sikorsky

25-May-17 N11FX Bell UH-1 Höfen, Austria

While landing after an aerobatic demo flight, the rotor blades came into contact with a building and the tail rotor gearbox separated from the aircraft.  Subsequent small fire was put out and helicopter written off on the helipad.  Pilot Siegfried Schwarz

Tags: Accidents, AH-1, Austria, Bell, Civil, Flying Bulls, Safety

23-May-17 XB-LUB Bel 47D Amacuzac, Mexico (1F)

Helicopter crashed during mosquito control operations, and burnt out in the following fire.  Sole occupant pilot died in the accident

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, B47, Bell, Civil, Fatal, Mexico, Safety

23-May-17 Bell UH-1 Naccache, Lebanon

Emergency landing made on a road; Photo shows helicopter apparently intact and complete, with no damage

Tags: Accidents, Bell, Lebanese Air Force, Lebanon, Military, Safety, UH-1

22-May-17 AN-136 Eurocopter EC145 Punta Chame, Panama

Helicopter was flying from Santiago (Veraguas Province) to Panama Pacifico airport in the capital city, and was impacted by a flock of birds causing a loss of thrust in its tail rotor.  Am Emergency landing was made at Punta Chame, which resulted in the helicopter being on its port side on the edge of the beach.

Pilot named as Major Oriel Reyes, was returning after completing a humanitarian SAR mission with the Joint Task Force, including the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) and other SAR Aircraft Units.  Helicopter registration was given in Panamanian Navy press release.

Passengers were named as Commissioner Belisario Bonini and Sergeant Primero Augusto Sánchez

Tags: Accidents, EC145, Eurocopter, Military, Panama, Panamanian Navy, Safety

22-May-17 N207CH Airbus AS350B2 Herbert Glacier, US-Alaska

Landing accident on a glacier.  No injuries to 7 POB

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Coastal Helicopters, Eurocopter, Safety, Tours, US-Alaska

22-May-17 N2032S Schweizer 300CBi Eden Prairie, US-Minnesota

Fell onto starboard side during training accident.  Two POB not seriously injured

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Hummingbird Aviation, S300, Safety, Schweizer, US-Minnesota

21-May-17 Leonardo AW101 Hamr el Ain, Algeria (3F)

Helicopter crashed in open farmland on a night reconnaissance mission, killing three POB.  Post crash fire.  Reported location is right by significant amounts of high voltage lines converging on a power station site, and the Algerian Navy later confirmed (below) that the helicopter hit powerlines.

The official statement in the news section of the Algerian Navy website shows an AW101 and official naval photos of three men in their uniforms, thus confirming 3 fatalities and not 5 as reported in some sources.

The statement reads as follows – During a night training patrol on the Blida-Tipaza axis, a rescue helicopter belonging to the Naval Forces was crashed on Sunday the 21^st of May 2017, at 9.40 pm after having struck high-voltage power lines near the commune of Hamr El Ain, in the Wilaya of Tipaza, causing the death of the members of its crew, composed of three officers.  In this painful circumstance, Major General HAOULI Mohamed Larbi Commandant of the Naval Forces sends his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and assures them of his deep compassion and support in the aftermath of this tragic accident.

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, Algeria, Algerian Navy, AW101, Fatal, Military, Safety

20-May-17 6595 Airbus HH-65 Berkeley, US-California

Emergency landing after the autopilot system failed and a crew member smelled something electrical burning.  Helicopter removed from site by road back to base at CGAS San Francisco

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Eurocopter, Military, Safety, US Coast Guard, US-California

20-May-17 N2322Z Robinson R22 Linden, US-New Jersey

Fell onto starboard side in training accident.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R22, Robinson, Safety, Training, US-New Jersey

20-May-17 N778TL Robinson R66 Canon City, US-Colorado

Close to company base, helicopter landed upright, but with main blades slicing the tail boom off close to the tail rotor

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Colorado Vertical, R66, Robinson, Safety, Tours, US-Colorado

19-May-17 Robinson R44 Heilbron, South Africa (2F)

two farmers and their sons were returning home from the Nampo Harvest Day on Bothaville in the Free State when the accident occurred.  One farmer, Douw Wentzel Snr, and the other farmer’s son Andre Deale suffered fatal injuries.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R44, Robinson, Safety, South Africa

19-May-17 N197LL Airbus EC145 Terre Haute, US-Indiana

While in cruise flight at 3000 MSL, a “loud bang” was heard with a secondary “loud rushing” noise. The pilot verified no flight control or system malfunction and initiated a precautionary landing to nearest suitable landing area. After landing, a post-flight inspection revealed a broken copilot chin bubble with bird remains. No occupant was seated in the co-pilot seat at time of incident. The crew was in the cabin area, attending to patient care. No injuries were sustained from the incident and no additional aircraft damage was noted.

Flight program = Indiana University Health LifeLine

NOTE – report quotes operator as Metro Aviation, but this aircraft was re-registered to Air Methods in March 2017.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, EC145, EMS, Eurocopter, Metro Aviation, Safety

18-May-17 N6040Y Bell 407 Fort Worth, US-Texas

FAA reported substantially damaged after hard landing on training flight – aircraft operated by Bell Helicopter Training Academy

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Civil, Safety, Training, US-Texas

17-May-17 VH-MNU Robinson R44 Moreton Island, Australia

During aerial work, the helicopter collided with trees and subsequently with terrain. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety

14-May-17 Tabayama, Japan (1F)

When the rescue helicopter — which was hovering over the scene — moved its position, rocks and tree branches suddenly tumbled down the slope over the patient (who had fallen and summoned help) and the two rescue workers on the ground. The man was airlifted to a hospital in Kofu where he was confirmed dead. The two rescue workers sustained light injuries.  Police are investigating the details of the rock slide, which may have been caused by the helicopter.  There is no mention in available press of damage to the helicopter

Fatality named as 49-year-old Tomohiro Ito, a banker from Yokohama.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, Japan, Safety, SAR

13-May-17 HB-ZTM Airbus AS350B2 Kandersteg, Switzerland (1F)

During landing phase, helicopter fell on its port side, killing the pilot.  3 of the 5 passengers were slightly injured.  Pilot named in prelim accident report as Schweizer Bürger

Tags: Accidents, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Fatal, Mountain Flyers 80, Safety, Switzerland

13-May-17 Bell 407 Mosul, Iraq

Helicopter shot down from ground fire.  Reports do not agree as to whether the two occupants were fatally injured or not.  In one report, a Bell 407 is shown with holes in the front windscreen

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Iraq, Iraqi Army, Military, Safety

13-May-17 D-HHFW Bell 206B Hirtshals, Denmark

While being transported, the trailer carrying the helicopter started to fishtail from the towing vehicle – causing the helicopter to work free of the straps/cables holding it in place, and the trailer finally turned over, causing significant damage to the helicopter

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Civil, Denmark, Safety

10-May-17 OM-BYM Bell 429 Vyšnej Šebastová, Slovakia (2F)

4POB – two firefighters, who were fatally injured, and two police.  The fatalities were named as Peter Toďor, who died at the scene, and Radoslava Lacka, who died a little time later in hospital.  Reported as a training flight and helicopter spiralled down from 100-200m altitude to a very heavy landing.

Tags: Accidents, B429, Bell, Civil, Law Enforcement, Safety, Slovak Police, Slovakia

10-May-17 D-HAFB Westland-Bell 47 Pertisau, Austria (2F)

Crashed and burnt out killing both on board, after reportedly hitting the cables of a material cableway.  According to a report in the Tyrolean edition of the “Kronen Zeitung”, Peter H. (55) from Tulfes and Richard G. (52) from Hall.

Tags: Accidents, Austria, B47, Bell, Civil, Fatal, Safety

10-May-17 N480W Enstrom 480 Pfunders, Italy (1F)

Helicopter had started the day in Pisa, flying north and refuelling at Bolzano.  On next leg to Salzburg it encountered some difficulties and one report suggests it was on fire before reaching the ground and burning out in a ravine.  Sole occupant pilot fatally injured – reported as a 75 year old Austrian national

Tags: 480, Accidents, Civil, Enstrom, Fatal, Italy, Safety

10-May-17 G-HKCN Airbus H125 Bergen, Norway

Ended up in the water next to the superyacht it is based on – MY Bacarella after the helicopter’s downdraft caused a loose tarpaulin to rise up into the rotors shortly before touchdown, and evasive action by the pilot steered the helicopter away from the boat and into the water alongside.  Three POB, one seriously injured, two with minor injuries.  One occupant, Quentin Smith, named the seriously injured colleague as David Tang in this television interview and the third occupant as Charles without giving a surname.  Hong Kong press later named the third occupant as Charles Chan, chairman of media company TVB

Accident timed at 21.24 local time

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Norway, Safety

10-May-17 N428JG Robinson R44 Vevay, US-Indiana

Struck powerline during agricultural work and force landed in the field below

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, St Louis Helicopter

08-May-17 HL9414 Kamov Ka32 Samcheok, Korea (1F)

Helicopter struck wires and made an emergency landing into shallow water – but ended upright with little apparent damage from available press images.  However, one crew member knocked unconscious in the manoeuvre and later died in hospital from his injuries

Civil registration HL9414, and also carries Korea Forest Service fleet code FP 608

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Firefighting, Ka32, Kamov, Korean Forest Service, Safety, South Korea

07-May-17 9N-AKG Airbus AS350B3e Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Helicopter was hit by an object while flying and damage was sustained to the boom (picture).

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Heli-Everest, Nepal, Safety

07-May-17 Bell 206 Waterloo, US-Illinois

Helicopter involved in low level agricultural work, clipped wires and came down into the field.  Pilot walked away

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, B206, Bell, Civil, Safety, US-Illinois

05-May-17 N981RR Robinson R44 Santa Barbara, US-California

Two passengers and a pilot were taking a waterfront tour, when the R44 experienced mechanical problems and an emergency landing was made.  The helicopter struck two vans near a golf course and caught fire, but all three occupants got out before the flames broke out.

Operator was Santa Barbara Helicopter Tours, who lease it from Spitzer Helicopters

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, Santa Barbara Helicopter Tours, US-California

05-May-17 G-MATH Airbus AS350B3 Wycombe Air Park, UK

Landed on its port side with minimal damage to anything on the starboard side (stabiliser, tail rotor), although starboard skid somewhat bent.  Possible dynamic roll-over.  3 POB all to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety, UK