27-May-2015
Crashed from low level into an onion field during agricultural operations. Pilot seriously injured, including both legs broken and 80% burns in the post-crash fire... Read more
11-May-2015
Emergency landing Monday in the bed of the Los Angeles River near South Gate due to electrical problem. No injuries to 2 POB or damage to the helicopter. Military registration not known, but carries squadron code 423 by the nose... Read more
17-Apr-2015Source: DynCorp
DynCorp International (DI) announced today that they have been awarded a contract to continue supporting the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) aviation program helping suppress and control wildfires. Work will be performed at McClellan Park in Sacramento, California, and aircraft are deployed throughout 12 air tactical and 10 helitack bases throughout... Read more
17-Apr-2015
Bird strike, breaking an antenna. Safe emergency landing made... Read more
15-Apr-2015
Emergency landing on public beach after reported oil leak... Read more
7-Apr-2015Source: USCG
The Coast Guard is searching for a new base of operations for helicopter crews serving the greater Los Angeles area. The current facility, which has been located in leased hangars and support buildings at Los Angeles International Airport since 1962, will no longer be available as of September 2016 due to airport expansion. Planning for... Read more
28-Mar-2015
Lost power and landed in a tree... Read more
3-Mar-2015Source: Helinet
Helinet Aviation, a diversified flight services company, announced today it has been named an Authorized Training Center by AgustaWestland for the manufacturer’s AW109 E and S models. The certification recognizes Helinet’s 28 years of experience training pilots across a broad range of helicopters including the company’s recent expansion of its AW109 E and S fleet... Read more
3-Mar-2015Source: Airbus Helicopters
Airbus Helicopters Inc. will hold six regional Customer Service Symposiums in 2015, expanding the popular program this year to include two additional locations. The events provide an opportunity for operators of Airbus Helicopters to get the latest aircraft safety and technical updates and meet with key company’s customer support personnel. The one-day symposiums begin in... Read more
3-Mar-2015Source: Airbus
Airbus Helicopters Inc. has delivered a new AS350 B3e AStar to Coastal Helicopters, LLC, based in Van Nuys, Calif. The aircraft replaces the company’s previously owned AS350 B2. Coastal Helicopters ordered the new AS350 B3e, the most versatile light single engine helicopter on the market, in December and took delivery of the aircraft on February... Read more
3-Mar-2015Source: Airbus
Helicopters Inc. is pleased to announce that several California law enforcement agencies have recently purchased or taken delivery of new AS350 B3e AStars, continuing Airbus Helicopters leadership in law enforcement helicopter sales. Recent AS350 B3e customers include the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The AS350... Read more
3-Mar-2015Source: Vector Aerospace
Vector Aerospace Corporation (“Vector Aerospace”), one of the world’s leading independent providers of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce the signing of a five (5) year agreement with Orange County Sheriff’s Department to conduct maintenance, repair and overhaul on their AS350 and UH-1H helicopters. “Signing this contract with Orange County... Read more
3-Mar-2015
Landing accident, extensively damaged... Read more
1-Mar-2015
Sheriff helicopter made emergency landing in fields of Hart High School due to lightning... Read more
27-Feb-2015
Agricultural aircraft hit powerlines and came down in orange orchard. Pilot seriously injured and airlifted to hospital... Read more
26-Feb-2015
Precautionary landing shortly after take-off... Read more
13-Feb-2015
Minor damage on landing... Read more
11-Feb-2015Source: Enole
Enloe Medical Center’s FlightCare Program became the first in the world to use an EC130 T2 EcoStar helicopter as an air ambulance this month. The single-engine aircraft is retrofitted with the latest aviation safety technology and features a more powerful engine, a spacious cabin with new medical equipment, and a quieter sound signature. “This is... Read more
1-Feb-2015
Pilot experienced a loss of engine power during turn on approach – autorotation unsuccessful due to low altitude. The helicopter landed hard and rolled onto its right side, resulting in substantial damage to the forward fuselage and tailboom.... Read more
28-Jan-2015Source: AFIT
AFIT, known and referred to as The Most Respected Name in Aviation and the nation’s largest and most effective Accelerated Flight Training Organizations in the US, today announced Helicopter Add-On Training in Robinson R-22’s at their Van Nuys, California facility. Training is provided by our senior instructor Mr. Mowatt who has been aviation professional for... Read more
20-Jan-2015
Routine night training mission. Helicopter ended up on its side. 2 injured... Read more
19-Jan-2015
Emergency landing in baseball field. Engineer called. No damage.... Read more
7-Jan-2015Source: Enloe
Enloe FlightCare will begin its 30th year of air ambulance service with a new helicopter: a single-engine EC130 T2 EcoStar, featuring the latest in aviation safety technology, new medical equipment, a roomy cabin and a quieter sound signature. The program will be the first in the world to use the EC130 T2 EcoStar for Emergency... Read more
29-Dec-2014
Unknown damage in force landing... Read more
22-Dec-2014Source: kiem TV
On Friday, the Coast Guard remembered the crew members and victims of Coast Guard Rescue 1363, who died when the helicopter crashed near Strawberry Rock during a rescue mission. See Full Story... Read more
22-Dec-2014Source: Macroinsider
A former California news helicopter pilot has been ordered to spend $42,000 in restitution to 3 former employers, soon after he was convicted of flying under false pretenses. See Full Story... Read more
18-Dec-2014Source: SDFD
The city of San Diego will let its two firefighting helicopters make nighttime water drops on wildfires outside city limits under an agreement with the county, Mayor Kevin Faulconer and other officials announced Tuesday. The city’s choppers are the only ones in the region that can make nighttime drops. The deal makes them available for... Read more
17-Dec-2014Source: REACH
REACH Air Medical Services would like to acknowledge the dedication and accomplishments of its long-term employees, extendingspecialrecognition to those crew members who have achieved a substantial number of patient transports during their tenure. These individuals include: • Ken Suzuki, Helicopter Pilot, REACH 1, Santa Rosa – 3,000 flights • Terry Gowen, Flight Paramedic, REACH 6,... Read more
12-Dec-2014Source: Helinet
Helinet Aviation Services, a diversified flight services company, announced today the acquisition of Los Angeles-based helicopter charter company Briles / Executive HeliShares. The deal combines the charter operations of Southern California’s two largest helicopter operators for the premium market, creating a single-source provider for Fortune 500 companies, heads of state and celebrities across the region.... Read more
8-Dec-2014Source: USMC
Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit will be training at several locations in downtown and metro Los Angeles from Dec. 5-16 to prepare the unit for its deployment to the Western Pacific and Middle East next spring. Additionally, the MEU will train at numerous training locations throughout California, Nevada, and Arizona. The... Read more
1-Dec-2014Source: Willits News
REACH emergency air ambulances will not be operating out of Willits’ Ells Field this year. The city of Willits handling of the proposed air ambulance base at the field has been challenged by the group Keep the Code. Promises of a lawsuit, including an emergency injunction to stop the operation has caused both the city... Read more
20-Nov-2014Source: MD
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) today announced the formal delivery of a new MD 520N helicopter to the Burbank and Glendale Police Joint Air Support Unit located in the state of California. With this delivery, Burbank and Glendale will own four (4) MD 520N helicopters. Joining the MDHI team at the Company’s Mesa, Arizona headquarters were... Read more
10-Nov-2014Source: USMC
CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 364 made their final flight from Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, California, to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, Oct. 29. The 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group storage site at Davis-Monthan Field, also known as the boneyard, was established in 1946 and houses the... Read more
10-Nov-2014Source: LA Times
The Los Angeles Police Department helicopter climbed over a ridge of homes surrounding the La Cañada Flintridge Country Club’s golf course and dipped down over a fairway, its blades churning as it hovered above the grass. See Full Story... Read more
10-Oct-2014
Emergency night landing in public park... Read more
9-Oct-2014Source: DART
DART Aerospace celebrated the next step in support of its growing activities with the inauguration of a new center of excellence and manufacturing facility in Vista California. Located near San Diego, the new site is replacing the Oceanside facilities and is expanding local manufacturing capability by more than 30%. The 70,000 sq. ft. facility features... Read more
8-Oct-2014Source: REACH
REACH Air Medical Services announces that the final Asset Purchase Agreement has been executed to acquire the North Bend and Klamath Falls, OR Emergency Airlift (EAL) emergentair ambulance service lines and assets.The purchase will expand the air ambulance programs of REACH, Cal-Ore LifeFlight and AirLink Critical Care Transport (CCT), now collectively known as the Oregon... Read more
7-Oct-2014
Tail rotor struck fence at airport... Read more
3-Oct-2014Source: Vector
Vector Aerospace Corporation (“Vector Aerospace”- www.vectoraerospace.com), one of the world’s leading independent providers of aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services, is pleased to announce the signing of a five (5) year agreement with Orange County Sheriff’s Department to conduct maintenance, repair and overhaul on their AS350 and UH-1H helicopters. “Signing this contract with Orange County... Read more
1-Oct-2014Source: abc
The reform of Fire Department “Regulation No. 10” was announced Monday by Mayor Eric Garcetti and other officials during a news conference on the rooftop helipad of the downtown AT&T Center. “Every rule that we have is well-intentioned, well thought-out, but often outdated,” the mayor said. See Full Story... Read more
29-Sep-2014Source: WBTW
A Florida man was arrested after deputies say he refused to move his car so a helicopter could land and transport a victim to the hospital after a serious car accident. See Full Story... Read more
9-Sep-2014Source: Times Of San Diego
San Diego County officials added some “aerial muscle” to wildfire preparedness by leasing a fourth firefighting helicopter, but warned that the worst of fire season is still to come. See Full Story... Read more
5-Sep-2014Source: ARGUS
Professional Resources In System Management, LLC (PRISM) is pleased to welcome the California Highway Patrol to the PRISM Safety Management System (SMS) program. The California Highway Patrol has signed a three-year contract with PRISM at the SMS Professional level. The PRISM Professional package includes access to its acclaimed Aviation Risk Management Online Resource (ARMOR). A... Read more
4-Sep-2014Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com maintains detailed records of helicopter safety issues, and we observe that the report of an accident to an MD500D this week in California is the fifth accident for Red Bluff-based PJ Helicopters in just over three years. The links to the accident pages in HeliHub are listed, along with links to the relevant NTSB... Read more
4-Sep-2014
Heavy autorotation landing, damaging helicopter... Read more
2-Sep-2014
Pilot Ron Chaplin injured when helicopter came down during low level powerline work... Read more
28-Aug-2014
The Riverside County Sheriff press release says “On 08/28/2014 at approximately 11:00 AM the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Aviation Unit was conducting training exercises with a department helicopter. While low-flying over the Hemet / Ryan Airport runway the helicopter crashed. Sheriff’s personnel operating the helicopter were transported to a local area hospital for treatment of... Read more
18-Aug-2014Source: Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has been selected by Redstone Defense Systems to supply and integrate mission avionics equipment for a digital cockpit upgrade of the U.S. Army’s UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters. Northrop Grumman will provide a scalable, fully integrated mission equipment package for the UH‑60L cockpit and will replace the older analog gauges with... Read more
7-Aug-2014Source: US DoD
I. E. Pacific Inc.*, San Diego, California, is being awarded $7,877,000 for firm-fixed-price task order 0018 under a previously awarded multiple award construction contract (N62473-09-D-1657) for design and construction of an H-60 trainer facility at Naval Base Coronado. The facility will house two tactical operational flight trainers and two Naval Aircrew Training Systems. The building... Read more
1-Aug-2014Source: REACH
REACH Air Medical Services (REACH) announces the expansion of their Northern California emergency helicopter service to include a new base opening in Mendocino County, California. Located at the Willits Municipal Airport known as Ells Field, this base will provide round-the-clock, life‐saving emergency medical services to the community. Patients will be transported in a new Eurocopter... Read more
18-Jul-2014
Agricultural ops – crashed in field after hitting powerline... Read more
16-Jul-2014Source: Western Helicopters
A new facility, more instructors and aircraft, and new AS350 training course are the first in a series of improvements and expanded offerings at Western Helicopters Inc., a helicopter service and specialty training provider. In addition to its recent move from Rialto to the Riverside, Calif., Municipal Airport, Western Helicopters now has access to eight... Read more
3-Jul-2014Source: US Marine Corps
Marines with Marine Medium Helicopter Training Squadron 164, Marine Aircraft Group 39, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, celebrated the 50th anniversary of their squadron and the Boeing Vertol CH-46E Sea Knight aboard Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 1, 2014. The Sea Knight was first purchased by the Marine Corps in 1964 and was... Read more
20-Jun-2014
Rolled onto its side on landing... Read more
19-Jun-2014Source: HAI
Call Your U.S. Senators Today! Provision Under Consideration Would Impose Curfew at Burbank Airport The U.S. Senate began work this week on a mini appropriations bill that includes funding for the Department of Transportation, and HAI President Matt Zuccaro is very concerned over an amendment to be offered by California Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that... Read more
12-Jun-2014Source: LAFD
The Los Angeles Fire Department is saddened to announce the off-duty death of LAFD Fire Helicopter Pilot / Firefighter Paramedic Brian Lee. On Monday, June 9, 2014, around 11:15 a.m, Brian and a civilian passenger were involved in the crash of a fixed wing aircraft at the northwest end of El Mirage Dry Lake. Off-duty... Read more
9-Jun-2014Source: SF Gate
Oakland’s Police Department is asking the City Council to set aside $397,000, starting July 1, to double the amount of time – from eight to 16 hours a week See full story. Oakland Police fly an MD Helicopters 500E registration N510PD.... Read more
8-Jun-2014Source: NBC4
Ventura County Sheriff’s Department are testing a Qube drone from Aerovironment See full story... Read more
8-Jun-2014Source: LA Times
On Friday, the department announced that it had acquired two “unmanned aerial vehicles” as gifts from the Seattle Police Department. See full story... Read more
3-Jun-2014Source: Times of San Diego
Determined the trauma center should resume incoming and outgoing flights as quickly as possible, the contractor worked closely with UCSD project management and subcontractors to bring the existing helipad up to Caltrans and FAA standards. See full story... Read more
3-Jun-2014Source: Heliplanners
Heliplanners is pleased to announce that Caltrans Division of Aeronautics has conducted its final inspection and issued its Heliport Permit for the recently completed rooftop heliport at Scripps Memorial Hospital’s new Critical Care Building in Encinitas, California. The heliport will help to improve rapid medical access for Scripps’ patients throughout San Diego County and the... Read more
3-Jun-2014
Crashed into field and landed on its side in crop over 1m tall. Only skids visible in photos... Read more
26-May-2014
Homebuild helicopter, according to press story. Pilot to hospital... Read more
23-May-2014
County fire spokesman said the helicopter apparently clipped and downed power lines before crashing. A brush fire broke out that burned less than an acre before it was put out. Fatal injuries to sole occupant pilot – named here as Philip Margolis... Read more
18-May-2014
Skid caught on ground handling trailer on take-off and rolled onto its side... Read more
15-May-2014Source: Conklin & de Decker
Conklin & de Decker Associates, Inc.and the National Air Transportation Association (NATA) are pleased to announce that they are partneringagain this year to offer the Commercial Operators Tax Seminar, entitled, “Back to Basics”. This year’s Tax Seminar will be held in Van Nuys, California on August 5-6, 2014. Unique from all other seminars and workshops,... Read more
13-May-2014Source: IHST
As part of its ongoing accident analysis, the United States Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) has categorized U.S. civil helicopter data by U.S. state for the period of 2008 through 2013. It continues to see the West and the South as ground zero for the majority of accidents. Fatal accidents, for the most part, also follow... Read more
8-May-2014Source: DHL
DHL has found an even better route for meeting urgent delivery commitments in the midst of traffic gridlock in the United States: through the air. A new helicopter service now provides early morning delivery services for several major banking customers in the downtown Los Angeles area. DHL Express has introduced the helicopter service into its... Read more
7-May-2014Source: REACH
In an ongoing program to modernize and upgrade its fleet of emergency air medical helicopters and airplanes, REACH Air Medical Services has taken delivery of a new Eurocopter EC135 model helicopter. This new aircraft is based at REACH’s Marysville/Yuba, CA base, known as REACH 7. The aircraft will be the seventh EC135 for REACH, bringing... Read more
3-May-2014
Partial engine failure and hard landing and roll-over onto port side. Minor injuries to 2 POB. 100 gallons of fuel spilt, but no fire.... Read more
27-Apr-2014
Crashed on take-off, hit ground hard and rolled over. THe helicopter appears to have lost its anti-torque system, causing it to start to spin as it lifted off. Significantly damaged. One of three POB airflifted to hospital... Read more
11-Apr-2014Source: Baum Hedlund
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied a forum non conveniens motion filed by Robinson Helicopter Company, Rolls-Royce and Honeywell to have a fatal helicopter crash case (the very first R66 crash) removed from her courtroom in Los Angeles to be litigated in Colombia, where the crash occurred. In her March 28 ruling, the Honorable Michelle R.... Read more
27-Mar-2014
Helicopter was damaged in hard landing around 1.48am, but the pilot was able to regain control and fly it back to the Tehachapi Airport.... Read more
25-Mar-2014Source: PHPA
Dear PHPA Members: The time is now ~ at Santa Monica Airport! As you know, SMO is under siege by a very small segment of the local population that has succeeded, over time, in getting sway over the City Council. We need to change that. SMO is a frequent stop for many helicopters: private, commercial... Read more
19-Mar-2014Source: AIAA
The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) and NASA will co-host California Aerospace Week, March 24–26, in Sacramento, Calif. Featuring a mix of panels, exhibits, hearings and discussions, the event will focus on the importance of aerospace to California. A resolution will be introduced in the California State Senate on the afternoon of March... Read more