2018 Sapphire Aviation Bell UH-1 crash
(Redirected from
2018 Sapphire Aviation Bell UH-1H Iroquois crash
)Bell UH-1H Iroquois | |
| Operator | Sapphire Aviation |
|---|---|
| Registration | N658H |
| Flight origin | Raton Municipal Airport |
| Destination | Folsom, New Mexico |
| Occupants | 6 |
| Passengers | 5 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 5 |
| Injuries | 1 |
| Survivors | 1 |
On January 17, 2018, a
Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter of Sapphire Aviation crashed near Raton, New Mexico
, United States. Five of the six people on board were killed. The sole survivor was in serious condition.
Accident
The helicopter crashed and caught fire east of
Charles Burnett III. Burnett had set the record for a steam-powered car in 2009. The sole survivor, Andra Cobb, was the daughter of the pilot rated passenger Paul Cobb, and the long term romantic partner of Charles Burnett. Cobb was seriously injured but was able to raise the alarm by cellphone; although she was unable to give the location of the crash, it was located by New Mexico State Police on a ranch 15 miles (24 km) east of Raton. [1][2] The aircraft was flying from Raton Municipal Airport to a site in Folsom, New Mexico. It crashed at about 18:00 local time.[3] The Albuquerque Journal reported that the pilot had said that there had been mechanical problems with the helicopter the day before the accident. It was stated that these had been fixed before the fatal flight.[4]
Aircraft
The aircraft involved was a
msn 9856.[6]
The aircraft served with the United States Army (as serial number "67-17658") and saw action during the Vietnam War, it crashed on 31 May 1969 at
Firebase Eagles Nest.[7] It was returned to the United States and repaired and used by the Ohio Army National Guard before being retired to the Firelands Military Museum in Ohio.[7]
Investigation
The US National Transportation Safety Board opened an investigation into the accident.[8] The report cited pilot error, determining pilot Coleman Dodd was flying too low. Investigators said a low therapeutic amount of an antihistamine was found in his blood but could not say with certainty it contributed to his inability to avoid crashing.[9]
References
Wikinews has related news:
- ^ "Charles Burnett III, British-born speed king, dies in helicopter crash". BBC News Online. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "3 Coloradans, 2 Texans Killed In Helicopter Crash". CBS. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "Zimbabwe opposition leader among 5 killed in Raton helicopter crash". KOAT. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "Weekend getaway to NM turns tragic". Albuquerque Journal. Journal Publishing Company. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "FAA Accident and Incident Notification". Federal Aviation Authority. Retrieved January 19, 2018.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY N-Number Inquiry Results". Federal Aviation Authority. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ a b "1967 USAF Serial Numbers". 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Steam car record holder among five killed in helicopter crash". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
- ^ "NTSB: Pilot flew too low, causing New Mexico fatal crash". AP NEWS. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2022.