NTSB Preliminary Report Indicates Helicopter Broke Up In Flight | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.20.25

AirborneUnlimited-
10.14.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.15.25

Airborne-NextGen-10.16.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.17.25

Wed, Jun 16, 2010

NTSB Preliminary Report Indicates Helicopter Broke Up In Flight

Main Rotor And Tail Boom Separated From Bell 222U Over Midlothian, TX

The NTSB has issued a preliminary report in an accident involving a Bell 222U helicopter owned and operated by CareFlite of Grand Prairie, TX. The report indicates that the aircraft broke up while on a post-maintenance flight at about 600 feet AGL.

NTSB Identification: CEN10FA291
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, June 02, 2010 in Midlothian, TX
Aircraft: BELL 222, registration: N515MK
Injuries: 2 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 2, 2010 at approximately 1400 central daylight time, a Bell 222U, multi-engine helicopter, N515MK, was destroyed after impacting terrain near Midlothian, Texas. The airline transport rated pilot and the mechanic, who were the only occupants, sustained fatal injuries. The helicopter was owned and operated by CareFlite, Grand Prairie, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident and a company flight plan had been filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 return to service flight following maintenance that had been performed. The helicopter had departed the Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (GPM) Grand Prairie, Texas at approximately 1352, and had planned to return to GPM airport.


File Photo

The helicopter was in cruise flight at approximately 600 feet above ground level (AGL) when several witnesses saw the tail boom and the main rotor system separate from the helicopter. The fuselage was destroyed in an immediate post-impact fire. The main rotor mast separated just below the head. The main rotor system including the hub and blade assembly, pitch change links, and walking beam assembly remained connected to the swash plate assembly and impacted terrain approximately 200 feet northeast of the main wreckage. The entire tail boom assembly separated just aft of the fuselage and impacted terrain approximately 400 feet northeast of the main wreckage.

The wreckage was removed to a secure storage facility for continued investigation.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 10.14.25: Laser Threat, VeriJet BK, Duffy Threatens Problem Controllers

Also: USAF Pilots, Atlanta Tower Evac, Archer Spotlight Dissipates, Hop-A-Jet Sues A social-media call for people to point lasers at aircraft flying over Portland’s ICE facil>[...]

Airborne 10.15.25: Phantom 3500 Confounds, Citation CJ3 Gen2 TC, True Blue Power

Also: Kodiak 100 Joins USFS, Innovative Solutions & Support Renamed, Gulfstream Selects Honeywell, Special Olympics Airlift The Phantom 3500 mockup made an appearance where the>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (10.17.25)

"On the way back to the United States from NATO’s Defense Ministers meeting, Secretary of War Hegseth’s plane made an unscheduled landing in the United Kingdom due to a>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Piper PA-28-180

Pilot Was Transporting His Family Back To Their Home In Boise And He Planned To Fly Back To SHR That Afternoon On September 1, 2025 about 1612 mountain daylight time, a Piper PA-28>[...]

ANN FAQ: Contributing To Aero-TV

How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC