Sun, Nov 30, 2003
News Helo On Promotional Shoot Gets "TOO MUCH" Publicity
Ouch.
That’s the first word that comes to mind when you see the
video of a news helicopter as it begins to spin, then quickly falls
to the ground.
It happened in Cranston (RI) Thursday during a promotional shoot
for WJAR-TV. The helicopter made a pass directly at the camera,
then suddenly went into a spin (indicating probably tail rotor
failure).
"I saw it spinning, like a rotary spin. It was spinning down
easily. It didn't seem to be a nose dive. It spun down easily. I
stayed at the stop sign. I didn't know if it would explode," said
Karen Pertuso, quoted on WJAR’s web site.
Two people were onboard when the helicopter went down. Neither
of them – the pilot and a photographer – was hurt in
the accident. The aircraft went down in the parking lot of a Pepsi
bottling plant. The two crew members were taken to a local
hospital, then released.
Damage appeared significant. The main rotor assembly was
completely sheared from the helicopter. A portion of the Bell
206’s tail assembly and the skids were damaged by the
impact.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 90013
Make/Model: B206 Description: BELL 206B HELICOPTER
Date: 11/26/2003 Time: 2051
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: None Mid Air: N Missing:
N
Damage: Destroyed
LOCATION
City: CRANSTON State: RI Country: US
DESCRIPTION
A BELL 206 HELICOPTER MADE A HARD LANDING IN A PARKING LOT,
CRANSTON, RI
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 2 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
WEATHER: PVD METAR 2053Z 230005KT SCT150 OVC250 08/01 A3018
OTHER DATA
Activity: Business Phase: Landing Operation: General
Aviation
Departed: PROVIDENCE, RI Dep Date: 11/26/2003 Dep. Time:
2044
Destination: CIRCLE 2 NOF ARPT Flt Plan: NONE Wx Briefing:
U
Last Radio Cont: 2045Z N90013 ADVSE WHEN OVER PHOTO
SITE
Last Clearance: ADVSD WHEN LEAVING AREA
FAA FSDO: BOSTON, MA (NE01) Entry date: 11/28/2003
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