Broward County Helicopter Crash

[MikeD]

Do mirror

Are there mirrors on a 135 that provide a rearward view? Seems most helicopter mirrors I’ve seen provide a downward view for landing or sling ops.

Mirrors are an optional installation. However on this bird, the mounting areas where mirrors would go, appear to be taken up with the Night Sun light installation.

Even so, with their turn they made back to the airport, I do wonder if the back seat crewman thought to take a look aft inside the turn, for any smoke. If they only suspected a failure and didn’t have indications of a fire, they may not have thought to do so.

 

[Mr Grinch]

I'd suspect transmission failure from the video evidence.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

To me, looks like a helicopter just being a helicopter. Any pilot who can fly these death traps should be convicted of sorcery and witchcraft.


Jokes aside, hoping for a swift recovery for those involved.

 

[BobDDuck]

To me, looks like a helicopter just being a helicopter. Any pilot who can fly these death traps should be convicted of sorcery and witchcraft.


Jokes aside, hoping for a swift recovery for those involved.

Again... jokes have to be funny. There's a time and a place for (funny) rotor jokes. A thread where people are actually having a discussion about what might have happened isn't it. Read the freaking room once in a while.

 

[USMCmech]

I'd suspect transmission failure from the video evidence.

My first guess is fire lead to structural failure of the tail boom and/or driveshaft.

Most pilots have no idea of how fast fire will burn through aluminum skin. In WW2 an engine fire in the B-29 would lead to complete structural failure of the wing in 60-90 seconds.

This is doubly true if there is a significant load on that structure.

 

[MikeD]

My first guess is fire lead to structural failure of the tail boom and/or driveshaft.

Most pilots have no idea of how fast fire will burn through aluminum skin. In WW2 an engine fire in the B-29 would lead to complete structural failure of the wing in 60-90 seconds.

This is doubly true if there is a significant load on that structure.

Hence, as the helicopter has the option to make an air emergency into a ground emergency fairly quickly, exercising that option while the bird is still under control costs little. It doesn’t have to be an airport, make a landing in nearly any open area. That is one of the biggest mindset changes I have to make with fixed wing pilots who add on, or are adding on, a rotor wing rating. Many times, a simulated EP in the air that is a Land as soon as Possible, or worse, a Land Immediately, I have pilots making a turn towards the nearest airport that is several miles away, with many viable areas to land being bypassed.

 

[USMCmech]

Hence, as the helicopter has the option to make an air emergency into a ground emergency fairly quickly, exercising that option while the bird is still under control costs little. It doesn’t have to be an airport, make a landing in nearly any open area. That is one of the biggest mindset changes I have to make with fixed wing pilots who add on, or are adding on, a rotor wing rating. Many times, a simulated EP in the air that is a Land as soon as Possible, or worse, a Land Immediately, I have pilots making a turn towards the nearest airport that is several miles away, with many viable areas to land being bypassed.

When I was doing my helicopter add on my instructor told me that the first item on any emergency checklist is "Land the damn aircraft"

Although looking at that site, the runway was probably the closest safe spot.

 

[NovemberEcho]

In WW2 an engine fire in the B-29 would lead to complete structural failure of the wing in 60-90 seconds.

That was because B-29’s used magnesium in the engine bay which would ignite and burn through the spar. Crews were advised to bail out if engine temps exceeded a certain temp because of it. An engine fire on plane without magnesium such as B-17/24 would not normally lead to the wing burning off.

 

[Pilot Fighter]

When I was doing my helicopter add on my instructor told me that the first item on any emergency checklist is "Land the damn aircraft"

Although looking at that site, the runway was probably the closest safe spot.

Without knowing when the fire was detected, it’s tough to be critical.

If fire was detected well after the turn for home, making the runway would be pretty attractive.

 

[Murdoughnut]

When I was doing my helicopter add on my instructor told me that the first item on any emergency checklist is "Land the damn aircraft"

Although looking at that site, the runway was probably the closest safe spot.

Yeah, I was going to say that it probably appeared like pretty dense urban terrain all around, though it does look like there were a few empty lots or baseball fields out there ...

 

[MikeD]

Without knowing when the fire was detected, it’s tough to be critical.

If fire was detected well after the turn for home, making the runway would be pretty attractive.

That’s why via crew testimony, aircraft data recall of warnings that activated from the VEMD display and/or cockpit camera, it has to be determined whether the crew knew of the fire or not. Their ATC call appears to give the impression of an engine failure, and is non-specific to an engine fire. This will obviously be a finding one way or another, in the analysis.

 

[MikeD]

Yeah, I was going to say that it probably appeared like pretty dense urban terrain all around, though it does look like there were a few empty lots or baseball fields out there ...

View attachment 73488

IF that imagery is current, then there are a number of fields and roads available. However, if that imagery is dated and much of that has been built up, or if stuff was occupying some of the areas, that would more limit available set down areas. Even a neighborhood road would work, if things like trees, traffic, and crossing powerlines were limited. From when that video was taken, it does appear they are headed to the airport direct, as opposed to searching for a landing spot below.

The interview of the crew will shed light on what they saw, what they perceived, what they knew or didn’t know, and what their thought and decision making process was.

 

[DPApilot]

To me, looks like a helicopter just being a helicopter. Any pilot who can fly these death traps should be convicted of sorcery and witchcraft.


Jokes aside, hoping for a swift recovery for those involved.

Really dude?

 

[mikecweb]

Really dude?

Like school on Saturday

 

[ChasenSFO]

Damn, crazy that anyone walked away from that, but it is very sad that an innocent person below died as well. I hope the others pull through. Horrifying video.

 

[Bob Ridpath]

Yeah, I was going to say that it probably appeared like pretty dense urban terrain all around, though it does look like there were a few empty lots or baseball fields out there ...

View attachment 73488

I absolutely agree with you, in a general sense, but would also note medical evac choppers have been landed (taken off) in locations which were about the same (and occasionally worse, i.e., without the large open spaces and roadways which seem evident in the picture). For me, an admitted layman and miles away from a cyclic, it might seem like they were unaware of the fire or intensity‍♂

 

[Roger Roger]

I would assume something like this has a fire warning loop yeah?

 

[Bob Ridpath]

Yeah, I was going to say that it probably appeared like pretty dense urban terrain all around, though it does look like there were a few empty lots or baseball fields out there ...

View attachment 73488

Yeah, I was going to say that it probably appeared like pretty dense urban terrain all around, though it does look like there were a few empty lots or baseball fields out there ...

View attachment 73488

I absolutely agree with you, in a general sense, but would also note medical evac choppers have been landed (taken off) in locations which were about the same (and occasionally worse, i.e., without the large open spaces and roadways which seem evident in the picture). For me, an admitted layman and miles away from a cyclic, it might seem like they were unaware of the fire or intensity as it burned‍

As a former emergency responder, I got in over my head on a couple of occasions but it was a ground event wherein I had much support on scene, or chose in the moment to make someone else in need the priority that circumstances seemed to dictate - so the scenarios are certainly not equal.

Sometimes it's dumb luck, sometimes it's skill and fighting all the way down (or in the moment based on the circumstance); sometimes nothing an individual does makes a damned bit of difference in the outcome, however hard they try.

Happily retired, I appreciate the good fortune I had and wish some of those I knew in those years had known it, too. I'm not sure the feelings are different in significant ways - be it firefighting or flying - as we say good-bye to the people we knew and loved.

 

[MikeD]

I would assume something like this has a fire warning loop yeah?

Absolutely, fire light and warning tone for each engine. Whether or not it activated, should be easy to confirm.

 

[Wardogg]

- NTSB issues the preliminary report into the fatal accident involving a Broward County Sheriffs Office Eurocopter EC 135T1, N109BC, that occurred on August 28, 2023, in Pompano Beach, Florida:

On August 28, 2023, about 0844 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC135T1, N109BC, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Pompano Beach, Florida. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. One paramedic onboard and a resident of an apartment building were fatally injured, while a second paramedic onboard was seriously injured. The helicopter was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 air medical flight.

During an interview, the pilot reported that the helicopter was dispatched to transport a patient from the scene of an automobile accident. During initial climb, west of Pompano Beach Airpark (PMP), Pompano Beach, Florida, about 300 to 400 ft above ground level, the pilot heard a “bang” from the rear of the helicopter and noticed that the turbine outlet temperature (TOT) was rising on the No. 1 engine. He set the No.1 engine throttle to idle, declared an emergency to air traffic control, and reversed direction to return to the airport. He scanned the cockpit instrument panel and noticed that the No.1 engine fire button had illuminated. He pressed the button to activate the fire suppression system; however, the TOT continued to rise on the No. 1 engine. The pilot subsequently heard a second “bang,” and was unable to control the helicopter. It spun and descended into an apartment building.

Review of witness video revealed an in-flight fire near the area of the engine exhaust and the tailboom attach point. The tailboom partially separated in-flight and the helicopter descended in a right spin.

The wreckage came to rest on its left side, facing south, through the roof of a one-story apartment building. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of the airframe. The tailboom was located about 30 ft south of the main wreckage and its fenestron (tailrotor) remained intact. All four main rotor blades separated near the blade root, consistent with impact damage. Both engines and their respective full authority digital engine control unit were retained for further examination and data download. Additionally, hydraulic lines for the fenestron actuator, near the taiboom attach point, and the No. 1 engine fuel shutoff valve assembly were also retained for further examination.

The helicopter was manufactured in 1999 and powered by two Turbomeca Arrius 2B1, 670turboshaft horsepower engines. It was maintained under a manufacturer’s approved inspection program. It’s most recent 100-hr inspection was completed on May 23, 2023. At that time, the airframe had accrued 5,557.1 total hours. The engines had accrued 5,327.2 hours since new (2,251.3 hours since overhaul in 2016). The helicopter was operated about 24 hours from the time of the most recent inspection, until the accident.

- Report:

https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192950/pdf