Helicopter Accident Digest

Date/Location

Aircraft/Reg.

Narrative

Casualties

Comments

12 May

New Athens IL

Couch Helicopter Service Inc.

Bell OH-58C Kiowa

Reg: N9263Y

Helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances.

1 Fatal

Helicopter was destroyed.

13 May

Gulf Shores AL

PHI Inc.-operated Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV

Reg: N266P

Helicopter crashed in close proximity to a natural gas rig.

3 Minor

Helicopter sustained substantial damage.

Date/Location

Aircraft/Reg.

Narrative

Casualties

Comments

9 May

Julia Creek

AUSTRALIA

Versatile Helicopter Services Pty. Ltd-operated Robinson R22 Beta II

Reg: VH-DSD

Helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances.

1 Fatal

Helicopter sustained substantial damage.

9 May

Puerto Wilches

COLOMBIA

AeroCharter Andina

Bell 206L

Reg: HK-4718

Helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances.

5 Minor

Aircraft sustained minor damages.

10 May

Engelsbrand GERMANY

Polizei Baden-Württemberg-operated MD-902 Explorer

Reg: D-HBWG

Helicopter in a forest for unknown reasons.

3 Serious

Helicopter was destroyed.

11 May

Pardubice region

CZECH REPUBLIC

Robinson R-22 Beta

Reg: OK-XIF

Helicopter crashed while taking off.

1 Minor

Helicopter was destroyed.

13 May

Bankstown AUSTRALIA

Woodland Securities Pty. Ltd.

Eurocopter AS 350B3 Ecureuil

Reg: VH-XXW

Helicopter crashed under unknown circumstances.

1 Minor

Helicopter was destroyed.

14 May

Kaitaia

NEW ZEALAND

Rotor Flight Dominator Gyrocopter

Reg: ZK-RAW

Gyrocopter crashed while trying to land.

1 Fatal

1 Serious

Gyrocopter sustained substantial damage.

Date/Location

Aircraft/Reg.

Narrative

Casualties

Comments

10 May

Manaus

BRAZIL

Brazilian Navy-operated Helibras/Aérospatiale HB-350B (UH-12) Esquilo

Reg: N-7078

Helicopter crashed in the river under unknown circumstances.

5 Minor

Helicopter was destroyed.

11 May

Nuristan

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan National Army Air Corps-operated Mil Mi-17 (Mi-8M)

Reg: No data

Helicopter crashed into a tree under unknown circumstances.

9 Serious

Helicopter was destroyed.

Unclear if pilot was trained by Soviets or by U.S.

13 May

Rajasthan’s Siroh

INDIA

Border Security Forces (BSF) India-operated HAL Chetak

Reg: No data

Helicopter crashed on a hilly region under unknown circumstances.

4 Fatal

Helicopter was destroyed.