Tail rotor of helicopter that made emergency landing in Whitemarsh Township, Pennsylvania, found nearby
It never made it to its destination because, according to Flightradar24, five minutes after departing, the helicopter dropped more than 1,000 feet in the span of a minute before falling off the radar.
Miraculously, the pilot landed the helicopter, a Eurocopter BK 117, in the front lawn of a residential property in Whitemarsh Township. All three crew members on board survived, and no one on the ground was injured.
Investigators in Whitemarsh Township are just beginning to determine what caused a medical helicopter to make an emergency landing Monday night.
CBS News Philadelphia
There's been a lot of speculation surrounding the helicopter's tail rotor as a possible failure that could have caused the emergency landing because neighbors told CBS News Philadelphia the tail rotor was found at a different location, a short distance from where the helicopter made that emergency landing.
Longtime aviation attorney and pilot Arthur Wolk told CBS News Philadelphia that if a helicopter loses its tail rotor, aka the anti-torque rotor, which is an extremely rare occurrence, it becomes an immediate crisis for the pilot.
"So basically, what you have to do is reduce the torque, try to land the helicopter as quickly as possible, and he obviously did it pretty well because it looks pretty good to me," Wolk said.
FAA records show the helicopter was built in 1997. Wolk says aircraft logbooks could show whether this could have been a metal fatigue failure or a maintenance problem.
"He did the right thing, which is to put it on the ground immediately," Wolk said. "No worries that there are other places to go. If there's a spot that's big enough for the helicopter to land on, whether it's somebody's front lawn or if there's a golf course below, wherever it is, you want to get it down as quickly as possible."
The NTSB and FAA are investigating and the NTSB is expected to release a preliminary report in 30 days.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
Thousands of hot dogs spill across busy highway
A truckload of hot dogs has spilled across a busy road in Pennsylvania. A mechanical problem meant the truck scraped along a concrete divider - ripping the trailer open and scattering the sausages across the highway. It was the wurst Fry-day commute that motorists in Shrewsbury had to contend with for years. Crews mustard up the courage to begin a morning rush hour clean-up - and didn't mince their words. "Once those leave the truck and hit the road, that's all garbage, and it's still pretty warm," Shrewsbury Fire Company Chief Brad Dauberman said. "I can tell you personally, hot dogs are very slippery," he added. "I did not know that." A front-end loader was used to scoop up the wieners and drop them into a dump truck.
CBS News
11 hours ago
- CBS News
Colorado firefighting plane makes emergency landing due to mechanical issue with landing gear
A firefighting plane in Colorado had to make an emergency landing without the landing gear working properly on Friday. According to the Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control, the Pilatus PC-12 Multi-Mission Aircraft was returning from a detection mission along the western slope when the flight crew discovered a problem with the plane's nose landing gear. They declared an emergency as a precautionary measure and brought the plane in to land at Grand Junction Regional Airport. Despite the nose landing gear not locking into place, they were able to execute a controlled landing, bringing the aircraft to a stop on the runway. Officials said that no one was injured during the incident. They said the emergency landing will be investigated according to FAA and NTSB protocols.
CBS News
17 hours ago
- CBS News
2 more dogs move into Allegheny County Jail after first TAILS training program participant was adopted
Two more dogs have moved into the Allegheny County Jail after the first participant of the TAILS training program found her forever home. Through the Teaching Animals and Incarcerated Lifelong Skills program, women at the Allegheny County Jail trained Ethel, a 2-year-old, 38-pound mixed-breed dog, to learn basic skills that would increase her adoptability and prepare her for a permanent loving home. Ethel, now named Ellie, was adopted by a local family last month after about a month in the program. Next up: Niko the husky and Max, a small curly-haired mixed breed. "Animal Friends is thrilled that we currently have two shelter dogs residing at ACJ," Katie Vecchi, Animal Friends' chief shelter officer, said in a press release. "With the success of Ethel/Ellie, we knew that any dog who was transferred into the program would be shown endless compassion and dedication." Niko, a stray who arrived at Animal Friends underweight, got to the jail on July 15. He brought plenty of energy, greeting correctional officers in the visitor's lobby with leaps and licks. So far, he's already gained three pounds. Max showed up shortly after Niko. The county said all the women on the pod fell in love with Max, who couldn't wait to get into the gym and check everything out. "The two dogs there now are little more high energy (than Ellie) and need help with their basic manners," said Vecchi. "We are confident that the handlers at ACJ will help to prepare them for their new homes."
