![]() ![]() Preliminary review of security camera video provided by the University of Virginia corroborated statements from witnesses regarding the rotation (spinning) of the helicopter during the descent, and the nose down pitch attitude.Įxamination of the accident site revealed, that the main wreckage had come to rest upright, on a magnetic heading of 333° in heavily wooded terrain, adjacent to a residence. They then observed a plume of smoke rising from the area of the accident site. Moments later, the helicopter descended below the floor of radar coverage, and radar contact was lost.Īpproximately 37 witnesses were interviewed, and their descriptions of the altitude, direction of flight, and velocity of the helicopter varied however, the preponderance of witness statements reported that the helicopter initially was hovering, began a rolling oscillation, began to spin (rotate about the vertical axis), and then descended in a 45° nose down attitude, while continuing to spin until it was lost from sight below the tops of the surrounding trees. At 1648:30, radar indicated that the helicopter was descending through 1,450 ft msl, at a calculated groundspeed of 30 knots. Preliminary radar data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), indicated that just prior to the accident, at 1648, the helicopter was flying at an altitude of approximately 2,200 ft above mean sea level (msl) in the area of the motorcade.Īt that time, the helicopter was traveling north-northwestbound before it began to turn to the right and descend rapidly. About 1649, another helicopter advised the VSP command center that the accident helicopter had crashed. The helicopter arrived over the city of Charlottesville at 1604, and remained over the city until 1642 when they were re-tasked to provide over-watch for the Governor of Virginia’s motorcade.Īt 1643, the helicopter crew advised the VSP command center that they were heading directly to the motorcade, and were about 30 seconds away. After being refueled, the helicopter departed CHO about 1554, with the airline transport pilot flying the helicopter, and observer operating the helicopter’s camera. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the public use aerial observation flight that departed Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport (CHO), Charlottesville, Virginia about 1554.Īccording to the VSP, the mission of the helicopter flight crew was to provide continuous video downlink to the VSP command center of the public demonstrations that were occurring in Charlottesville, Virginia. The airline transport rated pilot, and private pilot-rated observer, were fatally injured. On August 12, 2017, about 1649 eastern daylight time, a Bell 407, N31VA, operated by the Virginia State Police (VSP), was destroyed after impacting trees and terrain in Charlottesville, Virginia. National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Preliminary Report The wreckage was retained by the National Transportation Safety Board for further examination. No evidence was observed to suggest that the helicopter was struck by another aircraft, animal or object. ![]() Were recovered from the roof of a nearby house. The fuselage came to rest on the ground, the tail rotor was located in a tree, and some components of the helicopter The debris field was several hundred feet long. Security camera video shows the helicopter spinning in a nose down pitch attitude before it descended into trees.Īll the main helicopter components were recovered at the accident site but most were damaged by crash forces and a post-impact fire. Radar data indicated that just prior to the accident the helicopter was flying north-northwest at an altitude of approximately 2,200 feet above mean sea level before it began to turn to the right and descend rapidly. It crashed on its way to provide over-watch for Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe’s motorcade.Īmong the facts contained in the report are: The men were flying over the Charlottesville rally providing a video feed to the Virginia State Police command center. Jay Cullen and Trooper-Pilot Berke Bates. The report did not indicate what likely caused the August 12 crash that killed pilot Lt. That according to the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report released Tuesday. ![]() The helicopter crash that killed two Virginia State Troopers during the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville last month was not caused by another aircraft, animal or object. ![]()
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