R22 down off San Pedro CA

[DizzyD]

Wreckage of missing helicopter found in Los Angeles Harbor

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A helicopter that went missing after taking off from a Southern California airport on a photography flight was found in harbor waters with two bodies inside, authorities said Thursday.

Searchers using sonar located the Robinson R22 shortly after 11 a.m. in Los Angeles Harbor, Port of LA spokesman Phillip Sanfield said.

Crews were trying to extricate the two victims from the fuselage, Sanfield said. He could not immediately confirm their identities.

The crash was reported about 5:45 p.m. Wednesday by several passengers aboard an outbound cruise ship and fishermen along the San Pedro breakwater, authorities said.

"They noticed a small black helicopter approaching the water in what they said was a crash position," Petty Officer Andrea Anderson said late Wednesday. "It was very close to the water."

A search-and-rescue operation went through the night and continued despite rainy conditions.

Coast Guard ships and a helicopter, along with police vessels, scanned the area near a harbor lighthouse.

The entrance to the harbor was closed for a time during the search, the Coast Guard said.

Authorities learned that a black Robinson R22 with two people on board took off from the airport in nearby Torrance, Anderson said.

It was supposed to be taking photographs in the general area but hadn't made contact or landed back at the airport.

 

http://abc7.com/news/crews-find-helicopter-that-crashed-off-coast-of-san-pedro/1687780/

[iChris]

The helicopter reportedly circled the cruise ship before crashing, according to a Facebook comment from a woman who said her parents witnessed the impact.

“My parents are on the cruise liner that the helicopter crashed near. It is so shocking and sad!!” Karah Street Ludington wrote. “They said it flew around them a few times and then went into a spin and crashed. Disappeared into the water fast. They haven’t seen anyone surface.”

Last week, three people were injured when a Robinson R-44 helicopter made a “hard landing” on Mount Baldy.

Robinson R-22 helicopters have been involved in 160 fatal crashes, with 239 deaths, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The Torrance-based manufacturer came under scrutiny from a New

Zealand aviation agency last year, which suspended the use of Robinson helicopters after a series of crashes.

Reported: dailybreeze.com

 

'>https://youtu.be/APCxRNTX_1Q

 

 

Michael on a prior flight, in an R-44, taking aerials of the Port of LA.

 

'>https://youtu.be/v4Xm_hoMsa0

Edited January 6, 2017 by iChris

[r22butters]

Damn, I have flown that ship! This makes three I have flown that others have crashed, another 22 and a 206!

 

,...really makes you think?

[DizzyD]

Is it possible for a cruise ship under way to create adverse currents that could affect a helicopter?

[RagMan]

I've flown around plenty of cruise ships when I was giving tours along the beach in Florida. Never had any issues relating to disturbed air masses in the area.

 

It will be interesting to know what happened and if they even attempted to auto into the water. Having been operating over the water though on a passenger carrying flight for compensation, he should have had popout/fixed floats on, or been within gliding distance of the shoreline.

[Wally]

Is it possible for a cruise ship under way to create adverse currents that could affect a helicopter?

Never experienced significant wind changes in the the lee of a ship, but a moving reference point can be an issue.

[iChris]

Having been operating over the water though on a passenger carrying flight for compensation, he should have had popout/fixed floats on, or been within gliding distance of the shoreline.

 

That maybe a requirement in the future, if these types of fatal accidents continue to happen over water. However, currently we can operate under Part 91 on an aerial photography flight without floats.

§91.205[12]

Edited January 9, 2017 by iChris