Broward Sheriff's Office Eurocopter EC135 Down, 1 Dead

[PHXPhlyer]

Broward Sheriff's Office helicopter crashed into Pompano Beach apartment building

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/heli ... ano-beach/

FORT LAUDERDALE - A Broward Sheriff's helicopter crashed into an apartment building Monday morning in Pompano Beach.

It happened Monday morning around 8:45 a.m. at West Dixie Highway and NE 10th Street, about 10 blocks north of West Atlantic Boulevard.

According to the FAA, when the Eurocopter EC135 helicopter crashed the structure there were three people onboard.

Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue said two people were taken to North Broward Medical Center. It's not clear if they were from the helicopter or were injured on the ground.

Video posted online showed smoke coming from the helicopter before the crash.

A person who lives in the eight unit apartment building said she heard a loud crash and shortly afterward a person was banging on her door saying she had to evacuate.

A school in the area said due to "an incident involving an aircraft that happened in the nearby area (off campus)" they were in a precautionary secure status.
Drivers are urged to avoid the area.

PP

[PHXPhlyer]

Conflicting Reports

4 injured when a fire rescue helicopter crashes in Pompano Beach, Florida

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/28/us/helic ... index.html

A Broward County, Florida, sheriff’s fire rescue helicopter crashed Monday morning, sending four people to the hospital, including two crew members and two people from an apartment complex where it came down, authorities said.

All four are in fair condition, according to Veda Coleman-Wright, director of public information for the Broward County Sheriff Office.

The crash occurred near an airfield just north of Fort Lauderdale as the helicopter was on its way to an emergency call, authorities said.

“At approximately 8:46 a.m., emergency personnel responded to a call of an aircraft alert located southwest of the Pompano Beach Airpark. The helicopter involved in the crash is a BSO Fire Rescue helicopter. Pompano Beach Fire Rescue transported two people to an area hospital,” the Broward County Sheriff’s department said in a news release.

A helicopter goes down in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Monday, August 28.
A helicopter goes down in Pompano Beach, Florida, on Monday, August 28.
Courtesy Buck Daily
Just before it crashed, the aircraft was smoking and on fire near the rear, video posted to CNN affiliate WPLG appeared to show.

The NTSB has confirmed it is en route to help investigate the incident.

Two killed, 4 hurt when Broward Sheriff's Office helicopter crashes into Pompano Beach apartment building

https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/heli ... ano-beach/


She said two people from inside the helicopter and two on the ground were taken to North Broward Medical Center. It's not clear if they were aboard the helicopter or in the building.

Coleman-Wright did not confirm any fatalities from the incident.

Video posted online from people in the neighborhood showed smoke coming from the helicopter moments before the crash.

An unidentified individual who lives in the eight-unit apartment building told CBS News Miami that she heard a loud crash and shortly afterward was ordered to evacuate the building.

A man who works near the crash site said he heard it and rushed to help.

"The top of the roof was all fire. A big ball of fire, that's all. And then, a second explosion. I ran over there but the police, the first two cops who got there pushed us back and that's when the second explosion happened. We felt the heat and that's when we said we gotta go," said Ruben Chavez.


Jared Liverpool captured video of two of the crew members crawling out of the crash site and onto a roof. Someont propped a ladder on the side of the building and the shaken officers were able to get down.

"My heart was just racing, there was a lot going on at the moment. I just felt many emotions. I was scared, nervous," he said. "Surprisingly, the two men in their uniforms didn't look like they had any injuries on them at all. One of them said that their ribs were broken probably, but they seemed fine. They struggled a bit climbing up the roof but they got down, a police officer was asking them if they were okay, if they needed any help," said Liverpool.


Sheriff's officials said motorists should avoid the area because Dixie Highway would likely remain closed throughout the day.

Brightline trains were running, however.

Officials said separate investigations are underway.

"Investigators from the NTSB are en route," Coleman-Wright said. "The FAA is already on scene."

"There are parallel investigations," she said.

According to air traffic control at the airport, the pilot reported engine failure in the moments before the crash.

A pilot who has flown the aircraft said it had two engines so it was not clear if both engines failed or just one.

PP

[OneHungLow]

Reports of two fatalities...

Apparent fire and tailboom broken at point of impact. Extraordinary that anybody walked away from that.

[OneHungLow]

I wonder if one is talking about a catastrophic gearbox failure here, accompanied by oil fire and subsequent loss of tail boom integrity...

https://www.fox29.com/news/helicopter-c ... d-sheriffs

[CharlieOneSix]

I think probably it was a massive engine fire of which the crew must have been aware and which couldn't be contained with onboard fire suppression systems and that weakened the tailboom attachment structure until it failed. The question has to be asked why he didn't land immediately. Was he trying to get back to base so the fire could be dealt with there?

[OneHungLow]

I think probably it was a massive engine fire of which the crew must have been aware and which couldn't be contained with onboard fire suppression systems and that weakened the tailboom attachment structure until it failed. The question has to be asked why he didn't land immediately. Was he trying to get back to base so the fire could be dealt with there?

That seems like a reasonable scenario C16, as it seems he continued with a significant fire in the engine compartment and the engine was still providing power until the heat compromised the tail boom and control was lost.

[Boac]

I understand that the pilot/s (amazingly) survived the crash so hopefully we will know more.

EDIT: The crew fatality is quoted (in the Guardian) as 'the Captain AND Paramedic' so confusion!

[PHXPhlyer]

The crew fatality was a captain with the fire service. They were responding to a car crash with injuries.
The other fatality was an "elderly lady" who was a resident in the apartment complex the helicopter crashed into.

PP

[PHXPhlyer]

Juan's analysis:



PP

[CharlieOneSix]

Listening to the tape, there was no mention of a fire in the pilot’s calm announcement to ATC that he had an engine failure and was requesting a return to the airport. I understand that the tail boom, aft of the tail boom attachment to the main fuselage, is a non-metallic composite structure. Doesn’t seem to last long in the event of a fire. I gather that the aircraft batteries are in the general area of the fire. Thermal runaway? From experience that can be sudden and intense.

[Boac]

This (freak?) accident will be one where 'lessons will be learnt'.

[G~Man]

Listening to the tape, there was no mention of a fire in the pilot’s calm announcement to ATC that he had an engine failure and was requesting a return to the airport.

I suspect he did not now he had a fire. Also, I would have probably turned around also in stead of putting it on the ground....maybe not s much any more....