Both pilots died after two Enstrom helicopters collided in southern New Jersey Sunday. The collision occurred over Hammonton, New Jersey, about 11 a.m. local time. Circumstances of the crash have not yet been released, but video from the scene showed a helicopter that might be missing its tail rotor rotating vertically to the ground. The FAA issued the following statement. “An Enstrom F-28A helicopter and Enstrom 280C helicopter collided in mid-air near Hammonton Municipal Airport in New Jersey around 11:25 a.m. local time on Sunday, Dec. 28. Only the pilots were on board each aircraft. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide further updates.”
The two pilots had breakfast together before taking off from Hammontown and flying in what witnesses described as close formation. Both helicopters came down in a field and one was consumed by a post-crash fire. One of the pilots was pulled from his aircraft alive but died later in a local hospital.
Local news is reporting that the two pilots knew each other, were ‘regulars’ at the airport restaurant, and had departed in “tandem” after breakfast.
https://6abc.com/post/dead-helicopter-collision-hammonton-new-jersey/18327955/
I live near an airport that has a lot of helicopter training. (KMMV)
They follow some pretty crazy patterns. Often completely opposite of FW patterns.
Just a matter of time before we have a midair.
“Often completely opposite of FW patterns”.
That’s actually normal. According to the AIM:
“Helicopters operating in the traffic pattern may fly a pattern similar to the fixed-wing aircraft pattern, but at a lower altitude (500 AGL) and closer to the runway. This pattern may be on the opposite side of the runway from fixed-wing traffic when airspeed requires or for practice power-off landings (autorotation) and if local policy permits. Landings not to the runway must avoid the flow of fixed wing traffic.” (AIM Chapter 4-3-3, “Traffic Patterns”).
Being at another airport with significant helicopter training, I find that the operators position reporting could be improved and/or adjusted for the flight capabilities that are different than FW aircraft. For example, one instance a R22 had been calling ‘On final’ for an extended period of time. The first being when I just turned downwind. Unable to spot the helicopter, continued to be diligent looking for it while proceeding through the pattern. As I am about to turn final the helicopter again calls on short final at which point I ask if they can see me and they cannot. The duration of being on short final didn’t surprise me considering a descent can take as long as they please being a helicopter. Just as I’m about to go around I look out and see the helicopter hovering over the runway at a taxiway intersection. The point being, while technically still on short final, a better position call would have been upon establishing a hover over the runway to report as such, “Hovering on rwy 32 at taxiway alpha 4.” The profile of an R22 from behind combine with relatively little movement during hover makes spotting it very challenging. Being painted black didn’t help either. Ultimately a go around occurred. When requested if they could report hovering instead of short final as it would be easier for situational awareness, the flight instructor had nothing but rude pleasantries.
Trust me on this. Euphoria before and after a $100 breakfast flight is an unimaginably seductive force. “Formation” flying as well as nap of the earth flying can be and often are products of that euphoria. Of course I’ve never engaged in any of that, never, so don’t ask me how I know.