Tuesday, February 21, 2012

2nd attempt to retrieve crashed Wyoming copter fails

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — A second attempt to retrieve a search and rescue helicopter that crashed last week in northwest Wyoming has been called off.

Bridger-Teton National Forest spokeswoman Mary Cernicek says high winds stopped the second attempt on Tuesday. She says poor weather conditions this week may mean crews will have to wait until Friday for a third try.

The helicopter crashed Feb. 15 in a remote area of the forest northeast of Jackson while responding to snowmobile accident in which a man died. One volunteer rescuer died while the pilot and another rescue volunteer were hurt.

The pilot reported losing control of the helicopter, but the helicopter must be retrieved so investigators can determine whether mechanical failure was a factor.

Snowy weather stopped the first attempt to retrieve it last Friday.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 407HL        Make/Model: B407      Description: Bell 407
  Date: 02/15/2012     Time: 2105

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Fatal     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Destroyed

LOCATION
  City: JACKSON   State: WY   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  N407HL BELL 407 ROTORCRAFT CRASHED DURING A SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATION, 
  THERE WERE 3 PERSONS ON BOARD, 1 WAS FATALLY INJURED, 2 SUSTAINED SERIOUS 
  INJURIES, 25 MILES FROM JACKSON, WY

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   1
                 # Crew:   3     Fat:   1     Ser:   2     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:    


OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Unknown      Operation: OTHER


  FAA FSDO: CASPER, WY  (NM04)                    Entry date: 02/16/2012 

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