Thursday, May 25, 2017

Loss of Control in Flight: Eurocopter EC 135P2, N62UP; fatal accident occurred May 25, 2017 near New Castle Airport (KILG), Wilmington, Delaware

The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entities:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Metro Aviation, Inc.; Shreveport, Louisiana
National Air Traffic Controllers Association; Washington, District of Columbia
German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation; Braunschweig, FN
Airbus Helicopters; Grand Prairie, Texas
Transportation Safety Board of Canada; Montreal, FN
Pratt & Whitney Canada; Bridgeport, West Virginia
 
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N62UP 

Location: New Castle, DE
Accident Number: ERA17FA190
Date & Time: 05/25/2017, 1153 EDT
Registration: N62UP
Aircraft: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH EC 135
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On May 25, 2017, at 1153 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2 helicopter, N62UP, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near New Castle, Delaware. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to the University of Pennsylvania and was being operated by Metro Aviation, Inc., as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) prevailed at the accident site about the time of the accident, and an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan had been filed for the flight. The local flight originated from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, at 1117.

According to a representative of Metro Aviation, a helicopter air ambulance operator, the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice instrument approaches at New Castle Airport (ILG), Wilmington, Delaware, pick up a clearance in flight, and then return to ACY. The pilot obtained weather briefings via the Foreflight application at 1026 and 1042. The briefings included weather observations, forecasts, and NOTAMs for the departure, destination, and selected en route stations; PIREPs (pilot reports); and in-flight weather advisories for the planned flight. At 1043, the pilot submitted a flight request form to the company, which documented the weather products he reviewed before the flight and indicated that he was aware of the reported and forecast weather conditions for the route before departure. After reviewing the request, weather, and risk assessment, the company's operation control center approved and released the helicopter for the flight five minutes after the request was submitted. In addition, the pilot performed and signed off the preflight inspection of the helicopter the morning of the accident.

A review of radar data and air traffic control (ATC) communications provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that after departing from ACY, the flight proceeded uneventfully and at 1150, an ILG tower controller cleared the pilot for the ILS RWY 1 approach (see figure 1, which shows an overhead view of the helicopter's radar ground track overlaid on the ILS RWY 1 instrument approach procedure plan view). The radar track showed that the helicopter was established on the final approach course about 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl), which was both the assigned altitude and the intermediate altitude for the approach. The helicopter maintained 2,000 ft msl as it continued through the glideslope and crossed over the locator outer marker (HADIN). The published crossing altitude for HADIN while established on the glideslope was 1,842 ft.

Figure 1. Overhead view of helicopter's radar ground track (red) overlaid onto the ILS Rwy 1 instrument approach procedure plan view.

The helicopter continued on course toward the runway; when it was about 3 miles, and about 2 minutes and 15 seconds beyond HADIN and still at an altitude of 2,000 ft msl, the pilot declared a missed approach. The controller advised the pilot to fly the published missed approach procedure. (The published procedure was a straight ahead climb to 900 ft, then left climbing turn to 2,000 ft to a heading of 220° to the ELUDE fix). Following the instruction, the helicopter climbed on course to 2,525 ft msl before it turned right and started a descent to 2,225 ft msl 4 seconds later. Subsequently, radar contact was lost when the helicopter was at 1,625 ft msl, and no additional communications were received from the pilot.

One witness reported seeing the helicopter for about two seconds "spinning down…out of the clouds in an upside-down nose dive." Another witness reported that the helicopter descended "like a rocket" and that he did not observe any smoke or fire before the helicopter impacted the ground.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rotorcraft-helicopter rating. Additionally, he held a flight instructor certificate with helicopter and instrument helicopter ratings and a private pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot's most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued on October 20, 2016. At that time, he reported 4,200 hours of total flight experience, 100 hours of which were in the previous 6 months.

According to Metro Aviation's duty log for the pilot, he had accumulated 827.0 hours of flight experience with the company since he was hired in June 2013, 21.9 hours of which were in IMC and 33.2 hours of which were simulated instrument time. Since January 1, 2016, he had completed 18 precision instrument approaches and 21 non-precision instrument approaches. The duty log indicated that, from January 2016 through the accident date, the pilot had only flown to ILG for the company once, on March 12, 2017, on a day, visual flight rules flight.

The pilot's most recent instrument proficiency program check flight was on April 9, 2017. During that flight, the pilot practiced several types of instrument approaches, including an ILS approach and a missed approach.

AIRCRAFT INFORMATION

The light helicopter was manufactured in 2006 and was configured with the pilot's seat on the right side. It was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW206B2 engines.

The helicopter was equipped with a four-blade, rigid hingeless, bearingless main rotor system. In addition, it had a fenestron-type antitorque system, which is comprised of a ten-blade fan housed in the vertical fin. The helicopter was also equipped with an Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS), three-axis autopilot.

According to the helicopter flight manual, the AFCS had the ability to perform several different types of instrument approaches such as localizer approaches and ILS approaches (which used localizer mode with the glide slope mode), in addition it had a "Go around (GA) mode," which could be used in the event of a missed approach. When using the autopilot during an ILS approach, the AFCS would capture and fly the localizer first, and then capture the glideslope and command the helicopter to track the glideslope beam. The glideslope mode captured when the glideslope deviation was inside the -0.2/+0.5 dot range. In order to use the autopilot for an ILS approach the approach and the glide slope modes needed to be engaged separately. In the GA mode, the helicopter would acquire and hold a vertical speed of 1000 ft/min or 75 knots indicated airspeed.

According to the helicopter's maintenance logbook, the most recent approved aircraft inspection program 100-hour inspection was conducted on April 25, 2017, at an airframe total time of 5,152.1 hours. Before the accident flight, the helicopter's airframe total time was 5,163.1 hours and the left and right engines total operating times were 5,168.9, and 5,155.7 hours, respectively.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The 1036 weather observation from ILG, which was the prevailing conditions when the pilot was performing his preflight weather planning, reported wind from 070° at 13 knots, visibility 4 miles in light rain and mist, overcast clouds at 500 ft above ground level, temperature 14° C, dew point 14° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.52 inches of mercury.

The 1151 weather observation from ILG reported wind from 050° at 7 knots, visibility 2 1/2 miles in mist, overcast clouds at 500 ft above ground level, temperature 16° C, dew point 16°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.53 inches of mercury.

Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Weather Tool images depicting the route between ACY and ILG, at 1000, 1030, 1100, 1130, and 1200, all indicated that IMC to "low" IMC prevailed in the area.

Terminal Forecast

The 0800 forecast for ILG predicted wind from 080° at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots, visibility 4 miles in light rain showers and mist, ceiling overcast at 800 ft. The forecasted weather at 1000 was with wind from 090° at 10 knots, visibility greater than 6 miles, and ceiling overcast at 1,200 ft. Then, visual flight rules (VFR) conditions at 1400, with visibility greater than 6 miles and a cloud ceiling broken at 3,500 ft. Low-level wind shear was not mentioned in the forecast.

The forecast for ACY predicted wind from 070° at 12 knots, visibility 5 miles in light rain showers and mist, and ceiling overcast at 600 ft. At 1000, forecast conditions included wind from 090° at 10 knots, visibility greater than 6 miles in light rain, and ceiling overcast at 1,200 ft. After 1500, VFR conditions were expected with visibility unrestricted and ceiling broken at 4,500 ft.

Area Forecast

The forecast for southern New Jersey issued at 0445 and valid through 1700 predicted general overcast clouds at 1,000 ft with tops to 25,000 ft and visibility 3 to 5 miles in light rain and mist through 1500, then lifting to broken at 3,500 ft with widely scattered light rain showers and thunderstorms with tops to 35,000 ft. The forecast for Delaware and northern Maryland also expected general overcast clouds at 1,000 ft with tops to 25,000 ft, with visibility 3 to 5 miles in light rain and mist. After 1400, scattered clouds at 1,500 ft, and broken clouds at 4,000 ft were expected with scattered light rain showers. The forecast was amended by AIRMET Sierra, which was current at the time of the accident.

Inflight Weather Advisories

The primary advisories current at the time of the accident included a series of AIRMETs, which were issued at 1045, and warned of a wide area of IFR conditions, moderate turbulence, and low-level wind shear (LLWS). The conditions were expected to continue through 1700.

High Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) Numerical Model Sounding

A National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration HRRR model sounding for the approximate location of the accident at 1200 predicted a wind profile indicated easterly winds below the frontal inversion with winds veering to the south and southwest abruptly above the inversion with increasing wind speeds. The data indicated that, during the descent from 3,000 ft to 1,000 ft, a 90° shift in wind direction and speed would have occurred and that this had the potential of producing moderate or greater turbulence. The data also indicated that there was a greater than 90% probability of turbulence and/or wind shear at 1,600 ft, when the last ATC radar contact with the helicopter occurred.

Aircraft Meteorological Data and Relay Observations

Three aircraft provided Aircraft Meteorological Data and Relay or in situ reports, which contained real-time observations of the atmospheric conditions and observed winds immediately surrounding the time of the accident, The reports came from special instrumented aircraft departing from or arriving at the Philadelphia International Airport, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, located about 20 miles northeast of the accident site.

These reports confirmed the presence of frontal inversions and change in wind direction and speed with height. One of the airplanes, which was equipped with a moisture sensor, provided a descent sounding at 1046, which reported a saturated environment from 4,000 ft to the surface with a relative humidity greater than 97%. All three aircraft reported that the low-level wind maximums near 3,000 ft were from the south from 31 to 39 knots and that winds below 1,000 were from the east. One report showed a sharp increase in the temperature profile about 1,620 ft where the temperature fluctuated and a strong vertical shear was noted, suggesting turbulence might have existed.

PIREPs (Pilot Reports)

Four PIREPs were made within 100 miles of the accident location around the time of the time of the accident. Each reported cloud bases near as low as 400 ft, and cloud tops at 2,000 ft. One of the reports described the air as "smooth" and none reported the presence of turbulence or windshear.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

ILG was located 4 miles south of Wilmington, Delaware, at an elevation of 80 ft msl. The airport had an operating control tower that was open from 0730 to 0000 daily. Runway 1 was equipped with a medium intensity approach lighting system and runway alignment indicator lights.
Review of radar data, and interviews with two pilots operating on the ground at ILG just before the accident, revealed that the ILS critical area was free of aircraft or vehicular obstructions.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

Accident Site Examination

The helicopter came to rest in a ditch about 3,200 ft before the runway threshold and right of the runway centerline. The helicopter was fragmented and partially consumed by postimpact fire. All of the helicopter's major components were located in the main wreckage area. The odor of Jet A fuel was noted at the accident site. The top post of a fence located about 15 ft from and parallel to the main wreckage location was cut at a 45° angle. In addition, about 5 ft directly beneath the cut post, the fence was damaged, and part of a rotor blade was embedded in it. Further, a section of wood from the fence was located that exhibited 45° angle cuts on either end.

Airframe and Rotor System Examination

The cockpit and forward section of the fuselage were partially consumed by fire. Control continuity of the cyclic and collective was confirmed to the rotor head from the cockpit through several breaks and fractures. The cyclic, collective, and antitorque pedals were separated and found in the main wreckage. Not all sections of the control system were located because they were destroyed by impact forces and fire damage; however, no preimpact anomalies were noted with the sections of the control system that were found.

The standby attitude indicator was removed from the cockpit and disassembled. Rotational scoring was noted on the gyro housing.

The rotor head and transmission remained attached to each other but were separated from the airframe due to impact forces. The control actuator assembly was examined, and all tie rods remained intact. All four blades of the main rotor remained attached to the rotor head. One blade exhibited impact damage and was not thermally damaged. the three other blades were consumed by fire. All of the pitch-change links remained attached to the rotor head. The transmission mounts were separated from the helicopter. The tailboom was impact-separated and consumed by fire. The fenestron was impact-separated. Several fenestron vanes were bent in the opposite direction of rotation and exhibited rotational scoring. In addition, a few of the vanes were impact separated.

Engine Examinations

The left engine was impact-separated from the engine mounts. The reduction gearbox and the turbomachine were impact-separated. The compressor turbine disc and compressor could be rotated by hand. The left engine power turbine was removed, and the drive shaft exhibited torsional deformation and fractures. The power turbine wheel exhibited rotational scoring.

The right engine was impact-separated from the engine mounts. The right engine power turbine was removed, and the drive shaft exhibited torsional deformation and fractures. The power turbine wheel exhibited rotational scoring.

Engine Control System Unit and WU Examinations

The helicopter was equipped with an engine control system unit that included electronic engine control units and data collection units for each engine. Thermal and impact damage precluded the download of any data from the units.

The helicopter was also equipped with a warning unit (WU) that provided visual and audio indications when warning conditions were triggered. The WU accommodated several warnings that were chronologically recorded but not timestamped. The warnings appeared red when illuminated and were unlit when inactive. Each warning simultaneously initiated an audible 'gong'. The audio for some of the warnings could be silenced using the audio reset button on the top of the cyclic control stick, but a visual warning could not be cleared while the warning condition remained. All warning gongs were audible to the pilot and observers through their headsets.

The WU was removed from the wreckage, disassembled, and a non-volatile memory chip was removed for data download. Examination of the data revealed that the engine start-up was consistent with the expected and normal engine startup warnings, as well as an expected autopilot warning. Subsequently, the rotor rpm warning illuminated multiple times as the rotor rpm cycled between normal range (95% to 106%) and greater-than-106% rotor rpm multiple times and then the greater-than- 112% rotor rpm warning illuminated while a gong sounded. After that, the autopilot warning illuminated, and the rotor rpm warnings cycled between greater than 106% and 112% and less than 95% multiple times. While the WU preserved the sequence of the annunciated warnings, it did not record timestamps, so it could not be determined when the rpm warnings occurred beyond what order they occurred in.

According to the helicopter flight manual, the autopilot warning light would illuminate when the autopilot was disengaged or if there was a failure of the autopilot module. In the event the autopilot was disengaged or a failure occurred, the pilot would actively have his/her hands on the flight controls and land the helicopter as soon as practicable.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The State of Delaware Division of Forensic Science, Wilmington, Delaware, performed an autopsy of the pilot. The autopsy report indicated that the pilot died as a result of "multiple blunt force injuries."

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing of specimens from the pilot. The testing was negative for ethanol and tested drugs.

ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION

Metro Aviation Operations Manual

Instrument Training

According to the company's operations manual, all pilots were required to go through initial and recurrent training in helicopter operations. The recurrent training required 4 hours of instrument training every year. In addition, its helicopter instrument proficiency program, which could be used for flight crew to maintain instrument proficiency skills and currency under the applicable regulations required quarterly checks during which the pilots would perform a training flight with a safety pilot that could also qualify as an instrument proficiency check in accordance with FAA regulations.

Approved Sources to Obtain Weather Information

According to the operations manual, the approved sources that pilots could use to obtain weather information included anything published by the National Weather Service (NWS) or an NWS-approved source. According to another company pilot, he and other company pilots often used the NWS HEMS Weather Tool, terminal area forecasts, ForeFlight, and Weathermeister (an online commercial service) to obtain weather information.

Helicopter Weather Minimums – Precision Approaches

According to the operations manual, the weather minimums needed for a straight-in category I precision instrument approach for helicopter operations, when a medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights was present, was 1/4 mile visibility or 1,600 ft of runway visual range when the helicopter reached 200 ft agl while on the glideslope.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Air Traffic Control and Pilot Interactions

At 1128, the pilot first contacted Philadelphia (PHL) Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) and reported the helicopter was flying at 4,000 ft msl and was headed direct to Cedar Lake (VCN). The radar south arrival (SA) controller issued the current altimeter and advised the pilot that automatic terminal information service information "tango" was current at ILG. The pilot acknowledged and said he would advise when he had received that weather information. The controller then provided radar vectors to the helicopter for the ILS approach to runway 1.

At 1135, the pilot requested an IFR clearance back to ACY after completion of his instrument approach into ILG. The SA controller advised the pilot that the next controller would be able to accommodate his request.

About 1139, the SA controller transferred communications with the pilot to the South Departure (SD) controller and advised the pilot the receiving controller had been made aware of his request to pick up his clearance to ACY following the completion of the ILS approach. The pilot acknowledged and established contact with the SD controller.

The SD controller continued vectoring the helicopter for the ILS runway 1 approach until about 1150, when he cleared the pilot for the approach with a restriction to maintain at or above 2,000 ft until established on the approach. The pilot acknowledged. While vectoring the helicopter, the controller instructed the pilot to turn the helicopter to intercept the ILS approach course, which resulted in the helicopter intercepting the approach course at a 30° angle, about 1 nautical mile outside the approach gate (see figure 2). The SD controller then transferred communications with the pilot to the local (LC) controller at ILG ATCT.


Figure 2. Radar flight track of the final segment of the accident flight. Key points along the route of flight have been depicted in order to illustrate the final approach intercept with relation to the final approach fix and approach gate.


At 1150, the pilot first contacted the LC at ILG ATCT and reported crossing the HADIN fix at 2,000 ft. The LC issued the current wind and cleared the pilot to land runway 1. The pilot acknowledged with a correct readback.

At 1151, a position relief briefing (PRB) took place on the LC position. The helicopter was the only traffic being handled by the ILG ATCT and was included in the PRB. Directly following the PRB, at 1152, the pilot reported that he would like to go around, start his missed approach, and come back around for another approach. The on-coming LC asked the pilot if he had previously coordinated the missed approach with PHL ATCT, and the pilot said "uh, we didn't want to ma'am."

At 1153, the on-coming LC asked the pilot if he was having trouble getting the airport in sight, and the pilot responded that he had received "some bad vectors at the very end" and wanted to "just line up and come back around again." The on-coming LC instructed the pilot to fly the missed approach, and then coordinated the approach with PHL ATCT. There was no response from the pilot, and radar contact was lost at 1153:18.

The on-coming LC attempted to contact the pilot for the next several minutes, and at 1157 stated to the PHL ATCT SD controller that they could see black smoke and could not reach the pilot.

Air Traffic Control (ATC) Guidance

According to FAA Order 7110.65W, "Air Traffic Control," chapter 5, section 9, paragraph 5-9-2, for final approach course interception, the controller was to assign headings that would permit final approach course intercept on a track that does not exceed a 20° angle if an aircraft intercepts the approach course less than 2 miles from the approach gate, or a 30° angle if an aircraft intercepts the approach course 2 miles or more from the approach gate.

Page 2-6-1 and 2-6-2, section 2-6-3, of the order stated, in part, the following regarding air traffic controller requirements to solicit and disseminate significant PIREP information to pilots:

Significant PIREP [pilot report] information includes reports of strong frontal activity, squall lines, thunderstorms, light to severe icing, wind shear and turbulence (including clear air turbulence) of moderate or greater intensity, volcanic eruptions and volcanic ash clouds, detection of sulfur gases (SO2 or H2S) in the cabin, and other conditions pertinent to flight safety.

a. Solicit PIREPs when requested or when one of the following conditions exists or is forecast for your area of jurisdiction:

1. Ceilings at or below 5,000 feet. These PIREPs must include cloud base/top reports when feasible.
2. Visibility (surface or aloft) at or less than 5 miles.
3. Thunderstorms and related phenomena.
4. Turbulence of moderate degree or greater.
5. Icing of light degree or greater.
6. Wind shear.

d. Handle PIREPs as follows:
1. Relay pertinent PIREP information to concerned aircraft in a timely manner.
2. En Route. Relay all operationally significant PIREPs to the facility weather coordinator.

A review of the ATC transcripts revealed that the air traffic controllers that interacted with pilot did not solicit or disseminate PIREPs.

Chapter 3 section 1, paragraph 3-1-9, "Use of Tower Radar Displays," stated, in part, the following:

Uncertified tower display workstations must be used only as an aid to assist controllers in visually locating aircraft or in determining their spatial relationship to known geographical points. Radar services and traffic advisories are not to be provided using uncertified tower display workstations…local controllers may use certified tower radar displays…to determine an aircraft's identification, exact location, or spatial relationship to other aircraft…to provide aircraft with radar traffic advisories…to provide a direction or suggested headings to VFR [visual flight rules] aircraft as a method for radar identification or as an advisory aid navigation…to provide information and instructions to aircraft operating within the surface area for which the tower has responsibility.

A review of the ATC transcripts revealed that the tower controller did not provide approach guidance to the accident helicopter in the form of radar vectors.

Workload Management

The Helicopter Flying Handbook (FAA-H-8083-21A) stated the following regarding workload management:

One component of Single-Pilot Resource Management is workload or task management. Research shows that humans have a limited capacity for information. Once information flow exceeds the person's ability to mentally process the information, any additional information becomes unattended or displaces other tasks and information already being processed [See Figure 3, which depicts task requirements and pilot capabilities in reference to a margin of safety.] Once this situation occurs, only two alternatives exist: shed the unimportant tasks or perform all tasks at a less than optimal level. Like an overloaded electrical circuit, either the consumption must be reduced or a circuit failure is experienced.


Figure 6. A depiction of task requirements and pilot capabilities in reference to a margin of safety.

Spatial Disorientation

The FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25B) contained guidance on spatial disorientation, which stated the following:

…under normal flight conditions, when there is a visual reference to the horizon and ground, the sensory system in the inner ear helps to identify the pitch, roll, and yaw movements of the airplane. When visual contact with the horizon is lost, the vestibular system becomes unreliable. Without visual references outside the airplane, there are many situations where combinations of normal motions and forces can create convincing illusions that are difficult to overcome.

The handbook also advised, "unless a pilot has many hours of training in instrument flight, flight in reduced visibility or at night when the horizon is not visible should be avoided."

Airplane Flying Handbook

The AFM stated the following about spatial disorientation:

The pilot must believe what the flight instruments show about the airplane's attitude regardless of what the natural senses tell. The vestibular sense (motion sensing by the inner ear) can and will confuse the pilot. Because of inertia, the sensory areas of the inner ear cannot detect slight changes in airplane attitude, nor can they accurately send the attitude changes which occur at a uniform rate over a period of time. On the other hand, false sensations are often generated, leading the pilot to believe the attitude of the airplane has changed when, in fact, it has not. These false sensations result in the pilot experiencing spatial disorientation.

FAA Advisory Circular 60-4A, "Pilot's Spatial Disorientation," stated the following on spatial disorientation:

The attitude of an aircraft is generally determined by reference to the natural horizon or other visual reference with the surface. If neither horizon nor surface references exist, the attitude of an aircraft must be determined by artificial means from the flight instruments. Sight, supported by other senses, allows the pilot to maintain orientation. However, during periods of low visibility, the supporting senses sometimes conflict with what is seen. When this happens, a pilot is particularly vulnerable to disorientation. The degree of orientation may vary considerably with individual pilots. Spatial disorientation to a pilot means simply the inability to tell which way is 'up.'…Surface references and the natural horizon may at times become obscured, although visibility may be above flight rule minimums. Lack of natural horizon or such reference is common on over water flights, at night, and especially at night in extremely sparsely populated areas, or in low visibility conditions…. The disoriented pilot may place the aircraft in a dangerous attitude… therefore, the use of flight instruments is essential to maintain proper attitude when encountering any of the elements which may result in spatial disorientation. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Flight Instructor; Private
Age: 37, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Right
Other Aircraft Rating(s): Helicopter
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): Helicopter
Second Pilot Present:No 
Instructor Rating(s): Helicopter; Instrument Helicopter
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification: Class 1 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 10/20/2016
Occupational Pilot:Yes 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 4200 hours (Total, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Registration: N62UP
Model/Series: EC 135 P2
Aircraft Category: Helicopter
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 0475
Landing Gear Type: Skid;
Seats: 5
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/25/2017, AAIP
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 11 Hours
Engines: 2 Turbo Shaft
Airframe Total Time: 5163 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney Canada
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: PW206B2
Registered Owner: UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
Rated Power: 447 hp
Operator: Metro Aviation, Inc.
Operating Certificate(s) Held: On-demand Air Taxi (135)

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Instrument Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: ILG, 80 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1151 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 0°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Thin Overcast / 500 ft agl
Visibility:  2.5 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 500 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 7 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: 50°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 29.53 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 16°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: Moderate - Mist
Departure Point: Atlantic  City, NJ (ACY)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Destination: Atlantic  City, NJ (ACY)
Type of Clearance: IFR
Departure Time: 1115 EDT
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: NEW CASTLE (ILG)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 80 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Wet
Runway Used: 01
IFR Approach: ILS
Runway Length/Width: 7012 ft / 150 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries:N/A 
Aircraft Explosion:None 
Total Injuries:1 Fatal 

Latitude, Longitude: 39.659167, -75.601111

NTSB Identification: ERA17FA190
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, May 25, 2017 in New Castle, DE
Aircraft: EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GMBH EC 135, registration: N62UP
Injuries: 1 Fatal.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On May 25, 2017, at 1153 eastern daylight time, a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH EC 135 P2, N62UP, was destroyed when it impacted terrain near New Castle, Delaware. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. The helicopter was registered to the University of Pennsylvania and operated by Metro Aviation as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed about the time of the accident, and the flight was operated on an instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan. The flight originated from Atlantic City International Airport (ACY), Atlantic City, New Jersey, about 1115.

According to the operator, the helicopter was refueled prior to departure, and the purpose of the flight was for the pilot to practice instrument approach procedures.

Preliminary review of radar and voice communication data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed that air traffic control cleared the helicopter for the ILS RWY 1 approach at ILG. The radar track depicted the helicopter established on the final approach course about 2,000 ft mean sea level (msl) which was both the assigned altitude and the intermediate minimum descent altitude for the approach. The helicopter maintained 2,000 ft msl as it continued through the glideslope and crossed over the locator outer marker. The published crossing altitude for the outer marker while established on the glideslope was 1,842 ft.

The helicopter continued towards the landing runway about 3 miles beyond the outer marker on course about 2,000 ft msl when the pilot declared a missed approach. The helicopter then climbed on course to 2,525 ft msl before it turned to the right and descended rapidly. Radar contact was lost at 1,625 ft msl.

According to FAA records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for rotorcraft-helicopter. Additionally, he held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for helicopter and instrument helicopter, and a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane. The pilot's most recent second-class medical certificate was issued on October 20, 2016. At that time, he reported 4,200 hours of total flight experience, of which, 100 hours were in the previous 6 months.

According to FAA records, the helicopter was manufactured in 2006, and was equipped with two Pratt & Whitney Canada, PW206B2 engines. According to the helicopter maintenance logbook, the most recent approved aircraft inspection program (AAIP) 100-hour inspection was performed on April 25, 2017, at an airframe total time of 5,152.1 hours. Prior to the accident flight, the helicopter airframe total time was 5,163.1 hours. Also, the left and right engines had been operated for 5,168.9, and 5,155.7 total hours; respectively.

The helicopter came to rest in a water retention ditch about 3,200 ft prior to the threshold of runway 1. It was fragmented and partially consumed by a postimpact fire. All the major components of the helicopter were located in the 30 ft by 20 ft area of the main wreckage. An odor of Jet A fuel was noted at the accident site. A fence located about 15 ft from and parallel to the main wreckage location had a 45° angle cut in the top post. In addition, about 5 ft directly under the cut post was a damaged section of fence that had part of a rotor blade imbedded in it. Furthermore, a section of wood was located that exhibited 45° angle cuts on either end.

The cockpit and forward section of the fuselage were partially consumed by fire. Control continuity of the cyclic and collective was confirmed to the rotor head from the cockpit through several breaks and fractures. The cyclic, collective, and antitorque pedals were separated and located in the main wreckage.

The rotor head and transmission remained attached, but were separated from the airframe due to impact. All four blades of the main rotor remained attached to the rotor head. One blade exhibited impact damage and was not thermally damaged. All other blades were consumed by fire. All pitch links remained attached to the rotor head. The transmission mounts were separated from the helicopter. The tailboom was impact separated and consumed by fire. The fenestron was impact separated. The tail rotor vanes were bent the opposite direction of rotation and several vanes were impact separated. In addition, several of the vanes exhibited leading edge gouging and rotational scoring.

The left engine was impact separated from the engine mounts. The reduction gearbox and the turbomachine were impact separated. The compressor turbine disc and compressor were rotated by hand. The left engine power turbine was removed and the drive shaft exhibited torsional deformation and fractures. In addition, the power turbine wheel exhibited rotational scoring.

The right engine was impact separated from the engine mounts. The right engine power turbine was removed and the drive shaft exhibited torsional twisting deformation and fractures. In addition, the power turbine wheel exhibited rotational scoring.

The central warning panel and Sky Connect tracker unit were retained and sent to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory in Washington, DC for download.


Helicopter pilot Michael (Mike) Murphy





Erika Murphy shared stories of her husband, Mike, who she characterizes as humble and a great pilot, person, father, son and brother.

Helicopter pilot Michael (Mike) Murphy died May 25 when his Eurocopter EC135 crashed at a Delaware industrial park while conducting approach training at New Castle Airport.

Murphy, 37, flew PennStar medical helicopters for the University of Pennsylvania Health System and other entities, as well as serving as a backup pilot for NBC10’s SkyForce10.

“He never bragged about being a great pilot but he was a great pilot,” Erika said.

Erika, who is pregnant with their second son, spoke to NBC10 Thursday as she prepared to lay her husband to rest Friday.

Besides flying and family, she said Mike liked exercising, the outdoors, their family dog and country music — Jamey is named after country singer Jamey Johnson.

“Michael didn’t have the best rhythm,” Erika said, but that didn’t stop him from dancing with his son, including the night before he died.

The couple met in January 2010, even though Erika had worked with Mike’s mother in the Winslow Township School District for years. He took her on a chopper ride on their third date.

“That’s when I think I knew, I think he’s a keeper… that’s a pretty cool date,” Erika said. “No other guy could have had a cooler date than that one.”

At the time Mike was a flight instructor at Flying W in Medford, New Jersey. First a truck driver, he began flying years earlier after a friend took him up in a chopper.

“He loved flying,” Erika said. “He wanted to train Jamey to fly.”

Mike worked all over the place but there was one week he would always take off — when his family went to Ocean City each summer.

“He would have done anything for me and Jamey,” Erika said. “That’s why he worked so much.”

“He was a wonderful man, a wonderful father son and brother,” she added “He would have done anything for anyone whether he knew you or not.”

Visiting hours will be held for Murphy on Friday from 9 a.m. to noon at Christ the Redeemer Parish/Assumption Church on 318 Carl Hasselhan Drive in Atco, New Jersey. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Murphy children’s college fund. Please make checks out to Erika Murphy, c/o LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, NJ 08004.

A GoFundMe campaign for the family had raised more than $40,000 Thursday afternoon.

Family friend Jordan Wolochow of Jordan Brian Photography in Mount Laurel, New Jersey is also offering family portrait sessions on Saturday, June 17 for $50 each, with proceeds going to Murphy’s family.

The cause of the crash that killed Mike remains under investigation.

Original article can be found here:  https://1philadelphia.net

Michael R. Murphy, 37, professional copter pilot

Michael R. Murphy loved to fly from the time he took his first helicopter ride about 12 years ago. He then changed careers from a self-employed truck driver to pilot.

On Thursday, May 25, Mr. Murphy, 37, of Franklinville, died when the medical helicopter he was flying for a training exercise crashed in Delaware.

Aviation authorities are still investigating what caused the crash. The Eurocopter EC135 burst into flames behind a postal facility in New Castle after it had taken off from the Atlantic City airport that morning. Mr. Murphy, flying alone, was practicing instrument navigation needed to fly during inclement weather, said his father, Michael Murphy. He was flying in foggy and cloudy conditions, said his wife, Erika.

Erika Murphy said the two met at P.J. Whelihan's Pub & Restaurant in Medford. At the time, Mr. Murphy was a flight instructor. For their third date, he took her for a helicopter ride.

"He was very entertaining," said his wife, who said her husband had an "infectious" personality that made others smile. "There was never a dull moment with Michael."

He proposed in March 2013. That November, about two dozen people attended their wedding in Las Vegas.

Mr. Murphy loved roughhousing with his boxer, Harley, who died recently, and playing or dancing with the couple's 2-year-old son, Jamey Michael. His wife is pregnant with another boy.

"He loved taking Jamey and Harley on walks to tire them both out," Erika Murphy said.

In a strange coincidence, Jamey was born 10 weeks premature when Pope Francis visited Philadelphia in 2015. The last previous papal visit to Philadelphia was when Pope John Paul II came in 1979, and Mr. Murphy was born five weeks premature then.

On Thursday, Mr. Murphy was flying for Metro Aviation, which provides air transportation for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Previously, he flew for Telemundo and NBC10 in Philadelphia. Prior to that, he worked for Liberty Helicopter Tours in New York, flying tourists above Manhattan or taking VIPs to special events.

He took former Eagles wide receiver Freddie Mitchell for a ride when the NFL star was on Millionaire Matchmakers and his date confronted him about not paying child support. He once flew a QVC crew, and another time gave a lift to actress Liv Tyler.

Mr. Murphy's favorite event, however, was a chance meeting at Atlantic City's airport when the Triple Crown winner American Pharoah was flying out. Mr. Murphy posed to have his picture taken with the horse, the first to win both the Triple Crown and the Breeder's Club Classic, completing the Grand Slam of American horse racing.

As a truck driver, Mr. Murphy hauled sand and gravel between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He had hauled dirt to New York for the infield at Yankee Stadium also, his father said.

Mr. Murphy was a graduate of Edgewood Regional High School, now Winslow Township High, and earned an associate's degree from Camden County College.

"He was very self-driven," said Mr. Murphy's father. When he was young, Mr. Murphy recalled, his son made a hundred calls as he was looking for a blueberry-picking job. "He was a hard worker, and he wanted to pay his way."

In addition to his wife, father, and son, Mr. Murphy is survived by his mother, Janet, and a sister.

Visitation is scheduled for Friday, June 2, from 9 a.m. to noon followed by a Mass at Christ the Redeemer Parish/Assumption Church, 318 Carl Hasselhan Dr., Atco. Interment will be private at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to two funds set up to help the Murphy family. One was created by a friend and coworker for the family. The other was created by PennSTAR. Condolences may be sent to the LeRoy P. Wooster Funeral Home & Crematory, 441 White Horse Pike, Atco, N.J. 08004.

Original article can be found here:   http://www.philly.com

Michael Murphy served as a back-up pilot of SkyForce10 for NBC10 and Telemundo62.



A 37-year-old Franklinville, New Jersey, man--identified as Michael Murphy--was killed when the PennStar medical helicopter he was piloting crashed into a drainage ditch behind a U.S. Postal Service building near New Castle Thursday and exploded.  Murphy was the sole occupant of the rotorcraft.  

The fiery crash happened at 11:55 a.m. Thursday on the 200 block of Quigley Boulevard, when for unknown reasons the 2006 Airbus EC-135-P2 went down. 

"The helicopter, associated with the University of Pennsylvania hospitals then became engulfed in flames; responding fire personnel from the Good Will fire company and neighboring fire companies arrived at the scene and were able to extinguish the flames," said Delaware state Police Cpl. Jeff Hale.  

Flight travel logs indicate the PennStar aviation unit was scheduled to arrive at KILG at 11:55 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2017.  It had departed from Atlantic City, New Jersey, Thursday morning.  

"This afternoon’s helicopter accident in New Castle, Delaware involved a helicopter operated by Metro Aviation," said Susan Phillips, Penn Medicine’s SVP for Public Affairs. "Metro provides aviation services for PennStar, the air transportation service for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. The pilot of the helicopter was conducting a training flight. No patients or Penn Medicine employees were on board."

Hale said surrounding vehicles sustained damage from flying debris and flames; a building also appeared to be burned.

"We are lucky, at this point, that he did not strike any occupied buildings, and that there was no other injuries," said Hale.  

Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter flying erratically, perhaps trying not to hit any buildings, but Hale said the pilot's actions in the moments before the crash will be the subject of a federal investigation. Marian and Jay Williams, who own Kompressed Air of Delaware, witnessed the crash from their business across the street on Quigley Boulevard.  

"We heard the sputtering, a terrible sound coming from the engine of the aircraft, and it went down.  It immediately exploded, we saw black smoke right away," said Jay Williams.  "It was unbelievable.  We felt it--this building shook." 

The couple drove over to see whether they could render any assistance, but couldn't even make out that it was a helicopter that had crashed.

"The flames were just atrocious," said Jay Williams.  "We couldn't see anything left of an airframe at all.  There was nothing; we didn't know it was a helicopter until we saw it on the news."

A spokesperson for Metro Aviation said Murphy was very experienced, and it remains unclear why the helicopter crashed.  

"We have sent our leadership team to meet with the FAA to investigate, but until it's over and we've determined what happened, it would be presumptuous to start commenting," she said. "This was a very experienced pilot. The next-of-kin has been notified, but because some other loved ones are still being tracked down, we won't be releasing the name."

A hazardous materials crew was also at the scene for reports of fuel that had possibly spilled in a nearby creek.  

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were expected to arrive at the scene Thursday night and will be probing the crash over the next few days; a final report could still be months away.

Story and video:   http://www.wdel.com