An Aerospatiale AS 355 Helicopter went down Oct 17 in Erwinna, PA killing pilot.
The helicopter went down after the Doug Brigham, the pilot, lost control of the flight. According to a final accident report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Brigham intended to depart on a scheduled repositioning flight from a Helipad behind Brigham’s home to an airport located 25 nautical miles southwest.
A handheld GPS device recovered from inside the helicopter shows that Brigham flew only for 27 seconds before impacting “trees and terrain.”
Weather reporting stations near the area did not report any dangerous weather, satellite images taken an hour post the incident show a band of low stratiform clouds - fog - and witnesses say that …show more content…
The NTSB stated that the Helicopter was not equipped to operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Brigham possessed both airplane and helicopter instrument ratings – was qualified to fly both. Nevertheless, his last proficiency flying test was 8 months before the incident in an airplane, not a helicopter, and there was no indication of the Brigham being capable of flying in IMC weather conditions.
“the fog should have been an indication to the pilot that IMC existed, and he should not have decided to operate the helicopter in such conditions.” The NTSB wrote in the report.
Brigham is a previous Pennsylvania State Police Pilot and holds a “certificate with a rating for rotorcraft- helicopter, as well as a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi- engine land, and instrument airplane.” according to the NTSB report.
Brigham served as a member of the Good fellowship ambulance –providing medical emergency services to the local community– and first West Chester Fire Companies in the 80’s.
Prior to joining the Pennsylvania State Police Brigham worked as a West Chester University Police
The helicopter went down after the Doug Brigham, the pilot, lost control of the flight. According to a final accident report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Brigham intended to depart on a scheduled repositioning flight from a Helipad behind Brigham’s home to an airport located 25 nautical miles southwest.
A handheld GPS device recovered from inside the helicopter shows that Brigham flew only for 27 seconds before impacting “trees and terrain.”
Weather reporting stations near the area did not report any dangerous weather, satellite images taken an hour post the incident show a band of low stratiform clouds - fog - and witnesses say that …show more content…
The NTSB stated that the Helicopter was not equipped to operate in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).
Brigham possessed both airplane and helicopter instrument ratings – was qualified to fly both. Nevertheless, his last proficiency flying test was 8 months before the incident in an airplane, not a helicopter, and there was no indication of the Brigham being capable of flying in IMC weather conditions.
“the fog should have been an indication to the pilot that IMC existed, and he should not have decided to operate the helicopter in such conditions.” The NTSB wrote in the report.
Brigham is a previous Pennsylvania State Police Pilot and holds a “certificate with a rating for rotorcraft- helicopter, as well as a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single and multi- engine land, and instrument airplane.” according to the NTSB report.
Brigham served as a member of the Good fellowship ambulance –providing medical emergency services to the local community– and first West Chester Fire Companies in the 80’s.
Prior to joining the Pennsylvania State Police Brigham worked as a West Chester University Police