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Investigation Underway after Rescue Helicopter Crash in Florida

The aircraft's tailboom was ablaze as it spun out of control before crashing through the roof of an occupied apartment building.

The accident involved a Eurocopter EC135, similar to the one here. [Credit: Shutterstock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • A Broward Sheriff's Fire Rescue helicopter crashed into an occupied apartment building in Broward County, Florida, after experiencing an in-flight fire and spinning out of control.
  • The accident resulted in two fatalities: the helicopter's pilot, Captain Terryson Jackson, and a woman who was in the apartment building.
  • Two other helicopter crew members and two civilians sustained non-life-threatening injuries and are currently in fair condition.
  • The Broward County Sheriff's Office has grounded its entire helicopter fleet for inspections, with the FAA and NTSB actively investigating the cause of the crash.
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Authorities in Broward County, Florida, are investigating what caused a fire aboard a Broward Sheriff’s Fire Rescue helicopter that sent it spinning out of control, resulting in the Eurocopter’s impact into an occupied apartment building.

The pilot of the helicopter, BSFR Captain Terryson Jackson, 50, died in the accident, as did a woman in the apartment. As of Tuesday afternoon, her name had not yet been released.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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