Eurocopter

Since Eurocopter‘s formation 20 years ago from the merger of helicopter producers in France and Germany, the company has steadily increased its market share, capturing and holding onto the coveted spot as the world’s largest civil helicopter maker. One product above all others deserves the credit for initiating this rise to prominence: the EC 135. […]

At approximately 1250 Central time, the helicopter sustained substantial damage while making a run-on landing to a grass field. The pilot and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The helicopter was registered to and operated by the Department of Homeland Security as a public use aircraft. Visual conditions prevailed.

__Eurocopter recently reported that flight-testing on the X3 is progressing nicely and its test pilots attained a sustained true airspeed of 232 knots. This number, which was achieved during stable, level flight on the third flight-testing mission after the X3’s gear boxes were modified, is significantly higher than the 220 knots the Marignane, France-based company […]

Last week, Eurocopter took the wraps off its developmental X3 helicopter, with a claimed top speed of 220 knots. The “speed barrier” for conventionally designed rotorcraft has always been defined by the speed differential between the advancing rotor blade(s) set off by that of the retreating blade(s). The faster the aircraft flies, the greater the […]

Eurocopter recently took the wraps off its developmental X3 helicopter. What’s unique is it’s configured with two forward-facing propellers on stub wings. At higher airspeeds, the lifting and thrusting duties are progressively shifted to the wings and props. This arrangement is meant to compensate for lost lift on the side of the retreating main rotor […]

The helicopter was destroyed following a loss of control and impact with terrain at about 1505 Mountain time. The commercial pilot and four passengers were killed. Visual conditions prevailed.

Eurocopter announced last month it was developing new technology to reduce the noise generated by helicopter rotor blades. The company has named the new developments “Blue Edge” and “Blue Pulse” technology, and has tested them on an EC155. The reshaped Blue Edge blade tip reduced noise by up to 4 decibels with its cranked leading […]

It was the middle of a short December day when a call came to a helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) firm in Soldotna, Alaska, requesting transport for a patient to Anchorage from a clinic in Cordova. Soldotna is south and west of Anchorage; Cordova is 127 nm east. The helicopter would first have to position […]

At 2054 Central time the aeromedical helicopter crashed into water while maneuvering to a temporary landing zone. Visual conditions prevailed. The helicopter was substantially damaged. The airline transport-rated pilot-in-command, the flight nurse and the flight paramedic were fatally injured. A review of recorded Air Traffic Control radar data shows the helicopter flew to its intended destination at altitudes ranging from 700 feet to 1100 feet msl. It then overflew the destination at 800 feet; eyewitnesses observed it entering a left turn. Radar data shows the helicopter continued in the left turn and crashed two miles west of the destination. Weather reported at a station nine miles west include 8 miles visibility with scattered clouds at 1000 feet and overcast clouds at 1400 feet. Eyewitnesses at the scene reported the visibility as good, but no stars were visible.

The helicopter was destroyed when it crashed into Choctawhatchee Bay at about 0043 Central time; the Commercial-rated pilot, paramedic and flight nurse aboard the air ambulance flight were fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; no flight plan had been filed. Earlier, at 0041, the accident pilot called his dispatcher via radio and reported airborne with three persons on board, 2 hours 20 minutes of fuel and an estimated flight time of 10 minutes. At 0043, the helicopter called via radio and reported that they were returning to base due to weather. The dispatcher did not talk with the flight after this. At 0050, the dispatcher cleared the Airheart One call, believing that they were…