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Subscribe to RSSLAS VEGAS -- A helicopter crash has killed a pilot and four passengers on a tour of the Las Vegas Strip and Hoover Dam.
National Park Service spokesman Andrew Munoz said Wednesday that the aircraft operated by Sundance Helicopters crashed into the River Mountains surrounding Lake Mead just before 5 p.m.
A security guard from the national recreation area heard the crash and reported seeing smoke about 4 miles west of the lake's edge.
Munoz says everyone on board was killed.
The crash site about 30 miles from the Las Vegas Strip is not accessible by road.
A September 2003 crash of a Sundance Helicopters flight killed its pilot and six passengers in Arizona. Unsafe flying procedures and misjudgment were cited as the probable cause of that crash.
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I just changed my mind about taking that tour.
Yeah, I will be avoiding that company.
Aren't helicopters suppose to be able to auto-rotate down safely in the case of an engine failure?
I understand this may be another thing entirely, but I've never heard of a helicopter actually auto-rotating to safety.
When you fly it into the side of a mountain (CFIT: controlled flight into terrain), the autorotation thing doesn't really come into play. Sounds like that's what happened here. But, indeed, a helicopter can glide just as an airplane does; they call it autorotation because the rotor blades keep spinning without the aid of the engine, albeit at a quickly declining rate. Contrary to what other comments suggest, you can autorotate from 5 feet if the engine quits. I spent a very unpleasant afternoon in flight school learning how to do just that.
Your biggest problems seem to come about when pilots get complacent. Nothing unsafe about helicopters. It's "bold" pilots you need to worry about. There are old pilots and there are bold pilots, but there are damn few old, bold pilots.
Nope, nothing unsafe about helicopters, just crashing
I suppose Jim find automobiles dangerous, too. Well, you should. Because automobiles have killed a helluva lot more people than helicopters - even on a per-hour/per mile basis. In fact, I believe it's still a valid statistic - helicopters have saved more lives than they've taken. Can't say that about any other means of transport that I'm aware of.
In case of an engine failure, a helicopter can safely autorotate from any altitude, to a safe landing with zero ground run - hence to a very small suitable area. There is nothing in the article to indicate what the problem was. If it was an engine failure it could be that, given very rough terrrain, the pilot simply couldn't find a suitable landing zone. The problem could have been a number of other things including careless operation or transmission failure. A simple engine failure does not cause a helicopter to plummet to the earth, contrary to common misconception
A few that were close enough to the ground [300 ft or less] have made it, but most augur in.
In case of an engine failure, a helicopter can safely autorotate from any altitude. A simple engine failure does not cause a helicopter to plummet to the earth, contrary to common misconception. I myself have autorotated to a safe landing from 2,000 feet, following an explosive failure of the engine. I could have done the same from 10,000 feet if necessary. The altitude difference would only have given me more time to select a touchdown point.
Imagine that, going to Vegas & loosing everything in a helicopter --- Bad luck, they should have gone to Reno
that's not nice and you're a dick for saying it.
Very sad, my family and I send our deepest sympathies.
If the crash was near Lake Meade at 5:00, it was most likely dark flying that low.... My thoughts and prayers are with the families...
Tragic indeed, I hope other pilots consider the lesson here regarding their own focus while in fight. I have been debating getting a helo license in recent days. I am very procedure oriented and I have always liked flight sims. However, I don't want to study in one of those gold fish bowl helo type schools. If any helo pilots out there can offer advise or contact information for a decent training center or person I would appreciate it.