Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

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Mark Huber

The NTSB found a goose in the flight controls of the Bell 206L-3 air ambulance that crashed in Oklahoma on January 20, killing all three crew aboard. The aircraft was on a Part 135 repositioning flight at 11:23 p.m. local time en route from Oklahoma City to Weatherford at 500 to 600 feet agl and 110 knots at the time of the accident, according to ADS-B data. The last ADS-B hit was 210 feet east of the main wreckage. According to the NTSB preliminary report, “The carcasses of several geese were located in the debris field as well as one embedded in a flight control servo.”
The NTSB report noted that the “main wreckage consisted of the fuselage, engine, and tail rotor. The transmission had separated from the fuselage and was located at the site. The white main rotor blade was fractured [and] found in an adjacent field. The red main rotor blade was also fractured and found near the main rotor hub. The mast nut had separated and was located in the debris field. [...] The US Air Force’s Avian Hazard Advisory System found the probability of bird activity low in the vicinity of the accident.”
The 1991 helicopter, registration N295AE, was operated by Global Medical Response unit Air Evac.

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Air Evac Helicopter in Oklahoma Hit Geese Before Fatal Crash

NTSB found dead goose in flight controls, others in crash area

The NTSB found a goose in the flight controls of the Bell 206L-3 air ambulance that crashed in Oklahoma on January 20, killing all three crew aboard.

Air Evac Helicopter in Oklahoma Hit Geese Before Crashing

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Matt Thurber

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Upgrade is available at MD Helicopters service centers

First MD500E to MD530F Helicopter Conversion Done

Chad Trautvetter

Commercial shipments nearly doubled, while new military program brought in more than $80M

Bell Soars in 3Q with Higher Civil Helo Deliveries, FLRAA

Charles Alcock

Japan General Aviation Service is already a customer for the larger 429 model

Bell Appoints Japanese Dealer for 505 Helicopter

Plan will help ensure long-term job stability for Portugal workforce

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News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

In this article

Bell 205/206 Series

Bell

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