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2018 Sapphire Aviation Bell UH-1 crash

A Bell UH-1H Iroquois, similar to the aircraft involved.
Accident
Date	January 17, 2018 (2018-01-17)
Summary	Controlled flight into terrain
Site	Raton, New Mexico, United States
Aircraft
Aircraft type	Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Operator	Sapphire Aviation
Registration	N658H
Flight origin	Raton Municipal Airport
Destination	Folsom, New Mexico
Occupants	6
Passengers	5
Crew	1
Fatalities	5
Injuries	1
Survivors	1

On January 17, 2018, a Bell UH-1H Iroquois helicopter of Sapphire Aviation crashed near Raton, New Mexico, United States. Five of the six people on board were killed. The sole survivor was in serious condition.

Accident

The helicopter crashed and caught fire east of Raton, New Mexico. The pilot, pilot rated passenger, and three of the four passengers on board were killed, including Zimbabwean politician Roy Bennett and British world record holder Charles Burnett III. Burnett had set the record for a steam-powered car in 2009. The sole survivor, Andra Cobb, was the daughter of the pilot rated passenger Paul Cobb, and the long term romantic partner of Charles Burnett. Cobb was seriously injured but was able to raise the alarm by cellphone; although she was unable to give the location of the crash, it was located by New Mexico State Police on a ranch 15 miles (24 km) east of Raton. The aircraft was flying from Raton Municipal Airport to a site in Folsom, New Mexico. It crashed at about 18:00 local time. The Albuquerque Journal reported that the pilot had said that there had been mechanical problems with the helicopter the day before the accident. It was stated that these had been fixed before the fatal flight.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved was a Bell UH-1H Iroquois, registration N658H, msn 9856.

The aircraft served with the United States Army (as serial number "67-17658") and saw action during the Vietnam War, it crashed on 31 May 1969 at Firebase Eagles Nest. It was returned to the United States and repaired and used by the Ohio Army National Guard before being retired to the Firelands Military Museum in Ohio.

Investigation

The US National Transportation Safety Board investigated the accident. The final report cited pilot error, determining pilot Coleman Dodd was flying too low. Investigators said a low therapeutic amount of an antihistamine was found in his blood but could not say with certainty it contributed to his inability to avoid crashing.

References

1. ^ "Steam car record holder among five killed in helicopter crash". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. Belfast Telegraph. 19 January 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
2. "Charles Burnett III, British-born speed king, dies in helicopter crash". BBC News. 19 January 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
3. "3 Coloradans, 2 Texans Killed In Helicopter Crash". CBS. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
4. "Zimbabwe opposition leader among 5 killed in Raton helicopter crash". KOAT. 19 January 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
5. "Weekend getaway to NM turns tragic". Albuquerque Journal. Journal Publishing Company. January 18, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
6. "FAA Accident and Incident Notification". Federal Aviation Authority. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
7. "FAA REGISTRY N-Number Inquiry Results". Federal Aviation Authority. Archived from the original on January 20, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
8. ^ "1967 USAF Serial Numbers". 1 January 2018.
9. "Aviation Investigation Final Report". National Transportation Safety Board. July 8, 2019. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
10. "NTSB: Pilot flew too low, causing New Mexico fatal crash". AP NEWS. 10 July 2019. Retrieved 22 March 2022.

• 2018 in New Mexico
• January 2018 events in the United States
• Aviation accidents and incidents in the United States in 2018
• Aviation accidents and incidents in New Mexico
• Accidents and incidents involving Bell aircraft
• History of Colfax County, New Mexico
• Raton, New Mexico