FATAL BRANTLY CRASH

[Ron Spiker]

It is with great sorrow that I post the news about a fatal Brantly crash. Paul Beach was killed and Steve Chenoweth (the forum administrator) was seriously injured. Here are a couple of links.

http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/11 ... names.html
http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/11 ... eaves.html

I had just talked with Steve a couple of days ago and he was going to look at Paul's fantastic-looking Brantly yesterday for possible purchase. As I find out more information I'll post it.

I know it sounds cliche', but may God be with both families. Steve's 13-year old son saw the crash.

Here's the contents of the preliminary accident report, not knowing how long the above links will work.

********************************************************************************
** Report created 11/15/2010 Record 1 **
********************************************************************************

IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2268U Make/Model: BRB2 Description: B-2 BRANTLY
Date: 11/14/2010 Time: 2144

Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
City: POST State: TX Country: US

DESCRIPTION
N2268U BRANTLY B-2B ROTORCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THERE
WERE 2 PERSONS ON BOARD, 1 WAS FATALLY INJURED, 1 SUSTAINED SERIOUS
INJURIES, NEAR POST, TX

INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 2 Fat: 1 Ser: 1 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:

WEATHER: NOT REPORTED

OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER


FAA FSDO: LUBBOCK, TX (SW13) Entry date: 11/15/2010

[Ron Spiker]

http://www.thekathrynreport.com/2010/11 ... crash.html has a short video segment.
It says that Steve was critically injured, not seriously.


I just talked with Steve's son. Steve is in the ICU at the hospital, His injuries are quite substantial, but for his privacy I don't want to list them all.

[N2285U]

That is horrible!! Paul emailed me 3 days ago and I just emailed Paul today telling him I was interested in his machine. I am so sorry to hear this!

[Ron Spiker]

For those that would like to send a card, I'm pretty sure this is where Steve is right now.

ICU
University Medical Center
602 Indiana Ave
Lubbock, TX 79415

And any condolences to Paul's family. This is the address on record for the helicopter registration. Hopefully his family will get it. If anyone has a home address, please let us know.
PO Box 124
Post, TX 79356

[Ron Spiker]

http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2 ... -near-post

Added 11/16
http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2010/11 ... 66091.html

[J-nut]

Ron,

Thanks for posting this. What a tragedy, my heart is just sick about it. I'll definitely be sending cards and praying for those involved, their family and friends...

[N2285U]

I know it is too early to speculate but I noticed from the pictures that the front of the skids were bent up and from this paragraph from the news report: "According to the Garza County Sheriff’s Office, the helicopter was attempting to lift off when one of the blades swayed, rolled to the side, hit the ground and caused the helicopter to roll forward on its top" it appears to me that maybe the helicopter lost power while the helicopter was nose low maybe due to demostrating a high forward cyclic manuever while close to the ground and at a fast airspeed. If he lost power in this configuration and did not immediately execute a quick stop he might have pushed the nose right into the ground. Uneven terrain may have also caught a skid.

Like I said, just speculation. Hopefully Mr. Chenoweth will be able to recall what happens. We can all learn from this tragedy and maybe someone else may have their life saved for knowledge gained here.

[9121u]

very sad news to here about. i always thought we would hear and learn about the good. i talked to Paul a few months ago he was very smart and very nice man he tried to help me with a Robinson went out of his way to do so. wish i could of met him. sad sad to hear.i hope Steve is going to be all right. tom

[Ron Spiker]

Update 11/16.
Steve is undergoing back surgery this afternoon for multiple injuries to his vertebrae. Hoping for a positive outcome.

I would like to send flowers to the funeral for Paul. I do not know when this is yet, and I'm not sure how well I'll be able to find out, from here in PA. Who all is interested in doing this as a group of Brantly owners, to show our united support for each other, especially at a time like this?

[J-nut]

I'm in Ron, let us know the details.

[fixnfly]

GREAT IDEA RON, COUNT ME IN

[Ron Spiker]

It looks like Paul's funeral will be held this Saturday, Nov 20.
I will order the flower arrangement tomorrow (Thursday).
If anyone else wants to take part in this, please let me know prior to the funeral.

[MarkMcDaniel]

Count me in Ron.765-342-2106
Very tragic.

[Ron Spiker]

Well, this is certainly terrible news. I have a call in to his family to try to find out his outcome from yesterday's surgery.
([update] - Steve's son said that was news from a day or two ago.)

POST, TX (KCBD) - The man who survived a helicopter crash near Post, Texas has taken a turn for the worst.

Michael Chenoweth, 53, had been hospitalized in serious condition, but doctors have downgraded him to critical condition. He survived Sunday's crash that killed Paul Beach, 66.

Investigators say Beach was piloting the helicopter when it crashed. Federal and State investigators are still looking into what actually caused the accident.

[Ron Spiker]

Here's another story, with the actual 911 call. Not very clear though.

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=13516250