MEC&F Expert Engineers : 07/06/16

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

A man escaped injury after a propane gas explosion in the basement of his home in Pittsburgh's East Allegheny neighborhood



Propane tank explosion damages North Side home
UPDATED 5:17 PM EDT Jul 04, 2016



PITTSBURGH —A man escaped injury when a propane gas explosion in the basement of his home in Pittsburgh's East Allegheny neighborhood blasted out the front doors and first floor windows Monday. It caused structural damage which brought a condemnation notice from the city building inspectors.

John Koscakowsky said he was trying to cut the top off a propane tank he thought was empty, but stepped away just before the gas ignited. His wife had just left the house to shop.


"I said, 'I'm going to Giant Eagle to get some creamer.' Then I get a call from the neighbors, (who) said, 'John's OK, one of the neighbors called 911.' And I'm going, 'Uh oh,'" Janice Koscakowsky told reporters.

"Has been better, could be worse, that's my new motto, you know. We're still alive. We take one day at a time and see what happens," Koscakowsky said. "I'm glad my husband's okay."

Neighbors described hearing the blast.

"I was walking up my stairs, heard a big boom. Sounded like it came from the basement. And (I) walked downstairs. It was smoky. (I) wasn't sure what happened," said Jacob Guertin.
"I'm just glad everyone's safe. It was a little intense, you know, hearing everything, then just trying to assess what's happened. You've got all that smoke," Guertin said. "It's amazing, to be honest. I don't know how he came out unscathed -- it's a pretty big accident there."

"This happens quite frequently. People don't respect the power of propane. Even a small tank, a 20-pound tank that you use every day, can cause very significant damage, as you can see," said Battalion Chief Michael Marks, of the Pittsburgh Fire Bureau. "You should never have a propane tank in your house, It should always be outside. And you should never open the valve to let the gas out at any time -- but especially in your house."

2 workers were injured on the Burlington Lift Bridge after cable snaps





Police are investigating after two workers were injured on the Burlington Lift Bridge Wednesday afternoon. (Chris Seto/CBC)



2 injured after cable snaps on Burlington Lift Bridge
One worker has life-threatening-injuries: Halton EMS

CBC News Posted: Jul 06, 2016 2:41 PM ET Last Updated: Jul 06, 2016 4:58 PM ET 

 
Two workers have been taken to hospital — one with life-threatening-injuries — after a cable snapped on the Burlington Lift Bridge.

Halton Police said the incident happened at 1:30 p.m. at Beach Boulevard and Eastport Drive.

Halton Police spokesman Barry Malciw said three contractors were near the top of the bridge on scaffolding, installing an electrical wire. Malciw said it wasn't clear whether the wire snapped and struck them or whether they fell as a result of the wire snapping.

One of the workers sustained no injuries, one had minor injuries and the third was knocked unconscious.

The two injured were both transported to hospital -- the one with minor injuries to Burlington's Joseph Brant, and the other to Hamilton General.

Halton Police Const. Vince Mulholland was a first responder when the incident occurred. He described the scene as an "industrial accident."

The Ministry of Labour has been called to investigate.

The bridge is operated by Public Works Government Services Canada.

Eastport Drive was closed in both directions for a few hours but has now been reopened.

The Burlington Lift Bridge, built in the 1960s, sits at the Lake Ontario entrance to Hamilton Harbour and lifts to allow both Great Lakes freighters and pleasure craft passage in and out of the harbour. The bridge lifts vertically up to 33 metres.

Worker injured after gas tank exploded, causing fire at recycling plant in Burnaby, B.C.






The fire and explosion happened at about 8:00 a.m. PT Wednesday at ABC Recycling in Burnaby, according to Worksafe B.C. (Peter Scobie/CBC)


Worker injured after gas tank exploded, causing fire at recycling plant in Burnaby, B.C.
Explosion happened when a gas tank was placed in a cutting machine at ABC Recycling

The Canadian Press Last Updated: Jul 06, 2016 1:59 PM PT 


 One worker has been injured in an explosion and fire at a recycling plant in Burnaby, B.C.

Fire chief Joe Robertson says the blast occurred when an acetylene gas tank was placed in a cutting machine at ABC Recycling.

The worker was transported to hospital, and the extent of his injuries is unknown.

WorkSafeBC spokesman Scott McCloy says the explosion occurred at about 8 a.m. PT.

He says an officer has been sent to the scene, but few details are available.

The owner of the recycling company was not immediately available for comment.


The Burnaby recycling facility in an undated aerial view captured by Google. (Google Streetview)

Medical Examiner: cause of death of a construction worker at the University of Vermont last week was "accidental"


Report: Construction worker's death an accident

 Elizabeth Murray, Free Press Staff Writer 5:46 p.m. EDT July 6, 2016



(Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

The Chief Medical Examiner's Office has ruled the cause of death of a construction worker at the University of Vermont last week as "accidental."

The death certificate for Dennis Longe, 61, of Jeffersonville shows the man died Thursday from injuries sustained when he fell from scaffolding on the top floor of a seven-story building under construction on campus.

Longe worked for Engelberth Construction, which is working on building the new first-year residence hall on Central Campus in Burlington, according to UVM.

The death certificate states Longe's death was caused by fractures and injuries due to blunt force trauma of his torso. He was pronounced dead at the UVM Medical Center.

UVM police and the Vermont Occupational Health and Safety Administration have opened investigations into the incident.

Jeff Wakefield, a university spokesman, said the police have no updates to issue on the investigation, and referred questions to VOSHA.

Stephen Monahan of VOSHA says the administration does not comment on open investigations.


University of Vermont police speak to each other while construction workers stand in the background June 30 at UVM campus. (Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS)

"Information will be available when the investigation is closed," Monahan wrote in an email.

Information around how Longe fell or whether he was taking proper safety protocols has not been released. He had been wearing a harness, and the device was removed before Longe was brought to the Burlington hospital, UVM Police Chief Lianne Tuomey said last week.

Attempts to reach Engelberth Construction co-owner Tom Clavelle were unsuccessful Wednesday.

1 killed, at least 2 injured in a fiery crash on I-95 in Brevard County, FL

Off-duty firefighters pull victims out of fiery SUV on I-95 in Brevard County


Updated: Jul 6, 2016 - 8:46 PM © 2016 Cox Media Group.



BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —

A deadly vehicle fire shut down I-95 south for several hours Wednesday at mile marker 196 in the Rockledge-Viera area.

Firefighters Dan White and Larissa Conroy were off duty and returning home from a class when they saw the fire.

They found a Suburban, which was towing an enclosed trailer, jackknifed, with the Suburban on its driver side, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue.

The vehicle was on fire and large, black plumes of smoke could be seen from miles away on the highway.

White and Conroy found a victim who was pinned underneath the vehicle and with the help of bystanders, they were able to roll the vehicle upright and drag the victim to safety, Fire Rescue said.

They then turned their attention to the driver, who was trapped inside the vehicle.

Conroy was able to move the seat back and pull the driver through the back door of the vehicle.

The rescues were performed while the vehicle was still burning.

Authorities said a woman died at a Viera hospital. Another person had minor injuries, and a third person was taken to Holmes Regional Medical Center as a trauma alert.

Investigators also said there was a dead dog and a dead chicken in the wreckage.

The names of those involved have not been released.

The lanes have reopened.


This afternoon BCFR and Rockledge Fire Department responded to a horrific vehicle collision with fire on Interstate 95 MM 196.

Firefighters Dan White and Larissa Conroy were off duty and returning home from a class when they came upon the incident. They found an SUV which was towing an enclosed trailer jack knifed with the SUV on its driver side. The pair found a patient who was pinned underneath the vehicle and in need of immediate assistance. With the help of bystanders, they rolled the vehicle back upright and dragged the victim to safety. They then focused on the driver who was still pinned in the vehicle. 


Firefighter Conroy used the electric seat to move the seat back and then pulled the patient through the back door of the vehicle while Dan White held back the flames with a portable fire extinguisher. These heroic actions were performed while the vehicle was burning. Although the outcome wasn't ideal, their selfless actions are what the true spirit of the fire service is all about.

Villa Vittoria restaurant in Brick, NJ was damaged in a three-alarm blaze that started in the kitchen




Brick Township firefighters work to extinguish a blaze at Villa Vittoria. (Justin Greco | Twitter@JGrec91)

 By Greg Wright | For NJ.com  updated July 04, 2016 at 8:25 PM



BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ — Villa Vittoria restaurant in Brick was damaged in a three-alarm blaze Monday that started with a kitchen fire, officials said.

Witnesses say all four of the township's fire departments responded to the 3:30 p.m. blaze at the Italian restaurant on Hooper Avenue. Nearby roads were closed and NJ Natural Gas was called in to shut off utilities to the building.


Justin Greco, a resident who lives nearby, said he heard the sirens and went out to investigate.

"There was lots of smoke," Greco said. "You could see some flames through the smoke."

Greco said he saw employees outside, but didn't see any customers.

Police were unable to say if any injuries had occurred.

1 dead after vehicle strikes Sea Cliff residence in San Francisco









A car crashed into a resident in San Francisco's Sea Cliff neighborhood, Wednesday, July 6, 2016. (Twitter/@sffdpio)




Bay City News
Updated 2 hrs 52 mins ago
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco firefighters are responding to a fatal crash and reported fire in the city's Sea Cliff neighborhood.

A vehicle drove into a building at 182 32nd Ave. and one fatality has been reported, fire department spokesman Jonathan Baxter said.

A tweet from the city's firefighters union, San Francisco Fire Fighters Local 798, at 1:42 p.m. indicated that the building caught fire
following the crash.

Gustave Geyer, the driver that killed himself and 3 others in Middle Island crash was drunk








Eyewitness News
Wednesday, July 06, 2016 04:58PM
MIDDLE ISLAND, New York (WABC) -- Law enforcement source says the driver that killed four people, including himself, and injured two others in Middle Island was drunk.

The head-on crash happened on Yaphank-Middle Island Road, near Rustic Road around 10:45 p.m. on July 4th.

The source says Gustave Geyer, the driver of the pickup truck that crashed in Middle Island, had a blood alcohol content of .16, which is twice the legal limit.

Authorities say a 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck was traveling southbound on Yaphank-Middle Island Road when Geyer, lost control of the vehicle and struck a northbound 2014 Nissan Altima.

Witnesses said Geyer as operating in an erratic and unsafe fashion.

"He was described as operating in a wild and crazy manner prior to the accident," Suffolk County Police Chief Stuart Cameron said. "He passed a car in a no passing zone in what's described as a high rate of speed."

At that point, police say Geyer lost control and veered into oncoming traffic.

"At some point, after the illegal passing maneuver, he tried to re-enter the proper lane," Cameron said. "He lost control of the vehicle. He was described as fish tailing. He entered the opposite lane again and hit the 2014 Nissan Altima."

Both vehicles caught fire following the collision.

"After the vehicles collided, there was a fire," Cameron said. "The driver of the pickup truck was ejected. Both vehicles were damaged by the fire. It appears the fire may have originated in the pickup truck."



Geyer, who was alone in his vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Chandan Gavai, 38, the driver of the Nissan, and his parents, Kamalnayan Gavai, 74, and Archana Gavai, 60, were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

His wife, Manisha Surwade, 32, is in critical condition and their 11-month-old son, who was also hurt, is expected to survive.

Thirteen-year-old Mikyla Marshak lives across the street, and she said she could hear the people trapped inside.

"I felt bad because there were people in there, and you could hear a lady moaning," she said. "My dad went inside to get the fire extinguisher, and he came outside to try and put the fire out."

And while her father did that, she called 911.

"Me and my friend were both calling 911," she said. "They would answer, they would say our operators are all full."

Police say all 911 calls made for the incident were answered in less than a minute.

"Miraculously, when the officers responded, they heard a baby crying amidst all the carnage," Cameron said. "That baby escaped with what's described as minor injuries."


Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Seventh Squad at 631-852-8752.

OSHA finds multiple hazards at Missouri auto parts manufacturing facility of Challenge Manufacturing

July 6, 2016

OSHA finds multiple hazards at Missouri auto parts manufacturing facility of Challenge Manufacturing

Employer name: Challenge Manufacturing
Kansas City, Missouri


Citations issued: June 23, 2016

Investigation findings: The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued 13 serious and one other-than-serious safety and health violation to Challenge Manufacturing. OSHA opened a February 2016 inspection after OSHA received a complaint of unsafe working conditions at the Kansas City facility that stamps, welds and assembles automotive parts.

The agency's Kansas City area office found the employer failed to:
  • Conduct noise monitoring in the facility.
  • Ensure employees wore hearing protection.
  • Evaluate workplaces to determine permit-required confined spaces.
  • Install adequate machine guarding.
  • Develop, document and require the use of machine safety procedures such as lockout/tagout to control machine movement during service and maintenance.
  • Removed damaged, unsafe powered industrial trucks from service.
  • Label hazardous chemicals.
  • Train workers on hazards.
  • Provide strain relief for cords and cables.
The Walker, Michigan-based company also has stamping facilities in Michigan and Texas. The Kansas City plant was opened in 2014.

Quote: "OSHA has specific guidelines to protect workers from dangerous machinery, chemicals and other hazards in the workplace," said Dave Keim, OSHA's acting area director for in Kansas City. "Challenge Manufacturing needs to re-evaluate its safety and health programs to ensure employees are being protected from job hazards."

Proposed Penalties: $75,000.

View Citations here: Health inspection, Safety inspection
To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report amputations, eye loss, workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or the agency's Kansas City Area Office at 816-502-0312.

Judge upholds OSHA citations and $249k in penalties against New York contractor Flintlock Construction Services LLC for scaffold hazards at Manhattan hotel construction site



July 6, 2016

Judge upholds OSHA citations and $249k in penalties against New York
contractor
Flintlock Construction Services LLC for scaffold hazards at Manhattan hotel construction site

Date of action: May 20, 2016

Type of action: Decision and Order

Names of defendants: Flintlock Construction Services LLC

Background: Flintlock Construction Services LLC of Mamaroneck, New York, was the general contractor for the construction of a 23-story hotel at 325 W. 33rd St. in Manhattan. An inspection by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Flintlock failed to protect employees working on scaffolds from potentially fatal falls of up to 26 feet. In September 2013, OSHA cited Flintlock for willful and serious violations and proposed $249,920 in penalties.

Flintlock contested its citations and penalties to the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. The contractor alleged that some violations were not willful because its corporate principals did not have knowledge of the hazards and Flintlock made at least a minimal attempt at compliance.

Decision: After review, Chief Administrative Law Judge Covette Rooney upheld all the citations and penalties. The judge found Flintlock had knowledge of the hazards and the authority to have its subcontractors correct safety hazards. The court also held Flintlock responsible for the oversight of safe working conditions and determined it was the controlling employer at the "325 Project" worksite. The judge's decision also ordered Flintlock to pay the $249,920 in penalties.

The full decision and order can be read here.

Quotes: "This was a clear case of an employer knowingly placing its employees at risk of deadly or disabling injuries caused by the number one killer in construction work - falls. Judge Rooney's decision upholds our findings and reiterates an important fact: Employers cannot ignore their legal responsibility to safeguard their employees and adhere to workplace safety standards," said Robert Kulick, OSHA's regional administrator in New York.

"Employers should take note of this decision and the fact that the U.S. Department of Labor will not hesitate to take appropriate legal action to safeguard employees' rights to a safe and healthful workplace. Their employees' lives and well-being depend on their complying with the law," said Jeffrey Rogoff, regional solicitor of labor in New York.

Flintlock Construction Services LLC has filed a petition for discretionary review with the review commission.

The inspection was conducted by OSHA's Manhattan Area Office and the case is being litigated for OSHA by the Labor Department's regional Office of the Solicitor in New York.

Court: U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission

Docket Number: 14-1384

$100k of lawn care equipment burned in fiery crash on Interstate 85 after police pursuit




Posted 7:29 am, July 5, 2016, by Scott Wise and Brendan King, Updated at 01:27pm, July 5, 2016


PETERSBURG, Va. -- A police pursuit resulted in a fiery crash that closed Interstate 85, near Interstate 95, in Petersburg Tuesday morning. The northbound left lane remained closed at 9:30 a.m., all other lanes have since reopened.

Witnesses said the pursuit involved multiple law enforcement vehicles.

"The truck had just passed me traveling northbound and was being followed by four police cars with lights flashing," witness Heather Rike said. "I could see in my rear view mirror the truck go off the left lane and hit the barrier, it immediately burst into flames."

Photos submitted to WTVR show what appears to be a burning vehicle on the side of the interstate. Police have not yet said if anyone was hurt in the crash.


Fiery incident on I-85. (PHOTO: Chad Conner)

Another image showed a plume of black smoke in the air as traffic was backed up for at least four miles on the interstate.


Incident closed I-85 in Petersburg (PHOTO: Susie Meanor)

The Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office said the suspect stole a vehicle in Chesterfield and drove it to the Produce Center on Route 1 in the north of the county.

Dee Short, owner of Short's Lawn Care, said the suspect abandoned the vehicle, assaulted one of his employees at the store, and stole his work truck.


Dee Short's work truck was stolen and wrecked on Interstate 85 in Petersburg, according to the Dinwiddie County Sheriff's Office.

"When my worker turned around, the gentleman approached him in the jaw," Short said. "Then the dude jumped in. The keys were there, and then gone."

Short estimated that $100,000 worth of lawn care equipment was lost in the fire.

June Boyd, a manager at the Produce Center, said the suspect was acting strange inside the store when he bought lottery tickets and cigarettes.

"I was trying to get him through my line as quick as possible," Boyd said. "I was afraid of what he was going to do."

Sources said the suspect is in custody and charges are pending.

This is a developing story. Anyone with additional information can submit a news tip here.

1 driver killed, another injured in a head-on collision in Kensington, MD




By Dana Hedgpeth July 6 at 8:35 AM

Updated at 8:53 a.m.

Authorities in Montgomery County said an early morning collision in Kensington involves a fatality.

Police said a man died after being injured in the crash that happened just before 5 a.m. The crash happened near Cedar Lane and Clearbrook Lane. Some roadways in that area were closed as investigators were on the scene. The man’s identity was not released, pending the notification of his relatives.


A head-on collision that happened early Wednesday morning is causing traffic delays in Kensington.

Few details were immediately available as to what happened.

Officials said the incident occurred in the 10100 block of Cedar Lane near Everett Street and two cars were involved. Drivers should expect delays in the area, as some roadways are likely to be closed because police and rescuers are on the scene.


At least two adults were hurt with trauma-related injuries. One person suffered life-threatening injuries and another person has non life-threatening injuries, according to officials in Montgomery County.

Freight train derails in the Bywater area of New Orleans. No asphalt was spilled from the hazmat cars.













Several train cars lie sideways after derailing in the Bywater area of New Orleans on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. (Photo by Chris Granger, Nola.com | The Times-Picayune)
Chris Granger, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

  By Carlie Kollath Wells, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
 
on July 06, 2016 at 6:38 AM, updated July 06, 2016 at 10:51 AM




A train has derailed in the Bywater area, blocking several intersections of Press Street, authorities said at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday (July 6). No injuries have been reported.

The first eight railcars of a 140-car train derailed near the intersection of Press Street and Burgundy Street, according to the New Orleans Fire Department. The following intersections are closed until further notice:

• Press at Chartres

• Press at Royal

• Press at Dauphine

• Press at Burgundy

• Press at St. Claude

NOPD urges drivers to take Claiborne Avenue or alternate routes.
 

A train has derailed in the Bywater area, blocking several intersections of Press Street, authorities said at 6:15 a.m. Wednesday (July 6). No injuries have been reported. (Image via Google Maps)Carlie Kollath Wells, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

NOFD said six of the cars that derailed were empty and the remaining two were empty but had asphalt residue inside.

"None of the cars have been punctured and there are no leaks," NOFD said in a statement.

Its hazardous material unit has taken air samples as a precaution. The New Orleans Public Belt Railroad has crews enroute to upright the cars, but there was no immediate word when the intersections would reopen.

A chemical leak at Culligan water in Elmira, NY prompted a hazmat emergency response









A hazardous material spill at Culligan Water on College Avenue in Elmira prompted a full emergency response to the industrial park around 10:45 a.m. Tuesday. KELLY GAMPEL / Staff Video
Kelly Gampel, kgampel@stargazette.com | @theSGphotos 6:28 p.m. EDT July 5, 2016

A chemical leak at Culligan water in Elmira prompted a heavy emergency response presence Tuesday morning.

Elmira Fire Chief Joseph Martino said a chemical leak occurred in the system that Culligan uses to treat equipment.

The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. in Culligan's warehouse at 1316 College Ave., on the east side of the industrial park where Culligan is located.

The building was evacuated.

No injuries were reported, however a firefighter was treated for heat exhaustion.

No information was available Tuesday on the cause of the leak or what chemical or chemicals were involved.

However, at one point two emergency responders, wearing full hazmat suits, emerged from the building. They were decontaminated in an area set up with a spray hose and wading pool.

Fire crews and other emergency responders gathered in a meeting area set up under the awning of the Elmira Fire Department's hazmat bus, with a wash station stationed nearby.

Webb Mills Fire Department, state fire agencies, Chemung County Fire Emergency Management Office, Elmira police, Elmira fire's Emergency Services Unit, Elmira Heights Fire Department were all at the industrial park at various times Tuesday.

DIESEL SPILL: A Mississippi River lock and dam north of St. Louis is closed after a towboat spilled more than 2,000 gallons of diesel






Mississippi River lock and dam closed after diesel spill

Updated: Jul 06, 2016 1:42 PM EST


WINFIELD, Mo. (AP) - A Mississippi River lock and dam north of St. Louis is closed after a towboat spilled more than 2,000 gallons of diesel while passing through the lock.

The spill from the vessel Jerry Jarrett happened Wednesday at Lock and Dam 25 near Winfield, Missouri, about 45 miles north of St. Louis. The cause of the spill is under investigation.

The Army Corps of Engineers says the lock and dam are closed to river traffic to keep the diesel contained.

Semi-trailer on fire, crashes and burns on I-280 in Milan, Illinois killing the driver



Fiery crash kills truck driver on I-280
  by Jared Ransom, Updated at 01:46pm, July 6, 2016



MILAN, Illinois — An early morning traffic accident on Interstate 280 in Milan killed the driver of a semi. The accident remains under investigation by police.

Milan police responded to a call of a semi trailer on fire around 3:10 a.m. Wednesday near the I-280 overpass at Airport Road. A first responder on the scene told WQAD News 8 that the first thing he saw was a big ball of fire. Officers say the truck likely was on fire as it headed east on I-280, when it left the road and fell and crashed onto Airport Road below and continued burning.

The trailer was still smoking several hours after crews put out the flames.

The name of the driver is not being released at this time.

Traffic was re-routed after the crash until about 1:30 p.m. , according to a statement from the Illinois State Police.

2 pilots killed after the Bell 525 Relentless helicopter prototype was destroyed when it crashed and burned in Ellis County, Texas



The helicopter that crashed


2 Killed in Experimental B525 Helicopter Crash in Ellis County: Officials
Bell, FAA, NTSB investigating fatal crash south of Dallas-Fort Worth
By Holley Ford




NBC 5 News


Two people are dead after a fiery helicopter crash near Italy Wednesday, Ellis County Emergency Management officials said.

An experimental twin-engine Bell Helicopter 525 Relentless, with two people aboard, crashed about about 11:45 a.m. Wednesday while performing flight test operations, Bell Helicopter said.

The names of those killed in the crash have not been confirmed.

The aircraft came down in a field along Farm-to-Market Road 876 north of Chambers Creek, northwest of Italy, according to Trooper Lonny Haschel with the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Federal Aviation Administration.

It appears that the helicopter may have struck a utility pole and exploded west of FM 876/LR Campbell Road. The top of the utility pole is black and appears to have been charred.

Most of the helicopter's debris was localized to the crash site, though parts of the helicopter were spotted hundreds of feet away including a section of the helicopter's boom located approximately 1,500 feet to the southeast.

There are two other helicopters landed near the scene, one of which was registered to Fort Worth-based Bell Helicopter who released the following statement after the crash:
On July 6, 2016, a Bell 525 was involved in an accident while conducting developmental flight test operations south of our Xworx facility in Arlington, Texas. Bell Helicopter representatives are headed to the site to assess the situation and provide any assistance to local, state, and federal authorities. We will provide additional updates as we learn more.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined.

The FAA is en route to the crash site to investigate. The National Transportation Safety Board has been notified.

The crash site is approximately 45 miles south of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.


====================================
Date:

06-JUL-2016
Time: ca 11:48
Type: Bell 525 Relentless
Owner/operator: Bell Helicopters
Registration: N525TA
C/n / msn: 62001
Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities: 0
Airplane damage: Written off (damaged beyond repair)
Category: Accident
Location: Ellis County, TX - United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature: Test
Departure airport: Arlington Municipal Airport, TX (GKY)
Destination airport:

Investigating agency: National Transport Safety Bureau (NTSB) - United States of America
Narrative:
The Bell 525 Relentless helicopter prototype was destroyed when it impacted terrain in Ellis County, Texas.
Both pilots were killed.
Flightradar24 records show the helicopter departing Arlington at 10:39 LT (15:39 UTC). It proceeded to the south were it flew pattern at altitudes between 2000 and 3000 feet. Last data point is at 1975 feet, at a speed of 199 kts at 11:47 hours.


The Bell 525 is a newly developed helicopter by Bell that would be able carry 16-20 passengers. It first flew on July 1, 2015.


Sources:
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/DPS-Investigating-Helicopter-Crash-in-Ellis-County-385722821.html
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/n525ta/#a406614