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.
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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