Rescue pilot heard bangs before fatal crash, report reveals.
Fatal Helicopter Crash in Florida: Pilot Describes Terrifying Moments
In a tragic incident last month, a medical rescue helicopter in Florida caught fire mid-flight, resulting in a crash that claimed the lives of a paramedic and a woman on the ground. According to a federal report released on Friday, the pilot recounted hearing a loud bang just moments before the horrifying incident.
The Broward County Fire-Rescue helicopter, equipped with twin engines, had just taken off from Pompano Beach Airpark on August 28th when pilot Daron Roche heard the unsettling noise, as stated in the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report. Roche immediately noticed that the temperature of one engine was rapidly increasing on his control panel.
Realizing the severity of the situation, Roche promptly radioed air traffic controllers to declare an emergency and attempted to return to the suburban Fort Lauderdale airport. However, despite activating the suppression system upon seeing the fire warning light, the temperature gauge continued to rise, as revealed during the investigation. Disturbing footage captured by witnesses on the ground shows flames emerging from the engine compartment, followed by a trail of smoke.
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As the investigation unfolded, Roche revealed that he lost control of the helicopter after hearing a second bang, which resulted in the partial separation of the tail from the main part of the aircraft. The helicopter spiraled out of control, crashing through the roof of an apartment building. Tragically, paramedic Capt. Terryson Jackson and apartment resident Lurean Wheaton lost their lives in the accident, while Roche and paramedic Mike Chaguaceda sustained injuries.
The paramedics were en route to pick up a critically injured victim of a traffic accident when the devastating crash occurred.
According to the report, the helicopter, which was built in 1999, had its engines rebuilt seven years ago and underwent its last inspection in May. However, the cause of the fire has yet to be determined by the safety board, whose investigations typically take around a year to complete.
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