The Nationwide Transportation Security Board has concluded {that a} hearth possible attributable to an engine overheating led to the 2023 Broward Sheriff’s Workplace helicopter crash in Pompano Seaside that killed a BSO Fireplace Rescue captain and a lady sleeping in an condo under. The precise explanation for the overheating stays unknown.
The company launched its ultimate report Thursday, over two years after the fiery helicopter fell out of the sky, killing Battalion Chief Terryson Jackson, 50, and Lurean Wheaton, 65. The report states that an in-flight hearth outdoors of the engine firewalls prompted the crash.
The helicopter had simply taken off on its strategy to transport the sufferer of a automobile accident on Aug. 28, 2023. A couple of minute into the flight, the digital engine management unit reported a failure of the engine management system. The failure ought to have led to a cockpit warning, the report mentioned, however the pilot, Daron Roche, didn’t recall seeing any warning or warning. The explanation for the failure “couldn’t be decided,” the report mentioned.
About 30 seconds later, Roche heard a loud “bang” from the again of the helicopter, the report says, and observed the temperature rising on the left engine. He set the throttle for that engine to idle with the intention to cut back the gas flowing to it, declared an emergency to air site visitors management, and circled to go again to the airport. Unbeknownst to Roche, setting the throttle to idle for that engine did nothing to cease the circulation of gas because of the prior failure of the management system.
In the meantime, a hearth had begun outdoors of the left engine compartment. As a result of the hearth was outdoors of the engine compartment, Roche “had no warning and warning indicators of an inflight hearth which will have pressured a land instantly motion,” the report states, “subsequently, his choice to return to the airport was cheap, quite than danger an off-airport emergency touchdown to a confined space with one engine inoperative.”
Across the similar time, Roche observed that the engine hearth button was illuminated, in line with the report. He mentioned he pressed the button to activate the hearth suppression system, however the temperature continued to rise.
NTSB investigators mentioned within the ultimate report that it was unlikely Roche had pressed the hearth button, because it didn’t present indicators of getting been pressed. As a result of the hearth was outdoors of the engine compartment, nonetheless, the suppression system wouldn’t have extinguished the hearth, the report says, although it might have closed the “gas shutoff valve.”
A couple of minute and a half after the primary “bang,” Roche heard a second bang and misplaced management of the helicopter. The tail growth separated from the remainder of the helicopter and it spun because it plummeted into the condo constructing southwest of the Pompano airport. Jackson was trapped and couldn’t escape, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony informed reporters on the time. Roche and BSO paramedic Mikael “Mike” Chauguaceda survived.
Witness video confirmed the hearth close to the left engine exhaust and air conditioner condenser followers. The NTSB concluded {that a} hearth outdoors of the engine compartment had prompted the crash. The hearth was possible attributable to the engine overheating, however investigators couldn’t decide precisely why.
“The one believable explanations the investigation might decide for under the No. 1 engine to overheat had been international object particles, blockage of the No. 1 engine air inlet, or sizzling fuel or flamable fluid ingestion,” the report states. “As a result of the wreckage was
subjected to a postimpact hearth, the supply of the overtemperature couldn’t be decided.”
