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Safety board mentions lax FAA oversight in 2022 fatal West Virginia helicopter crash

The National Transport Security Board stated on Tuesday a June 2022 crash of a West Virginia former military helicopter that killed six was triggered in part by lack of enough federal government oversight.

The board mentioned Federal Air travel Administration failures in the crash of a Bell Helicopter UH-1B in Amherstdale, West Virginia, in addition to inadequate operator inspections of the classic helicopter called a Huey. The pilot and all 5 passengers were killed.

The NTSB stated the FAA offered generally no oversight of the helicopter operator MARPAT Air travel and included the FAA did not need adherence to more robust evaluation standards adopted in 2015. As an outcome of the examination, the NTSB made six new security suggestions.

MARPAT did not instantly comment. The FAA stated it takes. NTSB recommendations extremely seriously and will react within an. proper time frame.

The helicopter was produced for the U.S armed force in 1962. and flew in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971, the NTSB stated.

The NTSB stated about 15 minutes after the flight left the. pilot tried a forced landing after a loss of engine power. but the helicopter struck 2 powerlines and a cliff 3.5 miles. east of the Logan County airport, crashing on an asphalt roadway.

MARPAT Aviation sponsored the annual Huey Reunion event,. where members of the general public could fly the helicopter with a. security pilot for a $250 payment. Members of the general public could. likewise trip for a smaller sized charge.

The FAA released a special airworthiness certificate for the. helicopter in the speculative exhibit classification in 2014. The NTSB added the FAA needs to not have actually allowed the helicopter to. be examined and kept, according to those requirements. that were insufficient to guarantee the airworthiness of the. aircraft and operation.

Investigators identified the loss of power was because of the. failure of an engine component. The NTSB stated MARPAT would. likely have actually discovered tiredness cracks and other engine damage. that led to the power loss had it done more comprehensive. assessments.

(source: Reuters)