NOXEN, Pa. (AP) — A helicopter crash in a rugged, wooded area of northeastern Pennsylvania claimed the lives of five people, including one child, officials said Sunday.

The crash happened Saturday night after the pilot told air traffic controllers he was losing altitude, according to the county coroner.

Wyoming County coroner Thomas Kukuchka said the pilot contacted a nearby tower around 10:30 p.m. saying he would attempt to return to another airfield nearby.

"That's when he went off radar," Kukuchka said.

Although the names of those on board have not been released, Kukuchka said three men, a woman and a child were on board.

"It appears to be a father and son, a father and daughter and the pilot," he said.

Kukuchka did not release the ages of the victims. He said his office was trying to reach family members of the deceased in Leesburg, Va., Ellicot City, Md. and Kitnersville, Pa.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the helicopter took off from Greater Binghamton Airport in New York but officials there said it had actually originated at a smaller airfield nearby, Tri Cities Airport in Endicott.

A phone message left at Tri Cities Airport was not immediately returned Sunday night.

State police and FAA personnel were still on the scene Sunday evening, according to Trooper Adam Reed, a state police spokesman. Additional details will be released as the investigation progresses, he said.

Although it was not clear if weather played a role in the crash, Kukuchka said there were severe thunderstorms in the area Saturday night. The coroner and police said rough weather contributed to the difficulty of the search; the wreckage was located shortly before 2 p.m. Sunday.

The FAA said the helicopter was bound for Jake Arner Memorial Airport in Lehighton.

The National Transportation Safety Board will lead the investigation, the FAA said.

 

Being a relatively new model for Robinson, R-66 in this case, and the accident appears to have happened after refueling, I'm wondering if an unknowing Line guy fueled it with Avgas. Looks like a R-44 minus some clues but it's a turbine, and the companies first to boot. Just a thought.

 

Much worse if Jet A is put with a piston engine than vise versa:

"Most jet engines will run just fine on avgas. The electronic fuel computers even have a setting for Avgas, that changes the density computation so the fuel control flows the correct amount of fuel for the engine. There are normally time limits though mostly due to the additives that avgas fuels have in them which jet fuels don't have. Jet fuels have a lower volatility than avgas, but a higher thermal value per gallon. So with avgas, you get higher temps and less thrust generation."

The Airplane flight manuals I've used with the different jets I've flown also provide a maximum number of hours in which AVGAS can be utilized between engine overhauls w/o any adverse effects. Something on the order of 20 hours. Not great but a nice ace in the hole when you find yourself w/o any other options.

Best Wishes!

HD

 

Yeah, that comes to mind. Turbines in theory can burn avgas (or almost anything other flammable fluid) but I haven't flown any turbines which would automatically adjust fuel control parameters if avgas got in the fuel. Gasoline's a bit lighter than Jet A, I suppose it could have stratified in the tank, Jet A on the bottom at the outlet until it sloshed around a bit in flight, or used up all the Jet A.

On the other hand I'm sure the R-66 has huge warning stickers for this reason?

 

Been a long time since I flew an Allison engine, but here goes.

Avgas should not pose any problem in a RR300/Allison 250. Engine temps would be hotter and you might not get full power before overtemp, but that should be it, at least in a short term situation. In most turboprops, it's more of a maintenance issue than an operational one.

As for "electronic fuel computers", I don't think the RR300 has one. Best I can tell, it's got a nice 1950's technology hydro-mechanical fuel controller.