Baltimore Helicopter Fleet Grounded After California Crash

By Carol Kennedy

Published on August 02, 2005

The four Eurocopter EC120b model helicopters which make up Baltimore's Foxtrot fleet were sent for testing after a July 13 crash killed two Sacramento County sheriff's deputies and seriously injured a third passenger. During the July 13 incident, authorities say they received a distress call from the crew reporting mechanical difficulties. The crew attempted an emergency landing; however, the tail end of the helicopter broke off and sent it down a hillside. Preliminary investigations by National Transportation Safety Board officials found that the engine's internal turbine blades disintegrated during flight and the NTSB ruled that the cause of the crash was a poorly manufactured engine.

Baltimore police spokesperson, Troy Harris said that the helicopters would go through diagnostic testing and the agency hoped to return them to service once all testing was complete.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Eurocopter EC120b model helicopter has been involved in four crashes in the past five years

Harris stated that the daily operations of the Baltimore police department would not be affected while the helicopters are being tested.

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