D-ICEL Aviation Accident 2025-04-13: Difference between revisions

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[[File:D-ICEL.jpg|thumb|right|Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar, D-ICEL|333x333px]]
= Accident Summary =
= Accident Summary =


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== Interactive Map ==
== Interactive Map ==
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== Accident Information ==
== Accident Information ==
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== Gallery ==
== Gallery ==
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== YouTube Video(s) ==
== YouTube Video(s) ==
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== ASX Accident Report ==
== ASX Accident Report ==
On April 10, 2025, at approximately 3:15 p.m. local time, a Bell 206L-4 LongRanger IV helicopter, registration N216MH, crashed into the Hudson River near the Jersey side of the Holland Tunnel. The aircraft, operated by New York Helicopters and owned by Meridian Helicopters of Louisiana, was conducting a sightseeing tour over Manhattan when a catastrophic midair failure occurred. All six occupants onboard—the pilot and five passengers from the same family—were killed in the incident. The tour had followed a routine route common among local operators, departing the southern tip of Manhattan, circling the Statue of Liberty, and heading north along the east side of the Hudson River before reversing course near the George Washington Bridge.
On the morning of Sunday, April 13, 2025, a [https://wiki.alsresume.com/index.php?title=Piper_Aerostar Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar] registered as D-ICEL departed from [https://wiki.alsresume.com/images/thumb/0/04/Salzgitter-Dr%C3%BCtte_Airfield_%28EDVS%29.png/797px-Salzgitter-Dr%C3%BCtte_Airfield_%28EDVS%29.png?20250414163616 Salzgitter-Drütte Airfield (EDVS)] in Lower Saxony, Germany. The aircraft was privately owned and operated, and its planned destination was Hildesheim Airfield (EDVM), located approximately 35 kilometers southeast. On board were two occupants: a 55-year-old pilot and a 56-year-old co-pilot, both residents of Salzgitter. The aircraft took off around 09:40 local time under clear weather conditions, with the METAR reports indicating calm wind and CAVOK visibility.
 
The weather at the time of the accident was considered favorable for visual flight rules (VFR), with winds from 150 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 18 and visibility exceeding 10 miles. ADS-B data showed a normal flight profile until the moment of mechanical failure. The pilot, who was reportedly experienced and familiar with the route, had made his last radio call southbound near the Intrepid Museum, shortly before the helicopter began to disintegrate midair without any radio distress call or warning of a malfunction.
 
Video and eyewitness evidence revealed that the helicopter suffered a sudden and violent breakup in flight. Investigative attention has centered on the possibility of a severe mechanical failure involving the helicopter’s transmission system. Notably, one image and multiple videos show the main rotor assembly, along with its transmission, descending nearly intact under autorotation, suggesting that it separated from the airframe as a complete unit. This indicates a potential failure in the mounting beams that secure the transmission to the fuselage, or a sudden seizure of the transmission that initiated the catastrophic event.
 
The Bell 206L-4 is equipped with a semi-rigid two-bladed rotor system, connected to a planetary gear-driven transmission mounted via dual V-beams. Transmission monitoring systems include oil pressure and temperature gauges, as well as chip detectors designed to illuminate a cockpit warning light if metallic debris is detected. These systems typically allow pilots to respond to transmission anomalies with a precautionary landing. In this case, no such indication was reported, suggesting that the failure, if transmission-related, was abrupt and catastrophic, providing no warning or time for corrective action.
 
There was initial speculation online about mast bumping, a phenomenon where excessive rotor flapping causes the rotor hub to strike the mast, leading to in-flight breakup. However, experts have discounted this possibility due to the inherent design of the Bell 206 rotor system, which is more resistant to mast bumping than the more susceptible Robinson helicopter models. In addition, mast bumping typically results in the separation of the rotor system from the mast itself—yet the recovered components in this case show the transmission and rotor assembly remaining connected, descending as a unit.
 
From the flight track, the pilot followed the Hudson River VFR corridor, a known and published route, making regular calls at designated visual waypoints. No irregularities were detected until the aircraft reached a point near the Holland Tunnel, after which the breakup occurred. ATC logs do not reflect any distress call or mechanical advisory from the pilot. CEO Michael Roth of New York Helicopters later clarified to the media that the pilot had recently requested additional fuel for subsequent flights, but had not been experiencing a fuel-related emergency.


During the breakup, debris consistent with tail rotor components was seen falling separately from the intact main rotor-transmission assembly, reinforcing the theory of an internal mechanical failure rather than an aerodynamic one. Video analysis captured the helicopter entering the frame in what appeared to be controlled forward flight, followed by a sudden jolt, spin, and scattering of parts. One expert, Juan Browne ([https://www.youtube.com/@blancolirio Blancolirio]), compared the transmission seizure effect to "putting a stick in the spokes of a bicycle wheel going downhill"—a metaphor for the instantaneous disintegration caused by internal drivetrain stoppage.
Shortly after takeoff, eyewitnesses observed the aircraft pitching sharply upward before descending uncontrollably. Within approximately one kilometer of flight distance from the departure point, the Aerostar impacted the grounds of the Salzgitter AG steel production complex, specifically crashing into a narrow six-meter-wide corridor between two large industrial halls. The crash resulted in a post-impact fire, with the aircraft completely consumed in flames. Emergency services responded rapidly with over 90 personnel including the plant's internal fire brigade, city fire units, medical responders, and trauma support staff.


The flotation devices mounted on the helicopter skids, a requirement for operations over water in New York, were not deployed during the descent. This suggests that the breakup rendered manual deployment impossible, or occurred too quickly for the pilot to respond. However, post-recovery images indicate the floats may have deployed automatically upon water impact, which is consistent with design features of some modern float systems.
The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and both occupants were fatally injured. According to multiple reports, the airframe fragmented on impact, and only a charred steel frame remained once the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries to people on the ground and only minor damage to the buildings. The ongoing operations of Salzgitter AG were not interrupted by the crash. Aerial photos and video taken by news outlets confirmed scattered debris and burn marks along a confined area on the factory premises.


The NTSB is currently collecting all wreckage components, particularly focusing on the transmission housing, drive shafts, chip detectors, and maintenance records. Investigators are also reviewing video and photographic evidence for structural sequencing clues. The helicopter, manufactured in 2004, had reportedly accumulated around 9,600 airframe hours and was operating under FAA Part 135 charter rules. Maintenance history and recent inspections are expected to play a central role in identifying the root cause.
Initial investigative efforts were led by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), which secured the wreckage for forensic examination. The aircraft’s engines may be transported to Braunschweig for further analysis. No definitive cause has yet been identified, but reports suggest possible engine failure or mechanical anomaly shortly after takeoff. Witnesses mentioned seeing the aircraft enter a yawing or unstable attitude prior to its descent. The BFU indicated that a full investigation could take up to a year, with a preliminary report expected within several weeks.


The accident represents a rare instance of catastrophic mechanical failure in a Bell 206 series aircraft. Though widely considered reliable, any internal transmission failure of this nature is of particular concern, especially given the aircraft’s popularity in urban tourism operations. The NTSB’s final report is expected to clarify the origin and nature of the failure, as well as whether any pre-existing mechanical warnings were missed or undetectable during preflight and in-flight phases.
The Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar is a twin-engine, high-performance light aircraft known for its speed and pressurization capabilities. The specific airframe involved, serial number 61P-0577-79632, had previously operated under registrations N8091J and C-FDNJ before becoming D-ICEL. Records indicate the pilot was considered experienced and active within a local flying club. However, due to the lack of immediate data from onboard recording devices and the total destruction of the aircraft, determining the chain of events leading to the accident will rely heavily on mechanical analysis, witness accounts, and reconstructed flight data.


== Tracking and Social Media ==
== Tracking and Social Media ==
* '''Flight Tracking:''' [https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/d-icel?utm_source=chatgpt.com Flightradar24], [https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/N216MH/history/20250410/1859Z/KJRB/91NJ FlightAware], [https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=a1d0e7&lat=40.769&lon=-73.983&zoom=12.9&showTrace=2025-04-10&leg=9&trackLabels ADS-B Exchange]
* '''Flight Tracking:''' [https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/d-icel?utm_source=chatgpt.com Flightradar24], FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange
* '''Social Media:''' Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)
* '''Social Media:''' Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)


== Sources and References ==
== Sources and References ==
* [https://nypost.com/2025/04/10/us-news/helicopter-crashes-into-hudson-river-near-pier-40-in-nyc/ NY Post]
* [https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/braunschweig_harz_goettingen/Kleinflugzeug-stuerzt-ueber-Gelaende-der-Salzgitter-AG-ab-zwei-Tote,salzgitter1284.html NDR]
* [https://abcnews.go.com/US/helicopter-crashes-hudson-river-new-york-city/story?id=120691975 ABC News]
* [https://www.bild.de/news/salzgitter-kleinflugzeug-stuerzt-in-stahlwerk-zwei-tote-67fb8b0d3ceb7108c48fc2bb Bild]
* [https://cdn.jetphotos.com/full/5/713838_1736517906.jpg JetPhotos]
* [https://www.jetphotos.com/registration/D-ICEL JetPhotos]
* LiveATC
* LiveATC
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Latest revision as of 10:23, 7 May 2025

Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar, D-ICEL

Accident Summary

Fatal Accident (2) - Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar, D-ICEL, Salzgitter, Germany, April 13, 2025.

Interactive Map

Accident Information

Approx. Accident Location Aircraft Fatalities Ground Fatalities Injured ASN Entry
52°9'10.48"N, 10°24'43.43"E 2 0 0 Aviation Safety Network

Aircraft Information

Type Operator Registration Serial Number Manufacture Date
Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar Private D-ICEL 61P-0577-79632 1978

Gallery

YouTube Video(s)

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Other Video(s)

ASX Accident Report

On the morning of Sunday, April 13, 2025, a Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar registered as D-ICEL departed from Salzgitter-Drütte Airfield (EDVS) in Lower Saxony, Germany. The aircraft was privately owned and operated, and its planned destination was Hildesheim Airfield (EDVM), located approximately 35 kilometers southeast. On board were two occupants: a 55-year-old pilot and a 56-year-old co-pilot, both residents of Salzgitter. The aircraft took off around 09:40 local time under clear weather conditions, with the METAR reports indicating calm wind and CAVOK visibility.

Shortly after takeoff, eyewitnesses observed the aircraft pitching sharply upward before descending uncontrollably. Within approximately one kilometer of flight distance from the departure point, the Aerostar impacted the grounds of the Salzgitter AG steel production complex, specifically crashing into a narrow six-meter-wide corridor between two large industrial halls. The crash resulted in a post-impact fire, with the aircraft completely consumed in flames. Emergency services responded rapidly with over 90 personnel including the plant's internal fire brigade, city fire units, medical responders, and trauma support staff.

The aircraft was destroyed on impact, and both occupants were fatally injured. According to multiple reports, the airframe fragmented on impact, and only a charred steel frame remained once the fire was extinguished. There were no injuries to people on the ground and only minor damage to the buildings. The ongoing operations of Salzgitter AG were not interrupted by the crash. Aerial photos and video taken by news outlets confirmed scattered debris and burn marks along a confined area on the factory premises.

Initial investigative efforts were led by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), which secured the wreckage for forensic examination. The aircraft’s engines may be transported to Braunschweig for further analysis. No definitive cause has yet been identified, but reports suggest possible engine failure or mechanical anomaly shortly after takeoff. Witnesses mentioned seeing the aircraft enter a yawing or unstable attitude prior to its descent. The BFU indicated that a full investigation could take up to a year, with a preliminary report expected within several weeks.

The Piper PA-60-601P Aerostar is a twin-engine, high-performance light aircraft known for its speed and pressurization capabilities. The specific airframe involved, serial number 61P-0577-79632, had previously operated under registrations N8091J and C-FDNJ before becoming D-ICEL. Records indicate the pilot was considered experienced and active within a local flying club. However, due to the lack of immediate data from onboard recording devices and the total destruction of the aircraft, determining the chain of events leading to the accident will rely heavily on mechanical analysis, witness accounts, and reconstructed flight data.

Tracking and Social Media

  • Flight Tracking: Flightradar24, FlightAware, ADS-B Exchange
  • Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter)

Sources and References


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