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BUSINESS AVIATION

Bell 525 Flight Test Vehicle Crashes; Two Crewmembers Dead

by Mark Huber

 - July 6, 2016, 4:38 PM

On July 6 at approximately 11:47 a.m. local time, a Bell 525 flight-test vehicle (FTV) crashed and burned while on a test flight from the company's XworX facility in Arlington, Texas, approximately 45 miles south of Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Photos from the scene suggest to AIN that the crashed aircraft was FTV1. Bell reports that two crewmembers aboard died.

Local media reports from the scene indicate that most of the helicopter debris is highly compact, though some is hundreds of feet away from the primary crash site. Dallas television station KXAS reports a section of the tail boom was located 1,500 feet southeast of the primary crash site. The crash occurred in rural Chambers Creek, Texas, northwest of Corsicana. A witness on the ground reported hearing a loud twin boom sound before seeing the helicopter make an immediate descent.

Flightradar24 records show that the helicopter departed Arlington at 10:39 a.m. local time (15:39 UTC). It proceeded to the south, where it flew a pattern at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,000 feet. The last data point is at 1,975 feet at a speed of 199 knots at 11:47 a.m.

Bell issued the following statement this afternoon: “On July 6, 2016, a Bell 525 was involved in an accident while conducting developmental flight-test operations south of our Xworx facility in Arlington, Texas. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in the loss of two crewmembers. This is a devastating day for Bell Helicopter. We are deeply saddened by the loss of our teammates and have reached out to their families to offer our support. Bell Helicopter representatives are on site to assess the situation and provide any assistance to local, state and federal authorities. At this time we ask for your understanding as we work through all of the details. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.”

FTV1 is one of three aircraft currently engaged in the 525 flight-test program. Two more flight-test vehicles were scheduled to be added to the program late this summer. FTV1 made its first flight on July 1 last year.

The 525 is the first civil helicopter designed with full fly-by-wire (FBW) flight controls. In May, the FAA published notice that it intends to seek special certification conditions for the 525 because of its FBW system.