Tail Boom Separates From AW139
Click for more photosAlthough official confirmation of the circumstances are hard to come by, photos have been circulating that show an apparent tail boom structural failure of an Augusta Westland 139. The aircraft was operated by Gulf Helicopters, a Qatar-based company (wholly owned by the government of Qatar) that has more than 20 helicopters, including four AW139s. According to the forums, the failure occurred while the helicopter was taxiing in preparation for takeoff from Dohar, Qatar. Presumably the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is investigating but there’s no mention of it on their Web site.
Although official confirmation of the circumstances are hard to come by, photos have been circulating that show an apparent tail boom structural failure of an Augusta Westland 139. The aircraft was operated by Gulf Helicopters, a Qatar-based company that has more than 20 helicopters, including four AW139s. According to the forums, the failure occurred while the helicopter was taxiing in preparation for takeoff from Dohar, Qatar. Presumably the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is investigating but there's no mention of it on their Web site.
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Editorial StaffAVweb
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