Tail Boom Separates From AW139

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Key Takeaways:

  • An Augusta Westland 139 helicopter, operated by Gulf Helicopters, reportedly experienced an apparent tail boom structural failure.
  • The incident occurred while the aircraft was taxiing for takeoff from Dohar, Qatar.
  • Photos of the alleged failure are circulating, but official confirmation of the circumstances is difficult to obtain.
  • While an investigation by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority is presumed, no public mention of it is available on their website.
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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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