[kellyhound]

A helicopter accident occurred on Mount Tupungato in Mendoza, Argentina, causing significant concern among the local public. Just hours after the incident, two videos surfaced, including one filmed from inside the R44 helicopter, offering a glimpse into the harrowing experience of the three occupants.

The incident unfolded on a Wednesday afternoon in the Uco Valley. A Robinson helicopter from a local private company was en route to La Puntilla, carrying two tourists. While flying over a farm in Tupungato, pilot Walter Quiroga encountered a malfunction and urgently reported the need for an emergency landing.

The helicopter lost contact with the Francisco Gabrielli airport base for over two hours, leaving company representatives fearing the worst.

An extensive search operation was launched, led by Tupungato volunteer firefighters and provincial civil protection personnel, with assistance from a police helicopter.

Ultimately, the helicopter was located in San Antonio, south of Los Alamos, within the Uco valley.

Upon arrival, medical professionals assessed the condition of the three passengers, and fortunately, they had only sustained minor injuries, requiring no hospitalization.

The passengers had been documenting their journey, including the moments leading up to the accident. Initially silent, their recording captures the descent until the R-44 helicopter touched down, at which point the situation spiraled out of control.

Preliminary analysis suggests that the aircraft experienced mechanical damage, affecting the location of the GPS radar and causing a loss of contact with the control tower.

[RiversEdge]

the force was with them that day.

[durt]

Rotor rpm decay?