Engine failure led to fatal Logan County helicopter crash: NTSB

LOGAN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — An engine failure during an emergency landing led to a Logan County helicopter crash that killed six people back in 2022, according to a press release from the National Transportation Safety Board.

The crash happened just before 5 p.m. on Route 17, just a couple miles away from the Logan County Airport. Investigators said the chopper likely was not in the air longer than fifteen minutes and crashed after flying about three and a half miles from when it took off.

The NTSB on Tuesday said the helicopter hit powerlines during that attempted landing after it lost engine power due to an engine component failing.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the operator, MARPAT Aviation, would have found fatigue cracks and engine damage that led to the crash “had it done more comprehensive inspections.”

The NTSB also said the Federal Aviation Administration had “basically no oversight” on MARPAT Aviation and failed to give guidance to the inspectors.

The FAA issued a “special airworthiness certificate in the ‘experimental exhibition’ category” for the Huey helicopter in December 2014, according to the NTSB. They said the FAA shouldn’t have allowed it to be inspected and maintained due to the requirements at the time not ensuring the airworthiness of the aircraft and operation.

These inspection requirements for former military aircraft were revised in February 2015 and MARPAT Aviation was not required to use the “more robust” standards because they weren’t in effect when the airworthiness certificate was issued. The NTSB recommended other aircraft in the experimental exhibition category be maintained with the most recent inspection standards. The latest inspection standards for that category are from July 2017, according to the press release.

The operator had inspected and maintained the helicopter under “comprehensive inspection standards” when it was under a restricted-category airworthiness certificate most recently between October 2013 and December 2014, according to the NTSB.

They said the operator’s decision to not use the “stringent” and “rigorous” inspection standards – even though they weren’t required to – “was also a factor that led to the accident.”

The flight was associated with the annual Huey reunion event, which offers helicopter rides. Investigators said the helicopter that crashed was the last flight planned for the day.

According to the West Virginia State Police, the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Charleston identified the victims as John Nagle II, 53 of Austin, Texas; Donald Sandhoff, 69 of Durham, North Carolina; Kevin Warren, 51 of Franklin, Tennessee; Carolyn O’Connor, 73 of Winter Garden, Florida; Marvin Bledsoe, 64 of Chapmanville; and Jack Collins, 65 of Chapmanville.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOWK 13 News.