Turkish helicopter down in Afghanistan 16-03-2012

[frank kramer]

According to international press, a Turkish miltary helicopter has crashed in the vicinity of Kabul, Afghanistan, today. Fourteen people were reportedly killed in the crash and ensuing fire. That's all the info I have; someone with more?

Edit: upon reading the AP story below (Thanks, Rockville!) it is clear that the helo involved was not a Cougar, but a Blackhawk.

[Rockville]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ ... 6-05-09-10

[RobertMB]

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/3357 ... an-capital

[maurits]

Very sad news, second Turkish Armed Forces crash this week. Serial of the AS532 on the photo ends with ....081...

Regards,

Maurits

[frank kramer]

Maurits, I beg to differ on the type. That is NOT an AS532, but a S.70A Blackhawk. Apart from the fact that that is the type the Turkish MoD gives as the helo involved, the tail section in the photo cannot belong to a Cougar. A Cougar has a high-mounted horizontal stabilizer fitted on one side of the vertical fin only; the Blackhawk has a low-mounted, "flying" stabilizer extending on both sides of the fin (as in this picture). As for the serial, could it be "(10)981" instead of "**081" ? (edit: confirmed..)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/phot ... TE=DEFAULT

and

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=144440

[Erik_7Xi]

It is most certainly a Blackhawk - look at the position of the landing gear, the Cougar's (rear) landing gear is located much more to the rear of the helicopter.

[maurits]

Hi,

Later on the news part of the S-70A tail section was clearly visible with serial 10981, for sure!
(I have mixed up the type)

Regards,

Maurits