1975 Kjalarnes helicopter crash

On Sunday, 17 January 1975, a Sikorsky S-55B helicopter crashed by the Hjarðarnes farm in Hvalfjörður, Iceland, while en route from Reykjavík Airport to Snæfellsnes.[1] Seven people were on board, including two crew members and five employees of RARIK, the Icelandic State Electricity company.[2] Everyone on board was killed on impact.[3] It remains the deadliest helicopter crash in Icelandic aviation history.[4]

1975 Kjalarnes helicopter crash
A Sikorsky S-55C, similar to the accident aircraft
Accident
DateJanuary 17, 1975 (1975-01-17)
SummaryCrashed due to wind conditions
SiteHjarðarnes, Hvalfjörður, Iceland
Aircraft
Aircraft typeSikorsky S-55B
OperatorÞyrluflug hf.
RegistrationTF-LKH
Flight originReykjavík Airport, Iceland
DestinationVegamót, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Occupants7
Passengers5
Crew2
Fatalities7
Survivors0

The cause of the crash was ruled to be wind conditions at Hjarðarnes. The helicopter was also believed to have been overloaded but the investigative committee of the crash stated that the crash would have likely occurred even if it had been correctly loaded.[5]

Arcraft and crew

The Sikorsky S-55B helicopter was built in 1954 and originally used by the US Army. It was operated by the Orlando Helicopter Airways from 1971 until it was sold to Þyrluflug hf. which received it on 1 January 1975.[1][6]

The pilot was 31-year old Lúðvík Karlsson, a well known aviation pioneer in Iceland.[7][8] The second crew member was Kristján S. Helgason, the director of Þyrluflug hf.[3]

References
  1. "Sjö fórust". Vísir (in Icelandic). 17 January 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  2. "Þyrlan virtist falla stjórnlaus til jarðar". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 18 January 1975. pp. 1, 3. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  3. "Sjö fórust með þyrlunni". Þjóðviljinn (in Icelandic). 18 January 1975. p. 1. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  4. "Þetta gerðist". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 17 January 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  5. "Flugmanni varð ekki á stórkostleg vangá". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 March 1983. p. 4. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  6. "TF-LKH N6734 52-7617 Sikorsky H-19D Chickasaw C/N 55-645". helis.com. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  7. Kristinn H. Guðnason (9 June 2019). "Ævintýramaðurinn og sagnameistarinn Lúðvík Karlsson". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). Retrieved 7 September 2020.
  8. "Urðum að flýja undan flóðbylgju". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 21 August 1974. pp. 3, 16. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
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