A flight test prototype of AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aircraft has crashed in northern Italy killing its two pilots. According to ...
A flight test prototype of AgustaWestland AW609 tiltrotor aircraft has crashed in northern Italy killing its two pilots.
According to Italian Air Accident investigation agency, ANSV, the aircraft involved was the second prototype built in 2003.
The tiltrotor, which had taken off from AgustaWestalnd’s airfield at Vergiate production facility, caught fire shortly after take off and crashed in a field in the town of Santhià .
The crash will be a big blow for AW's program to develop a commercial tiltrotor helicopter that combines the speed of a turboprop and the take off and landing ability of a helicopter.
The AW609 with a maximum weight of 8.6 tonne is powered by two Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engines, and carry nine passengers plus two crew members.
The two flight test aircraft had logged more than 1200 hours and the program was scheduled to achieve EASA certification in 2017.
The tiltrotor design have been proved to be too risky and complex by the Bell- Boeing V-22 Osprey military tiiltrotor operated by U.S Marine Corps, following multiple crashes.
AW609 @AgustaWestland tilt-rotor prototype rpt crashed in #Italy - 2 crew rpt dead. https://t.co/nuTmRmYjYG pic.twitter.com/exyA0REH3t
— Joseph Dempsey (@JosephHDempsey) October 30, 2015
