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* Ben Orner at Capitol News Illinois has the scoop…
The luxury helicopter that crashed Sunday morning in California, killing all nine people on board including former NBA star Kobe Bryant, was once owned by the state of Illinois.
The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter was built in 1991, according to the Federal Aviation Administration’s aircraft registry. The state of Illinois used it from 2007 to 2015, according to helicopter information database Helis.
Under the direction of former Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state sold the helicopter along with four other surplus aircraft in 2015 for $2.5 million. Rauner said selling the aircraft “also avoided an additional $1 million in inspections and repairs,” according to an Associated Press story after the sales.
The winning bid for the helicopter was $515,161, placed by user “Jimbagge1,” according to a listing on the state’s online auction website, iBid. Both the aircraft and its two engines had just under 4,000 hours of airframe time when the copter was sold.
* But…
The helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and eight others that crashed into a rugged hillside outside Los Angeles was flying in foggy conditions considered dangerous enough that local police agencies grounded their choppers. […]
Kurt Deetz, a pilot who used to fly Bryant in the chopper, said the crash was more likely caused by bad weather than engine or mechanical issues.
“The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn’t happen,” he told the Los Angeles Times.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:13 am
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“Highly unlikely to blame” like that’s gonna stop a certain Kendall county resident given the presence of the R word in that article
Comment by Ann on a moose Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:25 am
Day 2 and it still feels as devastatingly raw as Day 1. Thoughts and prayers to all the families of this terrible tragedy. So many lives lost too soon.
Comment by MakePoliticsCoolAgain Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:28 am
- Ann on a moose -
A certain orange man might get blamed because it diverted attention away from a certain trial.
Comment by Steve Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:29 am
Yeah, even if it is a maintenance or mechanical issue Illinois can’t be blamed for an accident with something that has been out of their possession and control for 5 years.
Comment by Ron Burgundy Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:32 am
How terribly sad that others find a way to make the tragic deaths of 9 a chance to show how others live in their head, rent free. What a small person you are.
To the post,
The reports of heavy, dense fog and the reluctance of local authorities to fly helicopters that morning is the story, and it allows speculation that weather was a major contributing factor for this tragedy.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:34 am
Instead of speculating, I’ll wait for the official report. No need to blame anyone at this point. RIP to all of the passengers and condolences to their families.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 9:38 am
Reminiscent of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s tragic death.
Comment by Unpopular Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 10:02 am
==like that’s gonna stop a certain Kendall county resident given the presence of the R word in that article.==
and
==a certain orange man might get blamed.==
Seriously, you’re gonna argue about comments that you fantasize someone else will make instead of making your own comment?
RIP to Bryant, his daughter and the others.
Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 10:23 am
- Da Big Bad Wolf -
Small people do small things. The 9 victims of this tragedy deserve so much better than folks so concerned with being the most petty at this time.
The children who lost their lives are especially tough.
While it’s not blame or cause, the weather aspect, the fog, that is, for me, what is so painful.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 10:28 am
Prayers fro Kobe’s family fro strength and comfort it these very sad times
It would be easy to review GovJunk’s p.r. stunt but we will leave for another day.
Comment by Annonin' Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 10:42 am
So very tragic connection. I remember seeing pics when that chopper was buried in North Aurora when Gov Quinn visited the floods
Comment by BoSox Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 10:59 am
OW:
Some people are classless and small minded and incapable of viewing anything outside of politics. You see a person’s true colors sometimes and they’ve shown there true colors here.
To the post:
This is an absolute horrible tragedy. Remember, we not only lost Kobe Bryant but 8 other people, including three young girls.
Comment by Demoralized Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 11:39 am
For those who love basketball, and are also intimately aware of the State of Illinois’ past failings, the temptation is there to react inappropriately. But keep that to yourself for now and defer to the federal investigation of the crash. If there was a maintenance problem, $%^& will be raised. But now is time for mourning.
Comment by north hollywood Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 1:06 pm
@BoSox https://capitolfax.com/2013/04/22/caption-contest-131/
Comment by SenBukowski Monday, Jan 27, 20 @ 2:32 pm