LEE KRAMER'S ROOM: With Views

[DesertDrifter]

Bell 212's are still used in fire fighting in the mountains. They are nicknamed "thumpers" because of the sound they make, one can distinguish them from miles away by their unique sound. They are virtually identical to Bell 205's except they have twin turbine engines, and can be told apart as 212's have two large exhaust ports. They are often used for water buckets and sling loads of gear and cargo because they have a higher lifting capacity than most medium helicopters. They are basically overpowered for passenger use, and are seldom used for that on fires as not as cost effective as smaller ships for moving personnel. Should one turbine fail, the ship can easily autorotate and land with minimal risk. (single engine helicopters can also do this maneuver, as without power they fall fairly rapidly but they can convert the rotational energy of the rotor back to lift when they get close to the ground to allow the pilot to choose a landing spot and nose into the wind)

The biggest danger is running into the terrain or wires, but I would put money the ship was equipped with radar capabilities so they would see danger in plenty of time to avoid it. (kobe bryant's pilot thought he knew the terrain well, misjudged where he was, and stacked it up, total pilot error)

That is why my speculation is a major mechanical failure or a hostile act, either a bomb or a missile.