We are very sorry to report that a new member of the Safari family, Michael Mims of Conroe, Texas, lost his life in the crash of his Safari helicopter on January 16, 2015. We offer our sympathy to his family and friends.
The cause of the accident is not apparent and is unknown at this time.
As always happens with an aviation accident, there is extensive speculation and opinion regarding the accident, and conflicting eyewitness reports. Publicly available photographs taken at the scene show no obvious cause of the accident; however, this event will be investigated thoroughly by the National Transportation Safety Board.
CHR International Inc. has been invited by the NTSB to be a party to the investigation. A CHR representative will be allowed to observe some activities of the investigative team. We will provide any information we may have regarding parts of the aircraft being examined and normal operation of the helicopter. While this provides us with an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of the results as the investigation progresses, it also requires that we maintain confidentiality until the final report of the NTSB findings is issued. For this reason, there will be no further statements by CHR International Inc. or its personnel unless approved by the National Transportation Safety Board. If the investigation reveals any safety concerns, we will address them immediately.
Since CHR International Inc. acquired the rights to produce the Safari helicopter kit in 2009, we have worked diligently to improve the helicopter in every way possible. Our concern with the safety and satisfaction of Safari owners is well known, and we will practice that philosophy as we assist in any way possible to determine the cause of this tragic event.
