1982 Mannheim helicopter crash

On 11 September 1982, a United States Army Boeing-Vertol CH-47C Chinook crashed near the Bundesautobahn 656 at the Mannheim-Neckarau interchange in Mannheim, West Germany. All 46 people on board were killed when the helicopter crashed onto the motorway.

Background

The crash occurred during preparations for the 375th anniversary celebrations of the granting of city rights to Mannheim. As part of the festivities, the “International Parachuting Days” were to be held at Mannheim City Airport in Mannheim-Neuostheim. Parachutists from Mannheim and its twin cities, including Toulon and Swansea, planned a record formation jump.

A rehearsal jump from approximately 3,500 metres was scheduled before the main event. At around 12:30 pm, the transport helicopter of the US garrison in Mannheim took off carrying the parachutists and crew.

Crash

Shortly after takeoff, at an altitude of about 3,000 metres, the pilot reported technical problems and announced a return to the airfield. During descent, at approximately 250 metres altitude, the transmission gearbox failed. This gearbox synchronised the movement of the helicopter’s two counter-rotating rotors, whose blade arcs overlapped.

As a result of the failure, the rotor blades collided with each other and disintegrated. The helicopter lost lift and crashed onto the Bundesautobahn 656 in view of spectators, where it burst into flames. All occupants were killed, including 23 French, nine British, six German, and eight American nationals, among them the five crew members and two reporters from the American Forces Network.