Evidence is consistent with a practice autorotation being attempted to an ‘unsuitable’ Alaskan beach. Nr drooped, helicopter hit the sea, survivor found after a delayed emergency response. Airbus advises only ‘minimal crew’ for such training.
Alaskan AS350B3e Accident: Botched Autorotation Practice? Read Post »
The BEA look as production, maintenance fault-finding and flight operations lessons from a pair of incidents involving the AOA sensors on a Transavia Boeing 737-800.
AOA Anomalies on Successive B737-800 Flights Read Post »
Just because a company does the job one way for 30 years and has a 10k hour pilot doesn’t guarantee success. Techniques changed overnight after this accident. Once the tail rotor was catastrophically damaged, the consequences may have been reduced by the Bambi Bucket being a drag chute.
Short Sling Stings Speedy Squirrel: Tail Rotor Strike Fire-Fighting in Réunion Read Post »
Investigators identified chafing due to production errors but also highlight the first maintenance inspection was not scheduled until 36000 flying hours and there was poor guidance of when to use a fire axe to aid fire-fighting.
Embraer ERJ-190 EWIS Production Quality a Factor in Fire Read Post »
During a mountain take-off a HEMS crew are caught out by the poor contrast of rising snow-covered ground.
HEMS EC135T1 CFIT During Mountain Take Off in Poor Visibility Read Post »
A failed brazed stator assembly repair resulted in an uncontained turbine failure. The investigation identified apparent omissions in a DER produced repair scheme.
King Air 100 Uncontained TPE331-6 Failure – Inappropriate Repair Scheme Read Post »
An engine overdue for overhaul was refitted and 16 months later failed. The operator was not approved for passenger transport but the company was in financial distress so the pilot and part-owner accepted this charter.
An air ambulance in cruise at c 1,000 ft struck multiple geese, crashing with the loss of 3 lives. At dusk the bird strike risk in that area was ‘severe’ according to USAF modelling, available online as a planning tool.
Deadly Dusk Air Ambulance Bird Strike Read Post »
We question the wisdom of departing a bright, spot lit, landing site to fly over a remote area with little cultural light on a moonless night. We also look at how long it really takes for eyes to acclimatise to total darkness.
Tragic Texan B206B3 CFIT in Dark Night VMC Read Post »
