Air Methods AS350B3 Air Ambulance Tucson Tail Strike
Lots of questions from the photos that have emerged of a tail rotor strike at an elevated hospital helipad in the US.
Air Methods AS350B3 Air Ambulance Tucson Tail Strike Read Post »
R44 “Unanticipated Yaw” Accident During Tailwind Take Off Caught on Video Say NTSB
NTSB claim Inadequate pedal application occurred during liftoff with a tailwind, resulted in a loss of yaw control and a tail rotor strike (caught on video).
R44 “Unanticipated Yaw” Accident During Tailwind Take Off Caught on Video Say NTSB Read Post »
Dutch Maritime NH90 Caribbean Accident: Focus on the Survivability Issues
LOC-I on a low, slow downwind leg lead to a water impact. The front crew both became fatally trapped. Shortcomings in equipment and training were identified.
Dutch Maritime NH90 Caribbean Accident: Focus on the Survivability Issues Read Post »
Canadian Flat Light CFIT
The hazard of flat light is its insidious nature. Even when visibility is good and the horizon is visible, a loss of depth perception may go undetected by the pilot.
Canadian Flat Light CFIT Read Post »
Grey Charter in French Guiana: IIMC and LOC-I
The BEA identify illicit charter occurred when an AB206 and a low time pilot was contracted to fly maintenance personnel to a gold mine site.
Grey Charter in French Guiana: IIMC and LOC-I Read Post »
TCM’s Fall from SAR AW139 Doorway While Commencing Night Hoist Training
A TCM Rescuer fell from 50 ft into the sea when commencing a night hoist currency training when there was a failure to connect the hoist hook to their harness. We look at the safety investigation recommendations.
TCM’s Fall from SAR AW139 Doorway While Commencing Night Hoist Training Read Post »
NVIS Autorotation Training Hard Landing: Changed Albedo
Changed Albedo: A change in runway surface catches out a police pilot during training with NVIS.
NVIS Autorotation Training Hard Landing: Changed Albedo Read Post »
Bell 407 Rolls-Royce 250-C47B Uncontained Engine Failure after Bearing Failure
Shortly after maintenance a B407 suffered an uncontained engine failure after an apparent engine oil loss.
Bell 407 Rolls-Royce 250-C47B Uncontained Engine Failure after Bearing Failure Read Post »
Italian Alps AW139 Mountain Rescue Hoisting Blade Strike
While undertaking a hoist rescue this Italian AW139 suffered a main rotor blade strike.
Italian Alps AW139 Mountain Rescue Hoisting Blade Strike Read Post »
RLC B407 Reverses into Sister Ship at GOM Heliport
On the first flight of the day an offshore B407’s tail rotor comes into contact with the main rotor of a B407 rotors running behind it.
RLC B407 Reverses into Sister Ship at GOM Heliport Read Post »
Don’t Be a Sucker!: Cabri Canopy Implosion
A suction cup mounted camera weakened the canopy so that it failed during a high speed handling exercise.
Don’t Be a Sucker!: Cabri Canopy Implosion Read Post »
A Lethal Cocktail: Low Time, Hypoxia, Amphetamine and IMC
A young couple died in an R44 accident in Utah during an ill-advised private flight.
A Lethal Cocktail: Low Time, Hypoxia, Amphetamine and IMC Read Post »
South Korean Fire-Fighting Helicopter Tail Rotor Strike on Fuel Bowser
A fire-fighting helicopter drifts backwards into a fuel bowser.
South Korean Fire-Fighting Helicopter Tail Rotor Strike on Fuel Bowser Read Post »
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes
After an emergency landing investigators found that an S-76D engine duct was partially detached. We also look at a more dramatic A109A accident that involved a different exhaust duct failure mode.
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes Read Post »
Gazelle Caught Out Jumping a Fence
The layout of the movement area of the aerodrome led helicopter pilots to ‘jumping over the fence’ from landside hangars. As this helicopter transitioned an engine surge led to it crashing into the perimeter fence.
Gazelle Caught Out Jumping a Fence Read Post »
French Cougar Crashed After Entering VRS When Coming into Hover
After a series of hoisting exercises the crew were doing a final exercise to simulate an rare electrical emergency. Unbeknown to them they had a tailwind as they came into the hover.
French Cougar Crashed After Entering VRS When Coming into Hover Read Post »
Fuel Starvation During Powerline HESLO
A change in task and a common misinterpretation leads to operation below established fuel minima. A norm of leaving a HEC belly-band in place on non-HEC tasks complicated sling release, and the line went taut before the autorotation was complete.
Fuel Starvation During Powerline HESLO Read Post »
Brake Failure Causes PA-31 Runway Excursion During Taxi
After being stored for 7 months, the brakes failed on this PA-31. Inadequate storage checks suspected.
Brake Failure Causes PA-31 Runway Excursion During Taxi Read Post »
A HEMS Helicopter Had a Lucky Escape During a NVIS Approach to its Home Base
While flying a shallow approach using NVIS a HEMS helicopter entered low-lying fog. After being startled and blinded by the NVGs, the pilot initiated a go-around but the helicopter briefly contacted the ground.
A HEMS Helicopter Had a Lucky Escape During a NVIS Approach to its Home Base Read Post »
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD
An AD overrun, an omission of a pre-flight free play check for 18 years and a lack of autorotation practice all feature in this accident.
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD Read Post »
Dynamic Rollover During HESLO at Gusty Mountain Site
A 1.1 t load was moved to pylon 151, just the wrong pylon 151. A gust caught the helicopter at the worst moment, just as the longline became taut.
Dynamic Rollover During HESLO at Gusty Mountain Site Read Post »
Ditching after Blade Strike During HESLO from a Ship
Reflective observations from a pilot after an accident while conducting external load operations from a research vessel off the coast of Alaska.
Ditching after Blade Strike During HESLO from a Ship Read Post »
Air Methods AS350B3 Night CFIT in Snow
Repositioning to avoid a storm, this air ambulance crashed just short of its destination on a 3-minute flight.
Air Methods AS350B3 Night CFIT in Snow Read Post »
Training Weaknesses Feature in Fatal MD600N Accident
Limited availability of data discouraged practical training in a specific emergency procedure, say TAIC.
Training Weaknesses Feature in Fatal MD600N Accident Read Post »
Alpine MAC ANSV Report: Ascending AS350B3 and Descending Jodel D.140E Collided Over Glacier
A Mid Air Collision, caught dramatically on video, that highlights the difficulty of visually detecting other aircraft in Class G airspace.