Investigators say the pilot was requested to land closer to the casualty and having skipped a low recce the crew’s attention was on obstacles not the slope and still landed after a Mast Moment warning.
AD issued to inspect the B430 main rotor pitch link clevis after the second of two accidents that cost the lives of 11 people.
While officially no cause was determined, the contributory factors identified and safety recommendations imply the investigators suspect a fast approach and a sudden pitch up to reduce speed as the helideck came into view in reduced visibility. Disappointingly, after one failed attempt, neither the wreckage nor recorders were recovered.
Loss of Bell 412 off Brazil Remains Unexplained Read Post »
Deteriorating weather caused a hurried change of plan to use a technique for which there were no documented procedures.
Sécurité Civile EC145 Mountain Rescue Main Rotor Blade Strike Leads to Tail Strike Read Post »
GOM Helicopter Ops 2000-2019: Single Engine Usage Plummets But Fatal Accident Rate Resistant The Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) has been publishing data on the Gulf of Mexico (‘GOM’) offshore helicopter fleet and its safety since 1995. We have previously looked at their 2019 data, dated 28 May 2020 and released in mid-December 2020. What is noticeable over the
The BEA suggest miscommunication about the operating environment an engine was exposed to resulted in an AD not being applied, missing the chance of early detection of an impending engine failure.
Forced Landing after CAMO Underestimated Operation in Dusty Environments Read Post »
The value of doing a ‘full and free’ flying control check was demonstrated in this incident.
Firefighting CH-54 Flying Control FOD Find Read Post »
A design deficiency was addressed by a subsequent Airworthiness Directive.
EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades Read Post »
