AW189 Loss of Control – Ground, Malaysia 2023
While manoeuvring on the ground prior to a hover for post maintenance RTB this AW189 rolled over.
AW189 Loss of Control – Ground, Malaysia 2023 Read Post »
Bo105 Loss of Control in DVE & Water Impact
LOC-I in worsening weather & water impact of a Coast Guard helicopter supporting marine nav aids. Survivability issues mean both occupants perished.
Bo105 Loss of Control in DVE & Water Impact Read Post »
Loss of Control After Powerbank Jams Helicopter Collective
Powerbanks have got a bad name for incendiary flight safety incidents, but an Irish helicopter suffered a very different powerbank incident.
Loss of Control After Powerbank Jams Helicopter Collective Read Post »
AS350 HESLO Fuel Incident (Superabsorbent Polymer Contamination)
Forced landing – fuel contaminated with SAP (superabsorbent polymer). Unsuitable filters & water separators. Inadequate fuel QC & training.
AS350 HESLO Fuel Incident (Superabsorbent Polymer Contamination) Read Post »
Firefighting K-Max Water Impact After A Close Pass by a S-64 Skycrane
A loss of separation after aircraft were redistributed due to smoke, results in and airprox and downwash affecting the smaller helicopter.
Firefighting K-Max Water Impact After A Close Pass by a S-64 Skycrane Read Post »
H130 Sucks Out Hangar Window; Main Rotor Blade Damaged by FOD
When lifting into a hover right next to a hangar, a window flew into the main rotor. The H130 landed hard.
H130 Sucks Out Hangar Window; Main Rotor Blade Damaged by FOD Read Post »
A Screw in the Wrong Place…A Loss of Hoist Cable
An error of just a few millimetres resulted in a Breeze-Eastern hoist cable being dropped by an AW139…
A Screw in the Wrong Place…A Loss of Hoist Cable Read Post »
Cold Comfort Conference Call: USAF F-35A Alaska Accident
A $196.5 mn organisational accident: a conference call and a contaminated barrel.
Cold Comfort Conference Call: USAF F-35A Alaska Accident Read Post »
Flat Light B206L4 Alaskan CFIT & 11 Hour Emergency Response Delay
A shocking flight following failure after a flat light North Slope CFIT/Water Impact.
Flat Light B206L4 Alaskan CFIT & 11 Hour Emergency Response Delay Read Post »
Air Methods Helicopter Air Ambulance Night Take Off Tree Strike
After training at a Fire Department a BK117 air ambulance crashes after contacting a tree behind it during take off from a confined site.
Air Methods Helicopter Air Ambulance Night Take Off Tree Strike Read Post »
OceanGate Titan: Toxic Culture & Fatal Hubris
Deep dive: Toxic culture of a submersible company and their CEO’s hubris. Implosion on a dive to the wreck of the Titanic. Five fatalities.
OceanGate Titan: Toxic Culture & Fatal Hubris Read Post »
AW139 Loss of Control Climbing Away from SAR Exercise
Spatial disorientation, intermittent collective FTR use & impaired SA culminated in descending to <150 ft while trying to climb away.
AW139 Loss of Control Climbing Away from SAR Exercise Read Post »
Air India B787 GEnx-1B In Flight Shut Down After Maintenance Error 5 Years Earlier
A latent failure introduced during maintenance was dormant for 5 years.
Air India B787 GEnx-1B In Flight Shut Down After Maintenance Error 5 Years Earlier Read Post »
Brazilian Helideck Rollover After Precautionary Landing
Flying back from a bulk carrier the pilot suspected a seatbelt was stuck outside the door…
Brazilian Helideck Rollover After Precautionary Landing Read Post »
B214ST Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Coupling Misassembly
A maintenance error resulted in a loss of TR drive on a firefighting B214ST. We look at three airworthiness related incidents with the same airframe in UKCS offshore operations.
B214ST Tail Rotor Drive Shaft Coupling Misassembly Read Post »
EC155 / Light Aircraft Mid Air Collision: All Survive
Miraculous escape after EC155 / light aircraft collision. Only helicopter crew saw the other aircraft but <2 seconds before collision.
EC155 / Light Aircraft Mid Air Collision: All Survive Read Post »
CHC Sikorsky S-92A Seat Slide Surprise(s)
Failure to learn? In 2010 an Aircraft Commander was left ‘hanging’ after seat components omitted during maintenance. It reoccurred just 3.5 years later.
CHC Sikorsky S-92A Seat Slide Surprise(s) Read Post »
AW109SP Helicopter Air Ambulance Mountain Landing Accident Utah
We examine a night HEMS call out in Utah, changes of plan and a heavy landing at >10,000 ft.
AW109SP Helicopter Air Ambulance Mountain Landing Accident Utah Read Post »
T-Bolt Trouble: Unrecorded Maintenance on US HEMS BK117C2/H145 and Loss of TR Pitch Control
Components disconnected without paperwork being raised, temporarily refitted finger tight and the absence of lockwire being missed….and not for the first time.
Three Fatalities When US Air Ambulance Helicopter Struck Goose at Night
Fatal night encounter with a flock of geese. Bird strike probability predicted as low.
Three Fatalities When US Air Ambulance Helicopter Struck Goose at Night Read Post »
Engine & Emergency Flotation Failures – Greenland B206L4 Ditching
A tiny loose turbine bearing tang triggers an autorotation but frozen water in a hose caused the EFS to malfunction. SB/ICA changes for engine and EFS.
Engine & Emergency Flotation Failures – Greenland B206L4 Ditching Read Post »
EC135P2+ Air Ambulance Fatal Accident Mississippi 10 March 2025
NTSB Preliminary Report issued 4 April 2025. Last radio call was “we’ve got a major problem…controls are giving us a lot of trouble, coming in fast.”
EC135P2+ Air Ambulance Fatal Accident Mississippi 10 March 2025 Read Post »
UK CAA HOFO ACAS Rulemaking 2025 & a 2004 Tornado / AS332L Airprox
UK CAA are proposing making ACAS II mandatory for offshore helicopters: we look back to the 2004 incident that prompted a demonstration that ACAS II was practical for helicopters.
UK CAA HOFO ACAS Rulemaking 2025 & a 2004 Tornado / AS332L Airprox Read Post »
AS365 Crewman Dragged from Boat During SAR Training
A SAR crewman slipped on the deck of a vessel and due to miscommunication was pulled overboard by their helicopter and dragged through the sea.
AS365 Crewman Dragged from Boat During SAR Training Read Post »
Firefighting Bucket Snags Trees During Autorotation
After an engine failure due to a latent production defect, the firefighting bucket snags in trees and the helicopter crashed into woodland. TSB look at why the bucket may not have been jettisoned.
Firefighting Bucket Snags Trees During Autorotation Read Post »