A helicopter was saved by cable cutters and an evasive manoeuvre when it struck wires near dusk when firefighting. Damage to a main rotor blade was not spotted for 3 days however.
Firefighting Helicopter Wire Strike Read Post »
While the response to this incident did include a design change the operator couldn’t it seems resist ‘re-eduction’.
Fallacy of ‘Training Out’ Error: Japanese AS332L1 Dropped Load Read Post »
An AS350B2 impacted terrain after continuing visual flight into deteriorating IMC. The helicopter was configured with boxes to carry huskies, but their weight was not accounted for, so the aircraft was operating overweight.
Low Viz Helicopter CFIT Accident, Alaska Read Post »
An incorrect and unapproved repair of the engine compressor diffuser at an MRO resulted in failure of the compressor diffuser aft plate and partial loss of engine power.
Helicopter Engine Unapproved Repair Leads to Forced Landing Damage Read Post »
The pilot and both medical personnel on board were seriously injured and the helicopter was destroyed in yet another night HEMS accident in the US.
HEMS A109S Night Loss of Control Inflight: Excessive Cyclic Input in Missed Approach Read Post »
A fatigue failure emanated from incorrect machining in a high stress area on the MLG trunnion.
Eclipse 500 Landing Gear Production Defect Read Post »
A B206 crash resistant fuel system mod has been available since 1994. No one has EVER bought the mod kit…
Torched Tennessee Tour Trip (B206L N16760) Read Post »
On 26 August 2003 a B1900D crashed on take off after errors during flying control maintenance. We look at the maintenance human factors safety lessons from this and another B1900 accident that year.
Crossed Cables: Colgan Air B1900D N240CJ Maintenance Error Read Post »
A US police AS350B3 Engine Off Landing was practiced on a part rocky, part boggy peninsular, 28 miles drive from emergency assistance. A hard landing damaged the helicopter but fortunately there were no injuries. NTSB highlight Airbus’ advice on such training.
Inappropriate Autorotation Training: Police AS350 Read Post »
Due to errors in performance calculation the aircraft departed from an intersection with thrust set for a full runway length take off.
Investigation into Jet Airways B777 VT-JEK Serious Incident at Heathrow Read Post »
The investigators’ final report confirms that control was lost after a flying control connection failed after a loss of torque and progressive wear to the point of separation from the rod end. This accident highlights the need to make timely progress in accident investigations.
In-Flight Flying Control Failure: Indonesian Sikorsky S-76C+ PK-FUP Read Post »
An XL Airways A330 suffered a cascading series of failures. The BEA look at the human factors aspects of the incident.
Improvised Troubleshooting After Cascading A330 Avionics Problems Read Post »
NTSB indicate that a pilot used to the glass cockpit EC135P2+, who had only a brief online differences course for the EC135P1, oversped both engines when they were inadvertently set to manual control. This had happened in a 2006 fatal accident too. A modification to help prevent this had only been fitted to 2 of the 17 P1s in the US fleet.
US HEMS EC135P1 Dual Engine Failure: 7 July 2018 Read Post »
Investigators describe how the sudden loss of a window as a consequence of flying in a prohibited configuration may have made the pilot pitch up, allowing the under-slung fire-fighting bucket to strike the tail rotor.
Wayward Window: Fatal Loss of a Fire-Fighting Helicopter in NZ Read Post »
A Vortex Ring State developed during a tailwind approach to a hospital.
Hard Landing after VRS on Approach to a Hospital Site Read Post »
An installation error resulted in an engine fire on the next flight. In a report issued on 20 July 2018, NTSB identify errors in maintenance manual instructions that highlight how being compliant is not enough.
Fire After O-Ring Nipped on Installation Read Post »
Human factors observations from the investigation into a wheels up landing of a French Navy helicopter during training in the South Pacific.
HF Lessons from an AS365N3+ Gear Up Landing Read Post »
After a wheels up landing the flight crew claimed they had lowered the gear. The evidence disagreed.
Distracted B1900C Wheels Up Landing in the Bahamas Read Post »
A misrigged release unit control cable on a Japanese AS350 chaffed and released the load while manoeuvring.
Load Lost Due to Misrigged HESLO Under Slung Load Control Cable Read Post »
The TSB report posses many questions on the management and oversight of aircraft maintenance, competency and maintenance standards & practices. We look at opportunities for forward thinking MROs to improve their maintenance standards and practices.
B1900D Emergency Landing: Maintenance Standards & Practices Read Post »
A decline in GOM helicopter usage continues. There were three air accidents, two fatal. all involving single engined helicopters.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2017 Update Read Post »
We summarise a TSIB report into how an SIA B777 took off with a 41t fuel discrepancy (after a combination of aircraft system failure and erroneous verification of the fuel quantity).
Singapore Airlines B777 41t Fuel Discrepancy Incident Read Post »
Most safety software is purely transactional with a user interface as uninspiring as on-line banking. We look at ways to make safety software more effective and inviting.
How ‘Sticky’ is Your Safety Software? Read Post »
We look at the ANSV report on a HEMS helicopter Inadvertent IMC event that ended with an AW139 colliding with a mountain in poor visibility.
Italian HEMS AW139 Inadvertent IMC Accident Read Post »
In May 2018 the NTSB published two reports into accidents involving helicopters attempting to carry out wildlife net captures.
Helicopter Wildlife Netting Accidents Read Post »
