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 »
Passenger Struck by Tail Rotor While Unloading at a Hunting Camp
A change in ground handling process inadvertently eliminated a key defence, passenger pre-briefing.
Passenger Struck by Tail Rotor While Unloading at a Hunting Camp Read Post »
S-76D Loss of Control on Approach to an Indian Drilling Rig
A low time on type crew lost control while distracted. Everyone escaped but 4 died in the water due to poor briefings and inadequate rescue capability.
S-76D Loss of Control on Approach to an Indian Drilling Rig Read Post »
Two Rescuers Fell When Hoist Cable Damaged After a Loss of Hover Reference
Loss of hover reference during a medevac from a ship leads to hoist cable contact, catastrophic damage and two serious injuries.
Two Rescuers Fell When Hoist Cable Damaged After a Loss of Hover Reference Read Post »
Windward’s Wayward Rain Pants Down an H500: Loose Article Hazards
A skilful landing after a loss of tail rotor drive triggered by the loss overboard of a loose article. The occupants were lucky…we look at a series of case studies – some were fatal.
Windward’s Wayward Rain Pants Down an H500: Loose Article Hazards Read Post »
Korean SAR S-76B Mountain Rescue Accident 2020
During a mountain rescue, hoisting a casualty aboard resulted in a catastrophic aircraft loss and two fatalities.
Korean SAR S-76B Mountain Rescue Accident 2020 Read Post »
Startled Shutdown: Fatal USAF E-11A Global Express PSM+ICR Accident
A fan blade off event leads to an engine automatic shutdown. The crew shut down the serviceable engine and choose to divert 200 NM further than necessary leading to a forced landing.
Startled Shutdown: Fatal USAF E-11A Global Express PSM+ICR Accident Read Post »
29 Seconds to Impact: A Fatal Night Offshore Approach in the Irish Sea
A loss of control on approach to a helideck at night that completes a trilogy of case studies where visual cueing at offshore platforms is believed to have been a significant factor.
29 Seconds to Impact: A Fatal Night Offshore Approach in the Irish Sea Read Post »
Loss of Sikorsky S-76C+ 5N-BQG of Eastwind Off Nigeria 24 October 2024
NSIB Preliminary Report issued: helicopter diverting after encountering poor visibility.
Loss of Sikorsky S-76C+ 5N-BQG of Eastwind Off Nigeria 24 October 2024 Read Post »
An Air Traffic Control Assisted H-60 Collision
Brown Field ATC cleared two H-60s to land on a runway underrun despite them being over the paving weight limit, then asked one to go around and it collided with the other. Everyone survived.
An Air Traffic Control Assisted H-60 Collision Read Post »
DA62 Forced Landing After Double Engine Shutdown Due to Multiple Electrical Issues
NTSB were unable to identify the cause of the initiating electrical failure but did identify two battery issues, one connected to a maintenance error & inadequate functional test requirement.
DA62 Forced Landing After Double Engine Shutdown Due to Multiple Electrical Issues Read Post »