EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades
A design deficiency was addressed by a subsequent Airworthiness Directive.
EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades Read Post »
RCAF Chinook Loss of Control (LOC) Investigation
After touchdown the helicopter lifted into the hover due to a concern over sideways drift but became unstable. The forward rotors contacted the fuselage and the rear landing gear collapsed.
RCAF Chinook Loss of Control (LOC) Investigation Read Post »
Pilatus PC-12 Collided with Pick-Up Truck During Dusk Take Off
The pilot told the NTSB in a telephone interview that he “just didn’t see the truck”.
Pilatus PC-12 Collided with Pick-Up Truck During Dusk Take Off Read Post »
Engine Life Limit Exceedance Caused Logging Helicopter Fatal Accident
A fatal descent into trees after an engine failure at low altitude after exceeding engine component life limits. Engine cycles were documented “irregularly”.
Engine Life Limit Exceedance Caused Logging Helicopter Fatal Accident Read Post »
Air Tour Helicopter Force Landing After Improper Installation of Tail Rotor Bearings
An air tour operator’s improper installation of tail rotor bearings resulted in cascading in-flight failures, say NTSB. The tail rotor assembly was “was on the verge of imminent failure” when the helicopter landed.
Air Tour Helicopter Force Landing After Improper Installation of Tail Rotor Bearings Read Post »
HESLO Dynamic Rollover in Alaska
This helicopter was allowed to drift to the right while preparing to lift a load at a remote mining exploration site.
HESLO Dynamic Rollover in Alaska Read Post »
SAR AW101 Roll-Over: Entry Into Service Involved “Persistently Elevated and Confusing Operational Risk”
Accident investigators say a SAR AW101 rolled over “during a period of persistently elevated and confusing operational risk” as the aircraft type was being introduced to military service in Norway.
Drone Pilot Injured in US Prison Geo-fence Incident
A drone demo in a prison car park resulted in a LOC-I and injury due to the geo-fence around the site.
Drone Pilot Injured in US Prison Geo-fence Incident Read Post »
Air Ambulance B407 Hospital Helipad Deck Edge Tail Strike During Shallow Approach
At first the pilot wasn’t aware that the helicopter’s tail rotor had stuck the helideck perimeter netting…
Air Ambulance B407 Hospital Helipad Deck Edge Tail Strike During Shallow Approach Read Post »
Firefighting AW139 Loss of Control and Tree Impact
During an approach to a hillside fire, airspeed drops dangerously low and the helicopter drifts backwards into trees…
Firefighting AW139 Loss of Control and Tree Impact Read Post »
Cessna 208B Collides with C172 after Distraction
The C208 pilot thought he had set the parking brake and focused his attention inside the cockpit.
Cessna 208B Collides with C172 after Distraction Read Post »
Military SAR H225M Caracal Double Hoist Fatality Accident
BEA-E identify a range of possible factors for the jamming of a hoist and severing of the hoist cable during a military training exercise.
Military SAR H225M Caracal Double Hoist Fatality Accident Read Post »
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia
During the second go-around the crew started an impromptu visual approach when the ExxonMobil installation suddenly came into view. A high ROD at low airspeed developed in low-visibility. The helicopter avoided the sea by just 13 ft. A second loss of control occurred during the ascent.
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia Read Post »
Sécurité Civile Fatal EC145 CFIT: Night, Low Ceiling and a Change in Route
After abandoning an inland routing, the crew headed to the coast but fly into high ground after an Inadvertent entry into Instrument Metrological Conditions (IIMC).
Sécurité Civile Fatal EC145 CFIT: Night, Low Ceiling and a Change in Route Read Post »
A Second from Disaster: RNoAF C-130J Near CFIT
The investigation showed that the RNoAF should intensify its safety management, including on risk, competency and safety culture. It also identified a need for an independent and comprehensive supervisory body for military aviation in Norway.
A Second from Disaster: RNoAF C-130J Near CFIT Read Post »
Unballasted Sling Stings Speedy Squirrel
A change in plan resulted in a helicopter returning with an unballasted sling and at a higher than advised speed this entangled with the tail rotor.
Unballasted Sling Stings Speedy Squirrel Read Post »
Plan Continuation Bias & IIMC in Kenyan Police AW119 Accident
A police helicopter presses on for a second time into deteriorating weather.
Plan Continuation Bias & IIMC in Kenyan Police AW119 Accident Read Post »
USAF MQ-9A Reaper Lever Confusion: Human Factors
We look at a takeoff accident to a USAF UAS where the engine condition lever was retarded instead of the flaps being retracted.
USAF MQ-9A Reaper Lever Confusion: Human Factors Read Post »
The Curious Case of the Missing Shear Pin that Didn’t Shear: A Fatal Powerline Stringing Accident
A key component was never recovered, investigators seem to have misunderstood their own laboratory’s report on another and the NTSB conclusions omit to identify the evident failure of a shear pin to correctly perform its safety function as a factor.
Fatal 2019 DC-3 Turbo Prop Accident, Positioning for FAA Flight Test: Power Loss Plus Failure to Feather
NTSB suggest an air lock in the fuel system plus an auto-feather system failure which may have occurred if the power lever was manually retarded during the auto-feather sequence. The DC-3 was below the airspeed required to maintain lateral control after an engine failure with an unfeathered propeller.
Windscreen Rain Refraction: Mountain Mine Site HESLO CFIT
Did you know that rain on a windscreen, in addition to causing poor visibility, introduces a refraction error that can make objects appear lower, by up to 5 degrees?
Windscreen Rain Refraction: Mountain Mine Site HESLO CFIT Read Post »
AS350B3 Ditching Japan
An accident that highlights the benefit of practical emergency drills and careful consideration of survivability issues.
AS350B3 Ditching Japan Read Post »
SAR AW139 Dropped Object: Attachment of New Hook Weight
JTSB comment: “When introducing new equipment, it is necessary to confirm in advance, the usage including appropriate selection, and sufficiently identify the risk factors”.
SAR AW139 Dropped Object: Attachment of New Hook Weight Read Post »
ATR 72 Rudder Travel Limitation Unit Incident: Latent Potential for Misassembly Meets Commercial Pressure
An ATR72 suffered an uncommanded yaw and roll as it accelerated through 185 knots. The cause was traced to misassembly during a prior maintenance check. A cam in the rudder Travel Limitation Unit could be reversed, and pressures during the check triggered that misassembly.
S-76A++ Rotor Brake Fire
Fire after activating the rotor brake while the No. 2 engine was still set to govern the power turbine speed.
S-76A++ Rotor Brake Fire Read Post »