French TV AS350 Helicopter Accident in Argentina (UPDATED with final accident report) The mid air collision of two Airbus AS350 (H125) helicopters on 9 March 2015 resulted in the death of all 10 people on board during the filming of a French TV programme, Dropped, for TF1 in Argentina. The accident highlights the importance of risk assessment, […]
French TV Helicopter Accident in Argentina Read Post »
UK Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) Jan 2015 Minutes The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has just published the minutes of the latest, 27 Jan 2015, meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG). The OHSAG was formed as a result of the ‘Civil Aviation Authority Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in Support of
UK OHSAG Jan 2015 Minutes Read Post »
In 2003 a HEMS A109K2 helicopter was lost in a fatal accident in Salt Lake City, UT in poor weather.
Life Flight 6 – US HEMS Accident Read Post »
Flight Crew Incapacitation – Oxygen System Failure The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published their investigation report on a case of hypoxia in an unpressurised twin turboprop survey aircraft: On 1 August 2014, at about 0935 EST, a Reims Aviation F406 aircraft, registered VH-EYQ, departed Emerald, Queensland, on an aerial survey task with a pilot
Flight Crew Incapacitation – Oxygen System Failure Read Post »
An experimental X-31 was making a routine test flight when disaster struck. NASA produced a unique documentary insight into this accident and its lessons.
Breaking the Chain: X-31 Lessons Learned Read Post »
Dash 8 Tail Strike: Weakness in Stabilised Approach Procedures The Canadian Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has released their final report on a heavy landing and tail strike that occurred to Porter Airlines Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 C-GLQO landing at Sault Ste. Marie Airport on 26 May 2013. The aircraft landed hard and the tail of the aircraft contacted the
Dash 8 Tail Strike: Weakness in Stabilised Approach Procedures Read Post »
Wait to Weight & Balance – Lessons from a PC-12 Loss of Control On take off, pitch control of a Pilatus PC-12 was lost resulting in a series of pitch oscillations and stall warnings. Fortuitously the pilot was able to abort the take off with only damage to one main wheel. The incident could have been
Wait to Weight & Balance – Lessons from a Loss of Control Read Post »
Inadvertent Fire Bottle Discharge During Maintenance The CHIRP Charitable Trust, who run the UK’s Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme, has reported on an inadvertent fire bottle discharge incident during maintenance in their Air Transport FEEDBACK Issue 113. The Aircraft was on a heavy maintenance input and several teams were busy working in the flight
Inadvertent Fire Bottle Discharge During Maintenance Read Post »
NTSB Report on 2013 S-76A++ Tail Rotor Blade Loss The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has reported on a fatal Sikorsky S-76A++ accident to a Gulf Of Mexico offshore helicopter during a post-maintenance check flight of avionics systems. The accident occurred on 15 March 2013 to N574EH, operated by Era Helicopters LLC. The pilot and
NTSB Report on 2013 S-76A++ Tail Rotor Blade Loss Read Post »
Cessna 208B Caravan Ditching Video, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013 We have previously covered the graphic ditching of Sikorsky S-76C 9M-STE (MSN 760398) of MHS Aviation in the South China Sea on 12 December 2013, and a passenger video of the ditching and rescue. Coincidentally, the day before (but in practice a couple of hours later due to the time difference), another ditching occurred, this
Cessna 208B Caravan Ditching Video, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013 Read Post »
UK CAA CAP1145: Update on North Sea Helicopter Safety (CAP1243) Not long after the fatal loss of Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB 1.5 nm west of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 with 4 fatalities (AAIB Special Bulletin), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an rapid review on offshore helicopter safety. CAP1145 This CAA Review resulted in the CAP1145 report
UK CAA CAP1145: Update on North Sea Helicopter Safety (CAP1243) Read Post »
The ‘Automation Problem’ – A Discussion Automation, or perhaps more correctly the use of automated systems, has become a hot topic in the aviation industry, particularly since the issue of the accident report into the loss of AF447 (issued in July 2012). We review one analysis of the underlying cause and discuss a warning about an emerging
The ‘Automation Problem’ – A Discussion Read Post »
Dramatic Malaysian S-76C 2013 Ditching Video Dramatic passenger-shot video footage of a helicopter ditching and rescue off Malaysia has emerged: The Sikorsky S-76C 9M-STE (MSN 760398) of MHS Aviation, chartered by Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas, was on approach to a 3D seismic ship in the South China Sea on 12 December 2013. The 105m long, 9800GRT vessel
Dramatic Malaysian S-76C 2013 Ditching Video Read Post »
When Habits Kill – Canadian Hughes 500 Helicopter Accident Establishing habits can be effective ways to achieve safe outcomes, by sub-consciously completing routine actions. Examples include automatically fastening harnesses and seat belts or routinely scanning for other traffic. However, sometimes habits can be dangerous, for example when circumstances or equipment change. Just such a case occurred in Canada to
When Habits Kill – Canadian MD500 Accident Read Post »
EASA & FAA HUMS / VHM Developments More information has emerged on European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) / Vibration Health Monitoring (VHM) initiatives. EASA HUMS / VHM Research There was more detail on HUMS/VHM research that Aerossurance has previously reported on when Cranfield University’s Matt Greaves presented the
EASA & FAA HUMS / VHM Developments Read Post »
An overweight helicopter, flown with a known defect, ditched during a poorly executed approach to a GOM drilling rig, then water taxying was attempted…
NTSB Report on Bizarre 2012 US S-76B Ditching Read Post »
Helicopter Ditching – EASA Rule Making Task RMT.0120 Update (NPA 2016-01 Helicopter ditching and water impact occupant survivability) The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) gave an update at their 8th Rotorcraft Symposium on the rule making task (RMT.0120) looking at helicopter ditching requirements. The paper is downloadable as part of a large zip file for the whole symposium
Helicopter Ditching – EASA Rule Making Task RMT.0120 Update (NPA 2016-01) Read Post »
Psychology of Responsibility Aerossurance recently discussed research cited in Yes! 50 secrets from the Science of Persuasion, written by Goldstein, Martin and Cialdini, on whether organisations are considered more or less responsible for incidents depending on whether the cause was technical or human failure. In the same book they also discuss research on the reaction to how adverse
Psychology of Responsibility Read Post »
UK Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG) Oct 2014 Minutes The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has published the minutes of the latest, 28 Oct 2014, meeting of the Offshore Helicopter Safety Action Group (OHSAG). The OHSAG was formed as a result of the ‘Civil Aviation Authority Safety Review of Offshore Public Transport Helicopter Operations in Support of
UK OHSAG Oct 2014 Minutes Read Post »
Both engines flamed out on a police helicopter over a crowded city with multiple fatalities. We examine the accident report. But its not where you think.
Accident Report: Fatal Police Helicopter Double Engine Flameout Over City Centre Read Post »
Global 6000 Crosswind Landing Accident – UK AAIB Report (TAG Aviation, EC-LTF) The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) have recently issued a 15 page report on a accident involving Bombardier Global 6000 EC-LTF of TAG Aviation España during a night crosswind landing. During the landing at Prestwick Airport on 6 March 2014, the right wing touched the runway.
Global 6000 Crosswind Landing Accident – UK AAIB Report Read Post »
Research shows that rushing to blame your own employees might not only increase the risk you’ll fail to prevent future accidents but tends to turn public opinion against you too.
Psychology of Blame Read Post »
We look at 10 lessons on the early warning of crises
Disasters and Crises – 10 Lessons on Early Warning Read Post »
NTSB Update on SpaceShip Two Accident Today the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued a press release on progress with the investigation into the Virgin Galactic Scaled Composites Model 339 SpaceShip Two N339SS accident on 31 Oct 2014: November 12, 2014 WASHINGTON — The National Transportation Safety Board issued an investigative update today into the
NTSB Update on SpaceShip Two Accident Read Post »
We look at a Dash 8 runway excursion in Greenland, after an unstable approach above the crosswind limit.
Dash 8 Runway Excursion after Unstable Crosswind Approach – Danish AIB Report Read Post »
