Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks

29 Seconds to Impact: A Fatal Night Offshore Approach in the Irish Sea

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, FDM / Data Recorders, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management

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 »

An Air Traffic Control Assisted H-60 Collision

Accidents & Incidents, Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Military / Defence, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

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 »

CHC Scotia AS332L Rollover on West Navion Helideck After Loss of Dynamic Positioning

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management

A loss of drillship DP and poor bridge display ergonomics. Two more CHC serious helideck ‘sudden departure’ incidents follow within 38 months.

CHC Scotia AS332L Rollover on West Navion Helideck After Loss of Dynamic Positioning Read Post »

South Korean Night Black Hole Spatial Disorientation Fatal Helicopter Accident

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

We translate a South Korean report into an emergency service helicopter accident investigation. Spatial disorientation, use of automation and heliport management issues.

South Korean Night Black Hole Spatial Disorientation Fatal Helicopter Accident Read Post »

Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision (Bell 206L) On 30 July 2022 a Bell 206L was hover taxiing from the fuel bowser to park at Newman Airport, Western Australia when the main rotor stuck a hangar. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) occurrence brief identifies neither aircraft or operator.  They explain that: While lining up with marking aids on the taxiway, the pilot

Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision Read Post »

Second Time Unlucky: Fatal Greek Wirestrike High-Wire Illusion

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

A lack of a site survey or a site recce meant a pilot didn’t realise he had passed under a powerline on approach. On departure the cables were noticed just before impact but due to a ‘high-wire illusion’ the pilot reduced the climb and flew into them.

Second Time Unlucky: Fatal Greek Wirestrike High-Wire Illusion Read Post »

North Sea Helicopter Struck Sea After LOC-I on Approach During Night Shuttling

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Management

When a pilot became disorientated during a night approach, an S-76A gets into a dangerously low energy state and strikes the sea. Despite two crew, the helicopter was “operated in a manner very little different from a single pilot operation”.

North Sea Helicopter Struck Sea After LOC-I on Approach During Night Shuttling Read Post »

Big Bustard Busts Blade: Propeller Blade Failure After Bird Strike

Accidents & Incidents, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Mining / Resource Sector, Safety Management

The SA CAA preliminary report confirms this J41 suffered a bird strike with what is “the world’s heaviest flying bird” species (up to 19 kg). Debris went through the cabin. Fortuitously the pax in that row had moved.

Big Bustard Busts Blade: Propeller Blade Failure After Bird Strike Read Post »

Fatal ATC Handover: A Business Jet Collides with an Airport Vehicle on Landing

Accidents & Incidents, Air Traffic Management / Airspace, Airfields / Heliports / Helidecks, Business Aviation, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management

A Challenger 300 was cleared to land at night by ATC shortly after a shift change. The previous shift failed to convey that painting was underway on the runway and the vehicle lights were not visible in the tower.

Fatal ATC Handover: A Business Jet Collides with an Airport Vehicle on Landing Read Post »

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