FRATricide?: Night S-76D CFIT
Did a Flight Risk Assessment Tool downplay the risk of a flight, delayed to night, to a remote landing site?
FRATricide?: Night S-76D CFIT Read Post »
Loss of Control After Powerbank Jams Helicopter Collective
Powerbanks have got a bad name for incendiary flight safety incidents, but an Irish helicopter suffered a very different powerbank incident.
Loss of Control After Powerbank Jams Helicopter Collective Read Post »
H130 Sucks Out Hangar Window; Main Rotor Blade Damaged by FOD
When lifting into a hover right next to a hangar, a window flew into the main rotor. The H130 landed hard.
H130 Sucks Out Hangar Window; Main Rotor Blade Damaged by FOD 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 »
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 »
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 »
CHC Scotia AS332L Rollover on West Navion Helideck After Loss of Dynamic Positioning
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 »
Night Deck Landing Accident While Training off Brazil
We look at the 2024 CENIPA report into a 2021 night deck training accident off Brazil.
Night Deck Landing Accident While Training off Brazil Read Post »
HEMS Downwash Injuries: Two More Case Studies
A third party injury at a UK HEMS site and a medical personnel head injury during training in Canada.
HEMS Downwash Injuries: Two More Case Studies Read Post »
Drift into Danger: AW109SP Night HLS Accident
Helicopter landing site suitability, flight planning and Threat & Error Management are all topics discussed in this AAIB report where an AW109 contacted trees during a night take off.
Drift into Danger: AW109SP Night HLS Accident Read Post »
South Korean Night Black Hole Spatial Disorientation Fatal Helicopter Accident
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 »
Urgent Exit Required: A Helideck Incident
An offshore helicopter almost hit a vessel’s superstructure during an immediate departure when on the verge of a dynamic rollover. We look at the value of HMS repeater lights.
Urgent Exit Required: A Helideck Incident Read Post »
CHC S-92A Offshore Landing Obstacle Strike: CENIPA Report
A desire for a PICUS to perform a landing to gain experience resulted in a sub-optimal approach direction being selected.
CHC S-92A Offshore Landing Obstacle Strike: CENIPA Report Read Post »
After Landing this HEMS Helicopter Suddenly Started to Slide Towards it’s Hangar…
We look at why a HEMS helicopter suddenly started to move while on an elevated hospital helipad…
After Landing this HEMS Helicopter Suddenly Started to Slide Towards it’s Hangar… Read Post »
Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision
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 »
Fire Extinguisher Cover Fenestron FOD
CCTV caught a HEMS FOD event and some bizarre dance moves.
Fire Extinguisher Cover Fenestron FOD Read Post »
Second Time Unlucky: Fatal Greek Wirestrike High-Wire Illusion
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
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 »
US Air Ambulance Helicopter Hospital Heliport Tail Strike
NTSB are investigating a US air ambulance tail rotor strike on approach to an elevated hospital helipad.
US Air Ambulance Helicopter Hospital Heliport Tail Strike Read Post »
Business Jet Apron Jet Blast Injury
Escorting passengers behind a recently arrived GX that had is anti-collision lights on proved unwise when the GX started to taxi. One passenger was blown over and knocked unconscious.
Business Jet Apron Jet Blast Injury Read Post »
Helideck Heave Ho!
After a 7.5+ year wait Brazilian investigators identify that inaccurate helideck heave data was passed to this helicopter crew. But this occurrence also serves to highlight glacial progress globally adopting best practice.
Helideck Heave Ho! Read Post »
Big Bustard Busts Blade: Propeller Blade Failure After Bird Strike
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 »
Taxiing AW139 Blade Strike on Maintenance Stand
Stopping short of its parking stand due to another aircraft being refuelled, this helicopter struck a maintenance stand.
Taxiing AW139 Blade Strike on Maintenance Stand Read Post »
Pedestrian Seriously Injured by Air Ambulance Landing at Melbourne Hospital
A passer-by is injured by downwash from an AW139 on final approach to an elevated helipad over a major urban road.
Pedestrian Seriously Injured by Air Ambulance Landing at Melbourne Hospital Read Post »
Fatal ATC Handover: A Business Jet Collides with an Airport Vehicle on Landing
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 »