How One Missing Washer Burnt Out a Boeing 737
During maintenance 6 weeks earlier on a difficult to access nut, a washer fell off before the nut was fitted.
How One Missing Washer Burnt Out a Boeing 737 Read Post »
Fuel Tube Installation Trouble
Changes in the OEM’s installation procedures and in the Part-145’s application of independent inspections were introduced after this event.
Fuel Tube Installation Trouble Read Post »
R44 Ditched After Loss of TGB & TR: Improper Maintenance
An R44 pilot pulled off a successful ditching after a maintenance error resulted in the tail rotor assembly departing the helicopter in flight.
R44 Ditched After Loss of TGB & TR: Improper Maintenance Read Post »
Compressive Creep and the Loss of a UH-1H’s Tail Rotor
An error painting a component, a failure to include a torque check in the maintenance manual and no intervention after an abnormal oil sample all feature in a shocking accident caught on video.
Compressive Creep and the Loss of a UH-1H’s Tail Rotor Read Post »
SAR Seat Slip Smash
An RCAF SAR crew were surprised when the Pilot Flying’s seat unexpectedly descended to its lowest position while hovering.
SAR Seat Slip Smash Read Post »
Air Ambulance Leaps into Air: Misrigged Flying Controls
An EC130T2 had its dual controls removed but the collective balance was misrigged. This resulted in it becoming inadvertently airborne while rotors running on an elevated helipad in Memphis. CCTV caught the incident on video.
Air Ambulance Leaps into Air: Misrigged Flying Controls Read Post »
SAR Hoist Cable Snag and Facture, Followed By Release of an Unserviceable Aircraft
A loop of cable snagged on the MLG and the cable was severed. The aircraft was later released to fly with MLG damage.
SAR Hoist Cable Snag and Facture, Followed By Release of an Unserviceable Aircraft Read Post »
Why a Collective Control Came Loose in a Pilot’s Hand…
Five months earlier a difficult to detect latent defect was introduced.
Why a Collective Control Came Loose in a Pilot’s Hand… Read Post »
Fiery Fatal AW119 Accident in Russia After Loss of Tail Rotor Control
A misassembly, a missed maintenance inspection, a resulting TRPCS bearing failure and an inappropriate response when yaw control was lost coming into the hover resulted in a non-survivable impact.
Fiery Fatal AW119 Accident in Russia After Loss of Tail Rotor Control Read Post »
Bell 407 Rolls-Royce 250-C47B Uncontained Engine Failure after Bearing Failure
Shortly after maintenance a B407 suffered an uncontained engine failure after an apparent engine oil loss.
Bell 407 Rolls-Royce 250-C47B Uncontained Engine Failure after Bearing Failure Read Post »
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes
After an emergency landing investigators found that an S-76D engine duct was partially detached. We also look at a more dramatic A109A accident that involved a different exhaust duct failure mode.
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes Read Post »
Brake Failure Causes PA-31 Runway Excursion During Taxi
After being stored for 7 months, the brakes failed on this PA-31. Inadequate storage checks suspected.
Brake Failure Causes PA-31 Runway Excursion During Taxi Read Post »
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD
An AD overrun, an omission of a pre-flight free play check for 18 years and a lack of autorotation practice all feature in this accident.
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD Read Post »
NTSB Report on Miami Air International Jacksonville B737-800 Runway Excursion
In a thunderstorm, this 737 hydroplaned after an unstable approach. NTSB comment on PF’s plan continuation bias and the PM’s lack of experience. The FAA has issued further guidance on calculating landing lengths and imposed a fine on an MRO who had conducted defective work on rafts and slides.
NTSB Report on Miami Air International Jacksonville B737-800 Runway Excursion Read Post »
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure (First European Aviation Hughes 369D SE-JVJ) On 1 August 2019 Swedish registered Hughes (now MD Helicopters) 369D, SE-JVJ, operated by Polish company First European Aviation, was mapping Norwegian electricity distribution lines for Eidsiva Nett using both laser scanning and aerial photography when it was involved in an
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure Read Post »
AD after Two Fatal Bell 430 Accidents: Main Rotor – Pitch Link Clevis Fractures Angola and South Africa
AD issued to inspect the B430 main rotor pitch link clevis after the second of two accidents that cost the lives of 11 people.
Forced Landing after CAMO Underestimated Operation in Dusty Environments
The BEA suggest miscommunication about the operating environment an engine was exposed to resulted in an AD not being applied, missing the chance of early detection of an impending engine failure.
Forced Landing after CAMO Underestimated Operation in Dusty Environments Read Post »
Firefighting CH-54 Flying Control FOD Find
The value of doing a ‘full and free’ flying control check was demonstrated in this incident.
Firefighting CH-54 Flying Control FOD Find Read Post »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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.
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.
BEA Point to Inadequate Maintenance Data and Possible Non-Conforming Fasteners in ATR 42 Door Loss
At top of descent a 15 kg MLG door separated causing damage. Maintenance data “complex and contained error” and allowed “allowed nuts to be reused without checking their self-locking capability”.