An S-76C++ with 14 POB suffered a loss of control when the Commander took over from the Co-Pilot after a lightning strike in IMC.
Triggered Lightning: Lost of Control & Tail Rotor Blades Read Post »
French Navy S-100 accident: A previously identified failure mode occured prior to the completion of a roll-out of a product improvement.
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Water Impact Read Post »
An S-92A received a TAWS warning during a night approach to a drilling rig after an undetected mode selection.
S-92A Night Approach Mode Awareness Incident Read Post »
LOC-I in worsening weather & water impact of a Coast Guard helicopter supporting marine nav aids. Survivability issues mean both occupants perished.
Bo105 Loss of Control in DVE & Water Impact Read Post »
A tiny loose turbine bearing tang triggers an autorotation but frozen water in a hose caused the EFS to malfunction. SB/ICA changes for engine and EFS.
Engine & Emergency Flotation Failures – Greenland B206L4 Ditching Read Post »
UK CAA are proposing making ACAS II mandatory for offshore helicopters: we look back to the 2004 incident that prompted a demonstration that ACAS II was practical for helicopters.
UK CAA HOFO ACAS Rulemaking 2025 & a 2004 Tornado / AS332L Airprox Read Post »
A low time on type crew lost control while distracted. Everyone escaped but 4 died in the water due to poor briefings and inadequate rescue capability.
S-76D Loss of Control on Approach to an Indian Drilling Rig Read Post »
A fan blade off event leads to an engine automatic shutdown. The crew shut down the serviceable engine and choose to divert 200 NM further than necessary leading to a forced landing.
Startled Shutdown: Fatal USAF E-11A Global Express PSM+ICR Accident Read Post »
NTSB were unable to identify the cause of the initiating electrical failure but did identify two battery issues, one connected to a maintenance error & inadequate functional test requirement.
DA62 Forced Landing After Double Engine Shutdown Due to Multiple Electrical Issues Read Post »
Exemplary airmanship after a production defect, dormant for 11 years emerged. We look at human centred design and a ‘scary version’ of current supply chain issues.
Dramatic AW139 Accident at Houma: Skillful Recovery from a Latent Production Defect Read Post »
We review the USAF AIB report, looking at the catastrophic gear box failure and decision making seemingly influence by low risk awareness and commitment to completing the flight.
Deadly Delay: Catastrophic USAF CV-22B Osprey Gear Box Failure Read Post »
A night visual approach resulted in illusions that resulted in a water impact. Everyone on board was rescued but not before highlighting many survivability & SAR enhancements, as well as triggering improved helideck lighting and TAWS improvements.
Night Offshore Helicopter Approach Water Impact Read Post »
Wear is found during a check that results in a rare flying control maintenance task, poorly described in the AMM. Its unrecorded and delegated to an apprentice with insufficient supervision. We examine the maintenance human factors involved.
The wing spar failed from fatigue cracking elsewhere in the wing that was missed during the same inspection.
An £81 mn fighter is downed by FOD, one of its own intake blanks.
This case study illustrates James Reason’s concept of Organisational Accidents and how just asking “who left the intake blank ?” misses the real reasons behind this accident.
The Loss of RAF F-35B ZM152: An Organisational Accident Read Post »
After encountering turbulence a Loss of Control occurred when Force Trim Release (FTR) was activated.
SAR AW139 LOC-I During Positioning Flight Read Post »
An offshore medevac accident that highlights considering the changing risk of an individual flight, flight path management in degrading conditions and offshore survivability in a ‘regulatory void’.
BK117 Offshore Medevac CFIT & Survivability Issues Read Post »
Would you have spotted the potential for hoist cable damage on this modified emergency service helicopter?
HH-60L Hoist Cable Damage Highlights Need for Cable Guards Read Post »
Inadequate consideration of loads during design resulted in a fractured mounting of a 15ft snorkel, which then struck the main rotor killing 4.
Swinging Snorkel Sikorsky Smash: Structural Stress Slip-up Read Post »
TSB uncover a difference in interpreting certification requirements applied to retrofit composite blades resulting in an omitted test.
Main Rotor Blade Certification Anomaly in Fatal Canadian Accident Read Post »
A human centred design case study on the human machine interface of hoist/SAR controls following an inadvertent cable cut on an AW139 in Australia.
Guarding Against a Hoist Cable Cut Read Post »
CCTV caught a HEMS FOD event and some bizarre dance moves.
Fire Extinguisher Cover Fenestron FOD Read Post »
Remarkable failures in critical parts control resulted in a fatal in-flight break-up.
Canadian B212 Crash: A Defective Production Process Read Post »
After the onset of vibration, an air tour pilot attempted a precautionary landing but yaw control was lost.
Fenestron Failure EC130B4 Hawaii Read Post »
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 »
