AW109SP Helicopter Air Ambulance Mountain Landing Accident Utah
We examine a night HEMS call out in Utah, changes of plan and a heavy landing at >10,000 ft.
AW109SP Helicopter Air Ambulance Mountain Landing Accident Utah Read Post »
Startled Shutdown: Fatal USAF E-11A Global Express PSM+ICR Accident
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 »
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 »
Loss of Sikorsky S-76C+ 5N-BQG of Eastwind Off Nigeria 24 October 2024
NSIB Preliminary Report issued: helicopter diverting after encountering poor visibility.
Loss of Sikorsky S-76C+ 5N-BQG of Eastwind Off Nigeria 24 October 2024 Read Post »
DC3-TP67 CFIT: Result-Oriented Subculture & SMS Shelfware
Operating VFR in IMC had become a norm and as workload increased the aircraft commander “adopted a single-pilot mindset”. TSB reveal a consultant’s self-licking shelfware SMS re-write.
DC3-TP67 CFIT: Result-Oriented Subculture & SMS Shelfware Read Post »
Air Methods AS350B3 Night CFIT in Snow
Repositioning to avoid a storm, this air ambulance crashed just short of its destination on a 3-minute flight.
Air Methods AS350B3 Night CFIT in Snow Read Post »
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia
During the second go-around the crew started an impromptu visual approach when the ExxonMobil installation suddenly came into view. A high ROD at low airspeed developed in low-visibility. The helicopter avoided the sea by just 13 ft. A second loss of control occurred during the ascent.
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia Read Post »
Fatal Mi-8 Loss of Control – Inflight and Water Impact off Svalbard
While on a VFR approach below minima to a mine site there was a loss of visual reference and a Loss of Control – Inflight. The helicopter impacted the water but neither aircraft nor occupants were equipped for sea survival. All 8 POB likely drowned or quickly succumb to hypothermia in 2°C water.
Fatal Mi-8 Loss of Control – Inflight and Water Impact off Svalbard Read Post »
AW139 Brownout Accident with the Nigerian VP Aboard
Security surrounding the VP’s travel meant the crew were given little time to consider an ad hoc landing site. They were reassured that a police B412 had landed safely, but they had not been trained in brownout landings and came into a hover…
AW139 Brownout Accident with the Nigerian VP Aboard Read Post »
Ditching of Bristow S-76C++, Off Nigeria, 3 February 2016
The compass was not returned to slave mode on take off from an FPSO. Subsequent aircraft behaviour convinced the crew they should ditch.
Ditching of Bristow S-76C++, Off Nigeria, 3 February 2016 Read Post »
HEMS A109S Night Loss of Control Inflight: Excessive Cyclic Input in Missed Approach
The pilot and both medical personnel on board were seriously injured and the helicopter was destroyed in yet another night HEMS accident in the US.
HEMS A109S Night Loss of Control Inflight: Excessive Cyclic Input in Missed Approach Read Post »
Distracted B1900C Wheels Up Landing in the Bahamas
After a wheels up landing the flight crew claimed they had lowered the gear. The evidence disagreed.
Distracted B1900C Wheels Up Landing in the Bahamas Read Post »
Investigators Criticise Cargo Carrier’s Culture & FAA Regulation After Fatal Somatogravic LOC-I
A Shorts 360 cargo aircraft contracted to FedEx crashed in the Caribbean after the crew likely suffered a Somatogravic Illusion raising the flaps on a dark night in 2014. The lack of an FAA SMS regulation for Part 135, the operator’s poor safety culture and implications for the wider industry culture stand out in a thoughtful accident report.
Easyjet A319 Heavy Landing
The NLG shock-absorber cylinder was found buckled after a heavy landing when distractions and high workload likely contributed to a nose-down pitch input just before touchdown.
Easyjet A319 Heavy Landing Read Post »
A320 Flown on After Damaging Heavy Landing
An A320 was flown with pax back to Germany after a 3.32G heavy landing due to insufficient maintenance resource and lack of understanding of fault codes say CIAIAC.
A320 Flown on After Damaging Heavy Landing Read Post »
All Aboard CFIT: Alaskan Sightseeing Fatal Flight and Safety Culture
A case study of a pathological safety culture. Management and peer pressure, compounded by poor contracting and scheduling by a cruise line resulted in high risk flights in poor weather.
All Aboard CFIT: Alaskan Sightseeing Fatal Flight and Safety Culture Read Post »
EasyJet and Airbus Collaborate on ‘Big Data’ IVHM
We discuss the potential availability and maintenance economic benefits and work Airbus has under way with IBM and Palantir.
EasyJet and Airbus Collaborate on ‘Big Data’ IVHM Read Post »
EC130B4 Loss of Control on Take-Off in Dubai
Investigators point to ‘overaggressive manoeuvre’ on take-off on a positioning flight back to base. Both occupants were seriously injured. The damaged helicopter span 50 times down heliport.
EC130B4 Loss of Control on Take-Off in Dubai Read Post »
Business Aviation Compliance With Pre Take-off Flight Control Checks
Following an NTSB recommendation the NBAA has used FDM/FOQA data to look at how often critical Take Off checks are being missed and its almost 1 time in 5.
Business Aviation Compliance With Pre Take-off Flight Control Checks Read Post »
ANSV Issue AW609 Tilt Rotor Accident Investigation Report
ANSV Issue AW609 Tilt Rotor Accident Investigation Report Investigators say a prototype tilt rotor broke up in flight after a divergent dutch roll developed in a high speed dive. The Italian civil aviation safety investigation authority, the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV), has issued an interim statement of the loss of prototype #2 (AC2) Leonardo AW609 tilt rotor N609AG
ANSV Issue AW609 Tilt Rotor Accident Investigation Report Read Post »
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB)
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its report into the 23 August 2013 accident were CHC Scotia Airbus Helicopters AS332L2 Super Puma G-WNSB impacted the sea on approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. The AAIB report is 266 pages long. This article is
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) Read Post »
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report News from HAI Heli-Expo 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky (1-3 March 2016): Airbus Helicopters H215 Airbus Helicopters had on show the newly designated H215, formerly the AS332C1e (i.e. an enhanced, short fuselage Super Puma) and AS332L1e (the long fuselage version), to be built in Romania and aimed at aerial work, disaster relief and other
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report Read Post »
HEMS S-76C+ Night Approach LOC-I Incident
HEMS S-76C Night Approach Loss of Control – In-flight (LOC-I) Incident A Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Sikorsky S-76C+ C-GHHJ operated by Helijet on behalf of the BC Ambulance Service was on a VFR approach to the coastal Tofino/Long Beach Airport (CYAZ), British Columbia, Canada at 02:39 Local Time on the dark, moonless night of 15 November 2015. It suffered a Loss of Control
HEMS S-76C+ Night Approach LOC-I Incident Read Post »
AAIB Report on Glasgow Police EC135T2+ Clutha Helicopter Accident
AAIB: The helicopter was operated for a “sustained period” with the fuel transfer pumps off despite low fuel warnings being triggered and acknowledged.
AAIB Report on Glasgow Police EC135T2+ Clutha Helicopter Accident Read Post »
Misloading Caused Fatal 2013 DHC-3 Otter Accident
Misloading Caused Fatal 2013 DHC-3 Otter Accident The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation into a fatal accident to Rediske Air de Havilland DHC-3T Otter N93PC in Soldotna, Alaska on 7 July 2013, has determined it was caused by misloading. A passenger iPhone video of the aircraft’s take-off was recovered from the wreckage and analysed. The full report can be
Misloading Caused Fatal 2013 DHC-3 Otter Accident Read Post »