Helicopters

Rotary Wing / Rotorcraft

UKMFTS Rotary Wing Aircraft Service Provision Contract Awarded

Design & Certification, Helicopters, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Military / Defence

UK Military Flying Training System Rotary Wing Aircraft Service Provision Contract Awarded In the second major UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) contract award this year, Airbus Helicopters has won the contract to provide training helicopters for the RAF, Royal Navy and Army Air Corps until 2033.  Airbus will supply and maintain 29 H135s (to be given the UK military name Juno) and three

UKMFTS Rotary Wing Aircraft Service Provision Contract Awarded Read Post »

Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance: 2016 HeliOffshore Conference Report

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Resilience, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

We report from the second HeliOffshore Conference and AGM on commitment and collaboration to improve offshore helicopter safety.

Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance: 2016 HeliOffshore Conference Report Read Post »

Bell 412 Cross Tube Failure Case Study

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Bell 412 Cross Tube Failure Case Study Earlier this year the German accident investigation agency, the BFU, published their report into Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Bell 412HP that suffered a rear cross tube failure during start up at a hospital in Berlin on 6 September 2010. The helicopter was fitted with ‘high’ skids manufactured by Aeronautical Accessories Inc

Bell 412 Cross Tube Failure Case Study Read Post »

EC225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, News, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management

EC225/H225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design (CHC LN-OJF Fatal Accident 2016) Following the recent tragic accident at Turøy near Bergen, Norway involving CHC Airbus EC225/H225 LN-OJF there is a lot of interest in the Main Rotor (MR) and Main Gear Box (MGB) design of the EC225.  Here we provide some background information on the

EC225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design Read Post »

Night Offshore Windfarm HEMS Winch Training CFIT (BK117C1 D-HDRJ)

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Regulation, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

During night winch training a German HEMS BK117 suffered a fatal CFIT in the Baltic, highlighting readiness, equipment, procedural and training issues.

Night Offshore Windfarm HEMS Winch Training CFIT (BK117C1 D-HDRJ) Read Post »

US Police Helicopter Night CFIT: Is Your Journey Really Necessary?

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

US Police Helicopter Night CFIT: Is Your Journey Really Necessary? On 27 March 2014, at 0147 local time, ex-military Bell OH-58A, N497E, operated by, the Kern County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO) collided with terrain near Tehachapi, California.  The three occupants were uninjured, although the helicopter was substantially damaged. The Accident and Investigation The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

US Police Helicopter Night CFIT: Is Your Journey Really Necessary? Read Post »

Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Offshore, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident (Brim Aviation AW109SP N361CR) During a night Marine Pilot Transfer (MPT) helicopter winching / hoist operation on 21 April 2014, the marine pilot being transferred, was injured. The marine pilot was being transferred from an outgoing ship to a container vessel, inbound to Astoria, Oregon, the 222 m, 27,437 gross ton  MV Northern

Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident Read Post »

AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB)

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, FDM / Data Recorders, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

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

Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016 Step Change in Safety held a webinar on North Sea helicopter safety (covering CA-EBS, emergency egress, FCOMs and airworthiness matters) on 9 March 2016 (following on from a March 2015 event we have previously covered). Introduction Step Change is a tripartite UK offshore health and safety organisation combining companies,

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Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report

Accidents & Incidents, Business Aviation, Design & Certification, FDM / Data Recorders, Helicopters, Military / Defence, Mining / Resource Sector, News, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

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 »

Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching The ditching of Icelandic Coast Guard Aérospatiale SA365N Dauphin TF-SIF in the Atlantic off Reykjavik on 16 July 2007 highlights the importance of avoiding protuberances that can puncture emergency flotation systems, careful configuration management and establishing emergency drills. The Icelandic Transportation Safety Board (ITSB), the RNF, issued their report in

Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching Read Post »

UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Not long after the fatal loss of Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 with 4 fatalities (AAIB Special Bulletin), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an rapid review on offshore helicopter safety. That CAA Review resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of

UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Read Post »

US Helicopter Accident Rate Analysis

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Safety Management

US Helicopter Accident Rate Analysis Aerossurance recently looked at US Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) accident data for the last 10 years and has also examined accident rates in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) oil and gas operations.  We thought we would also look at published accident rates for all US helicopters and demonstrate the effects of choosing different start

US Helicopter Accident Rate Analysis Read Post »

First Eleven: Guidance for Designers on Maintenance Human Performance

Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management

First Eleven: RAeS Guidance for Design Organisations on Maintenance Human Performance The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) Human Factors Group: Engineering (HFG:E) has published a short guidance document on 11 steps an aviation Design Organisation (DO) can take to “deliver safer, more effective and reliable aircraft through improved design for maintenance”. The RAeS say: Aircraft safety

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Troublesome Tiedowns

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

Troublesome Tiedowns The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently reported on two cases in October 2015 were helicopters offshore suffered accidents after the tie-downs were not fully removed: Fish Spotting Helicopter, Pacific Ocean (B206, N1060C) On 21 October 2015 Bell 206B N1060C was being prepared for take-off from the 74m Fishing Vessel Majestic Sun off Christmas Island,

Troublesome Tiedowns Read Post »

US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015 The safety of US Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operations has been a topic we have discussed previously.  With HeliExpo approaching, when 10 years of the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) will be marked and with US NTSB Board Member Robert Sumwalt just publishing a HEMS article in Professional Pilot,

US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015 Read Post »

Ignoring Corrosive Environment Brings Down B206 Helicopter

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Regulation, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Ignoring Corrosive Environment Brings Down B206 Helicopter An operator that ignored the Rolls-Royce M250-C20 Series Engine Operation and Maintenance Manual classification of their entire island operating location as a “severe corrosion operating environment” and failed to do the associated maintenance requirements suffered the loss of the their Bell 206B3. Emerald Pacific Airlines B206B3 B-31019 was hovering at

Ignoring Corrosive Environment Brings Down B206 Helicopter Read Post »

Leonardo Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability

Design & Certification, Helicopters, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management

Finmeccanica Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability Finmeccanica Helicopters (the recently rebranded AgustaWestland (UPDATE: and now Leonardo) is working to enhance the durability of helicopter Main Gear Boxes (MGBs) after a loss of lubrication. The company’s Marco Tamborini presented their approach at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 9th Rotorcraft Symposium held in Cologne in December

Leonardo Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability Read Post »

HEMS S-76C+ Night Approach LOC-I Incident

Accidents & Incidents, FDM / Data Recorders, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

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 »

CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Safety Management, Survivability / Ditching

CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB impacted the sea 1.5 nm west of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 (see the last AAIB Special Bulletin) with the loss of 4 lives. https://youtu.be/C_3xlunGUk0 Within weeks the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ordered a hurried safety review. This resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of offshore public transport

CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique Read Post »

HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, HUMS / VHM / UMS / IVHM, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management

HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has published a Service Difficulty Report (SDR), dated 1 November 2015, that highlights a Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) Vibration Health Monitoring (VHM) success. During investigation of a HUMS vibration alert, the main rotor head of an Airbus Helicopters EC225/H225 offshore helicopter was examined and wear was identified beyond the limits

HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success Read Post »

Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference

Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Regulation, Resilience, Safety Management

Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) was founded on 12 January 1866, so is today celebrating its 150th anniversary (or sesquicentennial). To mark this significant milestone Aerossurance is pleased to be sponsoring the Society’s 2016 Rotorcraft Conference. This conference, to be held 6-7 July 2016 at the

Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference Read Post »

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