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 »
HESLO R44 Snagged by its Own Longline
An inappropriate hook snags on a railing during solo R44 HESLO at an oil & gas site in Canada.
HESLO R44 Snagged by its Own Longline 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 »
Fatal Fall after HESLO Helicopter Hooks Worker
This fatal Canadian mining accident is a reminder there is risk of entanglement during any HESLO underslung load task.
Fatal Fall after HESLO Helicopter Hooks Worker Read Post »
HEMS H145 Bird Strike
Even though the bird entered at floor level, the HEMS pilot’s helmet was still splattered with debris.
HEMS H145 Bird Strike Read Post »
Night Offshore Helicopter Approach Water Impact
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 »
Night Offshore Take-Off Loss of Control Incident Norway
A 40s loss of control occurred during the transition from visual to instrument flight during a disorientating night offshore TO without an external horizon.
Night Offshore Take-Off Loss of Control Incident Norway Read Post »
Air Ambulance Night Wirestrike at Poorly Chosen Landing Site
A Fire Dept set up a landing site at night under the edge of powerlines. The HEMS pilot looked for the wires using NVGs but could only see the towers.
Air Ambulance Night Wirestrike at Poorly Chosen Landing Site Read Post »
HEMS Air Ambulance Landing Site Slide
After landing in a confined space this HEMS helicopter started to slide backwards on an icy slope. We look at landing site recces.
HEMS Air Ambulance Landing Site Slide Read Post »
Air Ambulance EC135 Loss of Control & Main Rotor / Engine Overspeeds
An inflight upset, consistent with a SAS/AP CUT, resulted in a rotor overspeed, and reduction of power from both engines
Air Ambulance EC135 Loss of Control & Main Rotor / Engine Overspeeds Read Post »
Police Helicopter Unanticipated Yaw & Fatal Water Impact
LOC-I. TFO died after being trapped after a water impact. NTSB Probable Cause: The helicopter’s encounter with unanticipated right yaw during a low-altitude, low-airspeed, tight-radius orbit.
Police Helicopter Unanticipated Yaw & Fatal Water Impact Read Post »
Multi-Tasking Managers & Deficient Operational Control: Low Viz AS350B3 Take-Off Accident
Two people died after a loss of visual references shortly after take-off in the transition from vertical to horizontal flight. NSIA point to organisational and systemic factors.
Fire-fighting Bell 204B Underwater Escape
A pilot credits HUET for his escape from a submerged fire-fighting helicopter.
Fire-fighting Bell 204B Underwater Escape 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 »
Helicopter Water Impact Accident: Safety of Airborne Geophysical Survey Operations
An aerial survey accident highlights problems implementing flight following technology, the dangerous use of marine lifejackets and the value of considering competence.
Helicopter Water Impact Accident: Safety of Airborne Geophysical Survey Operations Read Post »
Investigation into B212 Accident off UAE 7 September 2023
We look at the accident investigation into a night offshore B212 accident.
Investigation into B212 Accident off UAE 7 September 2023 Read Post »
Maintenance Distraction in Bell 407 Accident
After this accident the operator introduced an RII / Independent Inspection program.
Maintenance Distraction in Bell 407 Accident Read Post »
Lighthouse HESLO Accident
A dramatic loss of control after a load snags doing HESLO from a lighthouse.
Lighthouse HESLO Accident Read Post »
Engine Maintenance Introduced FOD that Caused an EC120 Power Loss
FOD, likely introduced during fuel system maintenance, caused a power loss and necessitated a backyard forced landing.
Engine Maintenance Introduced FOD that Caused an EC120 Power Loss Read Post »
A Concrete Case of Commercial Pressure: Fatal Swiss HESLO Accident
Helicopter external sling load ops continued as weather deteriorated with fatal consequences.
A Concrete Case of Commercial Pressure: Fatal Swiss HESLO Accident Read Post »
Missing Cotter Pin Causes Fatal S-61N Accident
A missing flying control cotter pin was identified by the NTSB investigation into a fatal S-61N accident in Hawaii. Interview evidence raises SMS effectiveness concerns.
Missing Cotter Pin Causes Fatal S-61N Accident Read Post »
B407 Damaged During Autorotation Training
On 23 May 2023 PHI Bell 407 N451PH was damaged during new hire autorotation training at Abbeville, Louisiana. NTSB discuss ‘main rotor blowback’.
B407 Damaged During Autorotation Training Read Post »
SAR AW139 LOC-I During Positioning Flight
After encountering turbulence a Loss of Control occurred when Force Trim Release (FTR) was activated.
SAR AW139 LOC-I During Positioning Flight Read Post »
BK117 Offshore Medevac CFIT & Survivability Issues
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 »
EC135 Air Ambulance CFIT when Pilot Distracted Correcting Tech Log Errors
The single pilot was head down as the sun set correcting tech log entries. The helicopter struck trees on a mountain top then force landed in woodland.
EC135 Air Ambulance CFIT when Pilot Distracted Correcting Tech Log Errors Read Post »