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 »
HH-60L Hoist Cable Damage Highlights Need for Cable Guards
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 »
Swinging Snorkel Sikorsky Smash: Structural Stress Slip-up
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 »
Poor Contracting Practices and a Canadian Helicopter HESLO Accident
An underslung load strikes a tail boom and when jettisoned damages a tail rotor. But this case study really highlights how poor contracting practices drive up risk and how to avoid that.
Poor Contracting Practices and a Canadian Helicopter HESLO Accident Read Post »
Twisted Firestarters
Two Australian occurrences were helicopters have triggered bushfires.
Twisted Firestarters Read Post »
Managing Interruptions: HEMS Call-Out During Engine Rinse
Interrupted during an engine rinse by an emergency call-out a panel was not properly closed and was lost in flight.
Managing Interruptions: HEMS Call-Out During Engine Rinse Read Post »
HESLO AS350 Fatal Accident Positioning with an Unloaded Long Line
The longline wrapped around the tail rotor during a 3 minute flight to refuel.
HESLO AS350 Fatal Accident Positioning with an Unloaded Long Line Read Post »
Customs Training Loss of Control While Climbing Away from a Quick Stop
Cockpit confusion: Curious case of a pilot deemed not to be qualified only after this accident.
Customs Training Loss of Control While Climbing Away from a Quick Stop Read Post »
Dusk Duck: Birdstrike During Air Ambulance Flight
Bird strike in cruise at 1,500 ft AGL at dusk.
Dusk Duck: Birdstrike During Air Ambulance Flight Read Post »
Urgent Exit Required: A Helideck Incident
An offshore helicopter almost hit a vessel’s superstructure during an immediate departure when on the verge of a dynamic rollover. We look at the value of HMS repeater lights.
Urgent Exit Required: A Helideck Incident Read Post »
CHC S-92A Offshore Landing Obstacle Strike: CENIPA Report
A desire for a PICUS to perform a landing to gain experience resulted in a sub-optimal approach direction being selected.
CHC S-92A Offshore Landing Obstacle Strike: CENIPA Report Read Post »
After Landing this HEMS Helicopter Suddenly Started to Slide Towards it’s Hangar…
We look at why a HEMS helicopter suddenly started to move while on an elevated hospital helipad…
After Landing this HEMS Helicopter Suddenly Started to Slide Towards it’s Hangar… Read Post »
Fatal GOM B407 Offshore Take Off Accident: Safety, Helideck & SAR / Emergency Response Questions
The NTSB Preliminary Report is issued on what was the second RLC accident in 2 weeks.
Blinded by Light, Spanish Customs AS365 Crashed During Night-time Hot Pursuit
A helicopter contracted by Spanish customs hit the sea at night when descending to intercept smugglers. The sensor operator in the cabin died.
Blinded by Light, Spanish Customs AS365 Crashed During Night-time Hot Pursuit Read Post »
HESLO EC135 LOC-I & Water Impact: Hook Confusion after Personnel Change
An accident while delivering underslung cargo to a ship provides lessons on rigging loads and organising ground parties.
HESLO EC135 LOC-I & Water Impact: Hook Confusion after Personnel Change Read Post »
Night Mountain Rescue Hoist Training Fatal CFIT
Just days after being granted a SPA.HHO approval a CFIT occurred at night on the operator’s 6th training flight. A reminder that for a Management of Change, your SMS needs to actively manage risk.
Night Mountain Rescue Hoist Training Fatal CFIT Read Post »
S-61N Accident in Afghanistan: Investigators Focus on Auxiliary Servocylinder
An S-61N contracted by the DoD crashed after a loss of control due to a fatigue failure of a flying control system component.
S-61N Accident in Afghanistan: Investigators Focus on Auxiliary Servocylinder Read Post »
Automation Issues During Night SAR Training – Near CFIT
During a descent during night training crew workload was high, an inappropriate AFCS mode was inadvertently selected and the aircraft pulled up at less than 22ft after a call from the winch operator.
Automation Issues During Night SAR Training – Near CFIT Read Post »
Main Rotor Blade Certification Anomaly in Fatal Canadian Accident
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 »
Guarding Against a Hoist Cable Cut
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 »
Whiteout During Avalanche Explosive Placement
An avalanche control flight was caught in a whiteout and struck the ground just below an explosive charge they had just dropped to trigger an avalanche…
Whiteout During Avalanche Explosive Placement Read Post »
Impatience Comes Before a Fatal Fall During HESLO
A refueller, who was a former HESLO loadmaster, becomes impatient with progress, steps in and is lifted to his death.
Impatience Comes Before a Fatal Fall During HESLO Read Post »