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 »
Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision
Mind the Gap: Hover Taxi Collision (Bell 206L) On 30 July 2022 a Bell 206L was hover taxiing from the fuel bowser to park at Newman Airport, Western Australia when the main rotor stuck a hangar. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) occurrence brief identifies neither aircraft or operator. They explain that: While lining up with marking aids on the taxiway, the pilot
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Suspected Drone Strike on Helicopter
A S300C suffered a suspected drone strike over North Carolina.
Suspected Drone Strike on Helicopter Read Post »
Double Trouble: An Operator Lost Two Helicopters in the Same Lake in 12 Hours
Double Trouble: An Operator Lost Two Helicopters in the Same Lake in 12 Hours On 26 April 2022 two helicopters of Coastal Air Services, both performing Part-137 aerial application operations, crashed into Lake Apopka, near Oakland, Florida, just 12 hours apart. Accident 1: B206B N206BX At 07:16 Bell 206B N206BX, was being flown by a
Double Trouble: An Operator Lost Two Helicopters in the Same Lake in 12 Hours Read Post »
Fire Extinguisher Cover Fenestron FOD
CCTV caught a HEMS FOD event and some bizarre dance moves.
Fire Extinguisher Cover Fenestron FOD Read Post »
Canadian B212 Crash: A Defective Production Process
Remarkable failures in critical parts control resulted in a fatal in-flight break-up.
Canadian B212 Crash: A Defective Production Process Read Post »
Sheriff Super Puma Brownout Accident: NTSB Report
The crew of LA County Sheriff’s Air Rescue 5 encountered a brownout landing to pick up a road accident victim.
Sheriff Super Puma Brownout Accident: NTSB Report Read Post »
Garbage Pilot Becomes Electric Hooker
A change in route gave this HESLO pilot a surprise.
Garbage Pilot Becomes Electric Hooker Read Post »
R66 Loss of Control Investigation Hampered by Lack of Cockpit Video
A severe left roll excursion after the onset of pitch and roll oscillations, which were not arrested by the pilot for undetermined reasons resulted in an in-flight break-up.
R66 Loss of Control Investigation Hampered by Lack of Cockpit Video Read Post »
Fenestron Failure EC130B4 Hawaii
After the onset of vibration, an air tour pilot attempted a precautionary landing but yaw control was lost.
Fenestron Failure EC130B4 Hawaii Read Post »
Second Time Unlucky: Fatal Greek Wirestrike High-Wire Illusion
A lack of a site survey or a site recce meant a pilot didn’t realise he had passed under a powerline on approach. On departure the cables were noticed just before impact but due to a ‘high-wire illusion’ the pilot reduced the climb and flew into them.
Second Time Unlucky: Fatal Greek Wirestrike High-Wire Illusion Read Post »
Heliski Flat Light Flight into Terrain
This helicopter descended below the intended flight path on approach to a glacier.
Heliski Flat Light Flight into Terrain Read Post »
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Engine Failure Results in Baltic Crash
Investigators focus on the engine in an S-100 UAS loss over the Baltic.
Schiebel Camcopter S-100 Engine Failure Results in Baltic Crash Read Post »
B212 LOC-I: Windshear Encounter in the Lee of Mountain Ridge
The first loss of control caused the TRDS to be severed by a MR blade strike. Only when slowing for an emergency landing did the crew discover they had lost TR drive.
B212 LOC-I: Windshear Encounter in the Lee of Mountain Ridge Read Post »
Distracted Dynamic Rollover
An R22 dynamic rollover highlights the risk of being distracted by another task and relying only collective friction while rotors running.
Distracted Dynamic Rollover Read Post »
R44 Ditched After Loss of TGB & TR: Improper Maintenance
An R44 pilot pulled off a successful ditching after a maintenance error resulted in the tail rotor assembly departing the helicopter in flight.
R44 Ditched After Loss of TGB & TR: Improper Maintenance Read Post »
Fatal EC130B4 Water Impact in the Tennessee River after “Entry to VRS” Say NTSB
A “steep approach” with “little-to-no airspeed” to a riverside landing site lead to VRS and a water impact. One passenger was unable to escape from the sinking helicopter.
Fatal EC130B4 Water Impact in the Tennessee River after “Entry to VRS” Say NTSB Read Post »
NYPD B429 Accident at Manhattan Heliport “Overapplication of Flight Controls”
A NYPD Bell 429 was damaged while landing in Manhattan.
NYPD B429 Accident at Manhattan Heliport “Overapplication of Flight Controls” Read Post »
Limitations of See and Avoid: Four Die in HEMS Helicopter / PA-28 Mid Air Collision
Four people died in a mid air collision while two aircraft were making training flights. Investigators dispute the effectiveness of see and avoid.
Limitations of See and Avoid: Four Die in HEMS Helicopter / PA-28 Mid Air Collision Read Post »
Inadvertent PTT Pedal Input Causes Tail Rotor Tailboom Contact
A flight nurse reaching for the floor mounted PTT switch resulted in a yaw that exceeded certification requirements. The damage was missed until the next day.
Inadvertent PTT Pedal Input Causes Tail Rotor Tailboom Contact Read Post »
North Sea Helicopter Struck Sea After LOC-I on Approach During Night Shuttling
When a pilot became disorientated during a night approach, an S-76A gets into a dangerously low energy state and strikes the sea. Despite two crew, the helicopter was “operated in a manner very little different from a single pilot operation”.
North Sea Helicopter Struck Sea After LOC-I on Approach During Night Shuttling Read Post »
AW169 Birdstrike with a Turkey Vulture
US Air Ambulance AW169 survives birdstrike encounter with Texan Turkey Vulture.
AW169 Birdstrike with a Turkey Vulture Read Post »
Compressive Creep and the Loss of a UH-1H’s Tail Rotor
An error painting a component, a failure to include a torque check in the maintenance manual and no intervention after an abnormal oil sample all feature in a shocking accident caught on video.
Compressive Creep and the Loss of a UH-1H’s Tail Rotor Read Post »