A Lethal Cocktail: Low Time, Hypoxia, Amphetamine and IMC
A young couple died in an R44 accident in Utah during an ill-advised private flight.
A Lethal Cocktail: Low Time, Hypoxia, Amphetamine and IMC Read Post »
South Korean Fire-Fighting Helicopter Tail Rotor Strike on Fuel Bowser
A fire-fighting helicopter drifts backwards into a fuel bowser.
South Korean Fire-Fighting Helicopter Tail Rotor Strike on Fuel Bowser Read Post »
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes
After an emergency landing investigators found that an S-76D engine duct was partially detached. We also look at a more dramatic A109A accident that involved a different exhaust duct failure mode.
Emergency S-76D Landing Due to Fumes Read Post »
Gazelle Caught Out Jumping a Fence
The layout of the movement area of the aerodrome led helicopter pilots to ‘jumping over the fence’ from landside hangars. As this helicopter transitioned an engine surge led to it crashing into the perimeter fence.
Gazelle Caught Out Jumping a Fence Read Post »
French Cougar Crashed After Entering VRS When Coming into Hover
After a series of hoisting exercises the crew were doing a final exercise to simulate an rare electrical emergency. Unbeknown to them they had a tailwind as they came into the hover.
French Cougar Crashed After Entering VRS When Coming into Hover Read Post »
Fuel Starvation During Powerline HESLO
A change in task and a common misinterpretation leads to operation below established fuel minima. A norm of leaving a HEC belly-band in place on non-HEC tasks complicated sling release, and the line went taut before the autorotation was complete.
Fuel Starvation During Powerline HESLO Read Post »
A HEMS Helicopter Had a Lucky Escape During a NVIS Approach to its Home Base
While flying a shallow approach using NVIS a HEMS helicopter entered low-lying fog. After being startled and blinded by the NVGs, the pilot initiated a go-around but the helicopter briefly contacted the ground.
A HEMS Helicopter Had a Lucky Escape During a NVIS Approach to its Home Base Read Post »
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD
An AD overrun, an omission of a pre-flight free play check for 18 years and a lack of autorotation practice all feature in this accident.
Schweizer 269C Destroyed after Missed AD Read Post »
Dynamic Rollover During HESLO at Gusty Mountain Site
A 1.1 t load was moved to pylon 151, just the wrong pylon 151. A gust caught the helicopter at the worst moment, just as the longline became taut.
Dynamic Rollover During HESLO at Gusty Mountain Site Read Post »
Ditching after Blade Strike During HESLO from a Ship
Reflective observations from a pilot after an accident while conducting external load operations from a research vessel off the coast of Alaska.
Ditching after Blade Strike During HESLO from a Ship 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 »
Training Weaknesses Feature in Fatal MD600N Accident
Limited availability of data discouraged practical training in a specific emergency procedure, say TAIC.
Training Weaknesses Feature in Fatal MD600N Accident Read Post »
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure (First European Aviation Hughes 369D SE-JVJ) On 1 August 2019 Swedish registered Hughes (now MD Helicopters) 369D, SE-JVJ, operated by Polish company First European Aviation, was mapping Norwegian electricity distribution lines for Eidsiva Nett using both laser scanning and aerial photography when it was involved in an
Prompt Emergency Landing Saves Powerline Survey Crew After MGB Pinion Failure Read Post »
Low Recce of HEMS Landing Site Skipped – Rotor Blade Strikes Cable Cutter at Small, Sloped Site
Investigators say the pilot was requested to land closer to the casualty and having skipped a low recce the crew’s attention was on obstacles not the slope and still landed after a Mast Moment warning.
AD after Two Fatal Bell 430 Accidents: Main Rotor – Pitch Link Clevis Fractures Angola and South Africa
AD issued to inspect the B430 main rotor pitch link clevis after the second of two accidents that cost the lives of 11 people.
Sécurité Civile EC145 Mountain Rescue Main Rotor Blade Strike Leads to Tail Strike
Deteriorating weather caused a hurried change of plan to use a technique for which there were no documented procedures.
Sécurité Civile EC145 Mountain Rescue Main Rotor Blade Strike Leads to Tail Strike Read Post »
GOM Helicopter Ops 2000-2019: Single Engine Usage Plummets But Fatal Accident Rate Resistant
GOM Helicopter Ops 2000-2019: Single Engine Usage Plummets But Fatal Accident Rate Resistant The Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC) has been publishing data on the Gulf of Mexico (‘GOM’) offshore helicopter fleet and its safety since 1995. We have previously looked at their 2019 data, dated 28 May 2020 and released in mid-December 2020. What is noticeable over the
Forced Landing after CAMO Underestimated Operation in Dusty Environments
The BEA suggest miscommunication about the operating environment an engine was exposed to resulted in an AD not being applied, missing the chance of early detection of an impending engine failure.
Forced Landing after CAMO Underestimated Operation in Dusty Environments Read Post »
Firefighting CH-54 Flying Control FOD Find
The value of doing a ‘full and free’ flying control check was demonstrated in this incident.
Firefighting CH-54 Flying Control FOD Find Read Post »
EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades
A design deficiency was addressed by a subsequent Airworthiness Directive.
EC130 Door Loss Damaged Main Rotor Blades Read Post »
RCAF Chinook Loss of Control (LOC) Investigation
After touchdown the helicopter lifted into the hover due to a concern over sideways drift but became unstable. The forward rotors contacted the fuselage and the rear landing gear collapsed.
RCAF Chinook Loss of Control (LOC) Investigation Read Post »
Engine Life Limit Exceedance Caused Logging Helicopter Fatal Accident
A fatal descent into trees after an engine failure at low altitude after exceeding engine component life limits. Engine cycles were documented “irregularly”.
Engine Life Limit Exceedance Caused Logging Helicopter Fatal Accident Read Post »
Air Tour Helicopter Force Landing After Improper Installation of Tail Rotor Bearings
An air tour operator’s improper installation of tail rotor bearings resulted in cascading in-flight failures, say NTSB. The tail rotor assembly was “was on the verge of imminent failure” when the helicopter landed.
Air Tour Helicopter Force Landing After Improper Installation of Tail Rotor Bearings Read Post »
HESLO Dynamic Rollover in Alaska
This helicopter was allowed to drift to the right while preparing to lift a load at a remote mining exploration site.
HESLO Dynamic Rollover in Alaska Read Post »
SAR AW101 Roll-Over: Entry Into Service Involved “Persistently Elevated and Confusing Operational Risk”
Accident investigators say a SAR AW101 rolled over “during a period of persistently elevated and confusing operational risk” as the aircraft type was being introduced to military service in Norway.