Fish Spotting Helicopter Strikes ‘Glassy’ Sea
A fatal water impact is caught by a tuna boat’s CCTV.
Fish Spotting Helicopter Strikes ‘Glassy’ Sea Read Post »
Turbine Dromader M18A Downed by Fuel Contamination: Shell Detector Capsules Misused
A rain storm and incorrect use of water detection capsules when refuelling from drum stock resulted in a power loss and forced landing that destroyed an agricultural spray aircraft.
Turbine Dromader M18A Downed by Fuel Contamination: Shell Detector Capsules Misused Read Post »
Misted Masks: AAIB A319 Report Reveals Oxygen Mask Lessons
TREs reported some crews unfamiliar with the oxygen switch options. An EMERGENCY function clears fogging. Also the anti-fog coating can be damaged by cleaning fluids.
Misted Masks: AAIB A319 Report Reveals Oxygen Mask Lessons Read Post »
Survival Flight Fatal Accident: Air Ambulance Operator’s Poor Safety Culture
A poor safety culture normalised rushed departure with inadequate preparation to do an air ambulance flight two other operators had turned down. The helicopter encountered snow and struck the ground during an Inadvertent IMC escape manoeuvre. Poor FAA oversight was contributory say NTSB.
Survival Flight Fatal Accident: Air Ambulance Operator’s Poor Safety Culture Read Post »
Culture and CFIT in Côte d’Ivoire
French investigators point to wider cultural issues in an overseas military accident.
Culture and CFIT in Côte d’Ivoire Read Post »
Ungreased Japanese AS332L Tail Rotor Fatally Failed
We translate the accident report (issued 23 April 2020) on a 2017 AS332L accident from Japanese. After a series of maintenance errors a deteriorating tail rotor blade flapping hinge finally failed in flight.
Ungreased Japanese AS332L Tail Rotor Fatally Failed Read Post »
CFM56 HPC Titanium Fire Due to VSV Maintenance Assembly Error
We look at a change in maintenance practices after this incident and prompt safety collaboration to inform fellow MROs.
CFM56 HPC Titanium Fire Due to VSV Maintenance Assembly Error Read Post »
Sécurité Civile EC145 SAR Wirestrike
BEA-E examine the lessons from a wire strike, spectacularly captured on video, while rescuing a jet-skier close to shore that severed the hoist cable causing two people to fall into the sea.
Sécurité Civile EC145 SAR Wirestrike Read Post »
Fatal R44 Loss of Control Accident: “Overweight and Out of Balance” Say NTSB
A flight with friends for lunch turned deadly when mass and balance calculations were skipped claims NTSB. The survivor said: “Everything was white for a split second…I remember the intense pain, the taste of blood, the broken glass and crumpled metal around me…”.
Fatal R44 Loss of Control Accident: “Overweight and Out of Balance” Say NTSB Read Post »
Poor Painting Prevents Proper Performance: Shorts Sherpa NLG Collapse
Despite a Service Information Letter that highlighted the MM instructions, the NLG downlock actuator piston of this smokejumper aircraft was painted. The NLG collapsed on the next landing.
Poor Painting Prevents Proper Performance: Shorts Sherpa NLG Collapse Read Post »
SAR Helicopter Loss of Control at Night: ATSB Report
Night SAR single pilot. While descending it entered a degraded visual environment and an inappropriate automation was made. ROD peaked at 1,952 ft/min. Aircraft pulled up at just 31 ft AGL. It was also flown on one more flight after the 159.5% over-torque.
SAR Helicopter Loss of Control at Night: ATSB Report Read Post »
Inadequately Secured Pallets Penetrate the Rear Pressure Bulkhead of a Cargo B737
The lack of the required competent loading expertise on site and dispatch’s late, and not fully considered, request to change the loading plan resulted in significant damage to this B737 in Hawaii.
Inadequately Secured Pallets Penetrate the Rear Pressure Bulkhead of a Cargo B737 Read Post »
Bear Paws Claw Reindeer Herding Bell 206
A reminder for care when operating helicopters from soft ground.
Bear Paws Claw Reindeer Herding Bell 206 Read Post »
NTSB Confirms United Airlines Maintenance Error After 12 Years
The 3rd United A320 tachometer cross-connection maintenance error to emerge in just 5 months.
NTSB Confirms United Airlines Maintenance Error After 12 Years Read Post »
HEMS AW109S Collided With Radio Mast During Night Flight
The helicopter crashed after clipping a radio mast on a ridge line just 5 minutes into a positioning flight back from an inter-hospital transfer at night.
HEMS AW109S Collided With Radio Mast During Night Flight Read Post »
S2000 Runway Excursion at the Start of the Take Off Roll
A lapse activating the nose wheel steering, influenced by flying two different types.
S2000 Runway Excursion at the Start of the Take Off Roll Read Post »
Fatal MD600 Collision With Powerline During Construction
The pilot was seriously injured and two linesmen were fatally injured when this helicopter stuck a powerline during its construction.
Fatal MD600 Collision With Powerline During Construction Read Post »
USAF T-6A Texan II Lost in Inverted Stall
Fixation and a failure to initiate a memory drill, coupled with unintended entry into IMC and spatial disorientation feature in this military training accident.
USAF T-6A Texan II Lost in Inverted Stall Read Post »
S-61N Damaged During Take Off When Swashplate Seized Due to Corrosion
An omission in the Maintenance Programme, perceived time pressures to complete the flight due to limited battery power, an insufficient controls check and corrosion during shipping from the Falklands resulted in a dramatic dockside drama.
S-61N Damaged During Take Off When Swashplate Seized Due to Corrosion Read Post »
Emirates B777 Runway Impact During Attempted Go-Around, 3 August 2016, Dubai: Accident Report
The final report into a dramatic accident in Dubai featured automation and emergency response aspects.
Be Careful If You Step Outside!: Unoccupied Rotors Running AS350 Takes Off
Leaving a rotors running helicopter unoccupied, relying on collective friction and a steady wind, might just be a bigger risk than the flight itself…
Be Careful If You Step Outside!: Unoccupied Rotors Running AS350 Takes Off Read Post »
Norwegian HEMS Landing Wirestrike
Only when looking beyond the completely obvious cause and effect can you see that the accident is more complicated. Obstacle mapping and procedures for approaching ad hoc sites of note.
Norwegian HEMS Landing Wirestrike Read Post »
A109E Window Loss Highlights Maintenance Lessons
The maintenance organisation now treats window replacement as a Critical Maintenance Task and has improved its planning process to ensure better supervision. It also shows its important start have prompt, independent investigations.
A109E Window Loss Highlights Maintenance Lessons Read Post »
EC130B4 Destroyed After Ice Ingestion – Engine Intake Left Uncovered
Within a year a US HEMS operator repeats a Canadian police accident.
EC130B4 Destroyed After Ice Ingestion – Engine Intake Left Uncovered Read Post »
BK117B2 Air Ambulance Flameout: Fuel Transfer Pumps OFF, Caution Lights Invisible in NVG Modified Cockpit
Dimming the NVG compatible cockpit lighting for a flight at dusk meant the fuel transfer pump caution lights were invisible. The failure to turn these pumps on was only evident after flameout. We wrote of this problem 14 months earlier after a NZ HEMS accident.