Lighthouse HESLO Accident
A dramatic loss of control after a load snags doing HESLO from a lighthouse.
Lighthouse 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Review of “The impact of human factors on pilots’ safety behavior in offshore aviation – Brazil”
Research indicates intense commercial pressures, intolerable stress and fatigue, ‘schizophrenic’ simulator sessions and weaponizing of FDM, SMS and ‘fair culture boards’ in a “big brother reality show.” We review a recent paper published in Safety Science.
HeliOffshore 2022 Conference Review
We discuss the key points from this year’s HeliOffshore conference in Portugal. HeliOffshore is the global collaborative safety association for the offshore helicopter industry.
HeliOffshore 2022 Conference Review Read Post »
Helideck Heave Ho!
After a 7.5+ year wait Brazilian investigators identify that inaccurate helideck heave data was passed to this helicopter crew. But this occurrence also serves to highlight glacial progress globally adopting best practice.
Helideck Heave Ho! Read Post »
Offshore Night Near Miss: Marine Pilot Transfer Unintended Descent
During high workload night single pilot helicopter hoist flight an error in automation selection was not detected until a passenger warned the aircraft had descended to just 59 ft.
Offshore Night Near Miss: Marine Pilot Transfer Unintended Descent Read Post »
TCM’s Fall from SAR AW139 Doorway While Commencing Night Hoist Training
A TCM Rescuer fell from 50 ft into the sea when commencing a night hoist currency training when there was a failure to connect the hoist hook to their harness. We look at the safety investigation recommendations.
TCM’s Fall from SAR AW139 Doorway While Commencing Night Hoist Training 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 »
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.
Loss of Bell 412 off Brazil Remains Unexplained
While officially no cause was determined, the contributory factors identified and safety recommendations imply the investigators suspect a fast approach and a sudden pitch up to reduce speed as the helideck came into view in reduced visibility. Disappointingly, after one failed attempt, neither the wreckage nor recorders were recovered.
Loss of Bell 412 off Brazil Remains Unexplained 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
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia
During the second go-around the crew started an impromptu visual approach when the ExxonMobil installation suddenly came into view. A high ROD at low airspeed developed in low-visibility. The helicopter avoided the sea by just 13 ft. A second loss of control occurred during the ascent.
Loss of Control, Twice, by Offshore Helicopter off Nova Scotia Read Post »
AS350B3 Ditching Japan
An accident that highlights the benefit of practical emergency drills and careful consideration of survivability issues.
AS350B3 Ditching Japan Read Post »
BK117 Impacts Sea, Scud Running off PNG
Pressing on in bad weather this helicopter descended during an over sea transit to stay in VMC but ultimately impacted the water as visibility deteriorated further.
BK117 Impacts Sea, Scud Running off PNG Read Post »
Inspection UAS Collides with PNG LNG Export Jetty
A quadcopter collided with the jetty it was inspecting as the remote pilot tried to maintain visual contact from inside the wheelhouse of a pilot vessel 100 m away.
Inspection UAS Collides with PNG LNG Export Jetty Read Post »