Oil Spill Response Boeing 727s
Both OSRL 727s, operated by 2Excel, were in action for an exercise off the Isle of Wight today.
Oil Spill Response Boeing 727s Read Post »
Helideck Safety Alerts: Refuelling Hoses and Obstructions
Safety alerts released by the Helideck Certification Agency and US Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement on fuel hoses and obstructions.
Helideck Safety Alerts: Refuelling Hoses and Obstructions Read Post »
First AW169 for Offshore Wind Turbine Support
The first 4.6t Leonardo AW169 for windfarm HHO support has been delivered to Heli Service International to support the Siemens Gemini wind energy project.
First AW169 for Offshore Wind Turbine Support Read Post »
HeliOffshore HUMS Best Practice Guide Wins Safety Award
Against stiff competition the HeliOffshore team who produced HUMS Best Practice Guide have won the Award for Sharing and Learning at the Offshore Safety Awards 2016.
HeliOffshore HUMS Best Practice Guide Wins Safety Award Read Post »
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2015 Update
We look at HSAC data on GOM ops in 2015. A decline in helicopter usage is evident. 3 accidents but none fatal (only 3rd fatality-free year in 32).
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2015 Update Read Post »
Dutch Safety Board Investigation: “Medical Assistance on the North Sea”
Dutch Safety Board Investigation: “Medical Assistance on the North Sea” The Dutch Safety Board (DSB) has issued their investigation following the death of a sports diver in the North Sea on 11 July 2015. The Incident Two sports divers were diving on a wreck 18km offshore. One fell ill and was recovered from the water unconscious.
Dutch Safety Board Investigation: “Medical Assistance on the North Sea” Read Post »
Errant Notebook Sends Diving Ship Off-Station – HF in Design
Errant Notebook Sends Diving Ship Off-Station – HF in Design The Australian National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) has recently published a safety alert on a serious incident to a Dynamic Position (DP) vessel that made an uncommanded movement during a diving operation that highlighted a significant design vulnerability. The Incident The vessel
Errant Notebook Sends Diving Ship Off-Station – HF in Design Read Post »
CHC EC225 LN-OJF Norway Accident Investigation Timeline
We examine the investigation into the loss of CHC EC225 in Norway on 29 April 2016.
CHC EC225 LN-OJF Norway Accident Investigation Timeline Read Post »
NTSB Report on C208B Caravan Ditching, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013
NTSB Report on C208B Caravan Ditching, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013 The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report on confusion over the applicable engine Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) and ditching procedures in a fatal 2013 accident in Hawaii. Cessna 208B Caravan N687MA, operated by Makani Kai Air, ditched off off Hawaii on 11 December 2013,
NTSB Report on C208B Caravan Ditching, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013 Read Post »
Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance: 2016 HeliOffshore Conference Report
We report from the second HeliOffshore Conference and AGM on commitment and collaboration to improve offshore helicopter safety.
Offshore Helicopter Safety Performance: 2016 HeliOffshore Conference Report Read Post »
EC225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design
EC225/H225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design (CHC LN-OJF Fatal Accident 2016) Following the recent tragic accident at Turøy near Bergen, Norway involving CHC Airbus EC225/H225 LN-OJF there is a lot of interest in the Main Rotor (MR) and Main Gear Box (MGB) design of the EC225. Here we provide some background information on the
EC225 Main Rotor Head and Main Gear Box Design Read Post »
Night Offshore Windfarm HEMS Winch Training CFIT (BK117C1 D-HDRJ)
During night winch training a German HEMS BK117 suffered a fatal CFIT in the Baltic, highlighting readiness, equipment, procedural and training issues.
Night Offshore Windfarm HEMS Winch Training CFIT (BK117C1 D-HDRJ) Read Post »
Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident
Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident (Brim Aviation AW109SP N361CR) During a night Marine Pilot Transfer (MPT) helicopter winching / hoist operation on 21 April 2014, the marine pilot being transferred, was injured. The marine pilot was being transferred from an outgoing ship to a container vessel, inbound to Astoria, Oregon, the 222 m, 27,437 gross ton MV Northern
Marine Pilot Transfer Winching Accident Read Post »
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB)
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its report into the 23 August 2013 accident were CHC Scotia Airbus Helicopters AS332L2 Super Puma G-WNSB impacted the sea on approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. The AAIB report is 266 pages long. This article is
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) Read Post »
2009 Newfoundland S-92A C-GZCH Accident: A Failure of Design and Certification
On 12 Mar 2009 17 people lost their lives in a preventable accident when the failure of an oil filter stud highlighted a known fatal flaw in the type’s design.
2009 Newfoundland S-92A C-GZCH Accident: A Failure of Design and Certification Read Post »
Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016
Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016 Step Change in Safety held a webinar on North Sea helicopter safety (covering CA-EBS, emergency egress, FCOMs and airworthiness matters) on 9 March 2016 (following on from a March 2015 event we have previously covered). Introduction Step Change is a tripartite UK offshore health and safety organisation combining companies,
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Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report News from HAI Heli-Expo 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky (1-3 March 2016): Airbus Helicopters H215 Airbus Helicopters had on show the newly designated H215, formerly the AS332C1e (i.e. an enhanced, short fuselage Super Puma) and AS332L1e (the long fuselage version), to be built in Romania and aimed at aerial work, disaster relief and other
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report Read Post »
Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching
Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching The ditching of Icelandic Coast Guard Aérospatiale SA365N Dauphin TF-SIF in the Atlantic off Reykjavik on 16 July 2007 highlights the importance of avoiding protuberances that can puncture emergency flotation systems, careful configuration management and establishing emergency drills. The Icelandic Transportation Safety Board (ITSB), the RNF, issued their report in
Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching Read Post »
UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On
UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Not long after the fatal loss of Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 with 4 fatalities (AAIB Special Bulletin), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an rapid review on offshore helicopter safety. That CAA Review resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of
UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Read Post »
Troublesome Tiedowns
Troublesome Tiedowns The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recently reported on two cases in October 2015 were helicopters offshore suffered accidents after the tie-downs were not fully removed: Fish Spotting Helicopter, Pacific Ocean (B206, N1060C) On 21 October 2015 Bell 206B N1060C was being prepared for take-off from the 74m Fishing Vessel Majestic Sun off Christmas Island,
Troublesome Tiedowns Read Post »
Leonardo Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability
Finmeccanica Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability Finmeccanica Helicopters (the recently rebranded AgustaWestland (UPDATE: and now Leonardo) is working to enhance the durability of helicopter Main Gear Boxes (MGBs) after a loss of lubrication. The company’s Marco Tamborini presented their approach at the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 9th Rotorcraft Symposium held in Cologne in December
Leonardo Strives For Greater Gearbox Loss of Lube Capability Read Post »
CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique
CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB impacted the sea 1.5 nm west of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 (see the last AAIB Special Bulletin) with the loss of 4 lives. https://youtu.be/C_3xlunGUk0 Within weeks the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) ordered a hurried safety review. This resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of offshore public transport
CAP1145 Helicopter Water Impact Survivability Statistics – A Critique Read Post »
HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success
HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has published a Service Difficulty Report (SDR), dated 1 November 2015, that highlights a Health & Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) Vibration Health Monitoring (VHM) success. During investigation of a HUMS vibration alert, the main rotor head of an Airbus Helicopters EC225/H225 offshore helicopter was examined and wear was identified beyond the limits
HUMS Vibration Health Monitoring Success Read Post »
Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference
Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference The Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS) was founded on 12 January 1866, so is today celebrating its 150th anniversary (or sesquicentennial). To mark this significant milestone Aerossurance is pleased to be sponsoring the Society’s 2016 Rotorcraft Conference. This conference, to be held 6-7 July 2016 at the
Aerossurance Marks RAeS 150th Anniversary by Sponsoring Rotorcraft Automation Conference Read Post »
Helicopter HUMS Maintenance Credit: New Initiatives
Helicopter HUMS Maintenance Credit: New Initiatives Health and Usage Monitoring Systems (HUMS) were first introduced 25 years ago as a safety enhancement for offshore helicopters in the UK and Norway. Even in the early days of HUMS the prize of ‘maintenance credits’ was envisaged: i.e. using the HUMS data to reduce invasive physical inspections and disassembly (with
Helicopter HUMS Maintenance Credit: New Initiatives Read Post »