Narrowly focusing on the proximal means missing the full context. Beware of What-You-Look-For-Is-What-You-Find. “There is almost no human action or decision that cannot be made to look flawed and less sensible in the misleading light of hindsight.”
What Lies Beneath: The Scope of Safety Investigations Read Post »
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 »
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.
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 »
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 »
On the first flight of the day an offshore B407’s tail rotor comes into contact with the main rotor of a B407 rotors running behind it.
RLC B407 Reverses into Sister Ship at GOM Heliport Read Post »
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 »
AD issued to inspect the B430 main rotor pitch link clevis after the second of two accidents that cost the lives of 11 people.
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 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
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 »
A key component was never recovered, investigators seem to have misunderstood their own laboratory’s report on another and the NTSB conclusions omit to identify the evident failure of a shear pin to correctly perform its safety function as a factor.
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 »
A decline in GOM helicopter usage continues, especially in single engine helicopters. There were two fatal accidents in 2019.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2019 Update Read Post »
The BFU investigated how flying controls of a SAR helicopter became disconnected. A nut was reused. Torque was insufficient. Lubrication was applied incorrectly. A cotter pin was likely omitted. The maintenance was also not signed off.
SAR AS365N3 Flying Control Disconnect: BFU Investigation Read Post »
Security surrounding the VP’s travel meant the crew were given little time to consider an ad hoc landing site. They were reassured that a police B412 had landed safely, but they had not been trained in brownout landings and came into a hover…
AW139 Brownout Accident with the Nigerian VP Aboard Read Post »
Photos from HAI Heli-Expo 2020 in Anaheim, CA.
Heli-Expo 2020 Photo Report Read Post »
A giant Mi-26T enters a VRS during an approach in poor visibility in the Russian Arctic.
Mi-26T Arctic VRS Accident 28 November 2018 Read Post »
A helicopter embarked on low altitude, low speed circling of powerline pylons on a snowy day. Both onboard died after an engine failure likely due to snow / ice ingestion.
Fatal Snowy Powerline Inspection Flight Read Post »
The MRB damage made this occurrence meet the criteria for an accident say NTSB. A design change followed to avoid a production process that introduced micro-pitting.
Tail Rotor Lightning Strip Damages AW139 Main Rotor Read Post »
Nigerian AIB report on a runway excursion due to the premature use of nose wheel steering, exaggerated by both crew making inputs.
G200 Leaves Runway in Abuja Due to “Improper” Handling Read Post »
The compass was not returned to slave mode on take off from an FPSO. Subsequent aircraft behaviour convinced the crew they should ditch.
Ditching of Bristow S-76C++, Off Nigeria, 3 February 2016 Read Post »
East African operator Everett expands with a utility S-92A.
Everett Introducing S-92A to East Africa Read Post »
A decline in GOM helicopter usage continues. There was only one air accident in 2018.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2018 Update Read Post »
An oil and gas helicopter suffered an accident when it struck a pothole In Louisiana.
S-76C+ MLG Collapsed Due to Pothole Read Post »
