The GCAA AAIS discuss the cause of a precautionary ditching and examine the performance of flotation and survival features.
ADA AW139 A6-AWN Ditching off UAE, 29 April 2017: Final Report Read Post »
The German safety investigation body, the BFU, has issued their final report into a serious incident that occurred to a Sikorsky S-76B returning from an offshore electricity sub-station.
BFU Investigate S-76B Descending to 20ft at 40 kts En Route in Poor Visibility Read Post »
The investigators’ final report confirms that control was lost after a flying control connection failed after a loss of torque and progressive wear to the point of separation from the rod end. This accident highlights the need to make timely progress in accident investigations.
In-Flight Flying Control Failure: Indonesian Sikorsky S-76C+ PK-FUP Read Post »
A decline in GOM helicopter usage continues. There were three air accidents, two fatal. all involving single engined helicopters.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2017 Update Read Post »
We report from the fourth HeliOffshore Conference and AGM on ‘Delivering Our Priorities’ for improved offshore helicopter safety.
“Delivering Our Priorities”: HeliOffshore 2018 Conference Report Read Post »
News and photos from HAI Heli-Expo 2018 in Las Vegas, NV.
Heli-Expo 2018 Photo Report Read Post »
Key staff made redundant, a risk management system that facilitated risk prone operations and a perception of being industry frontrunners, capable of solving difficult and novel tasks all feature in this accident.
DMAIB: Risk Assessment Facilitated Taking Risks Read Post »
Maintaining an effective emergency response capability is critical to any organisation contracting for helicopter operations in a hostile environment.
Offshore Helicopter Emergency Response Read Post »
This accident and the loss of 12 lives off the coast of Norway in 1997 had far reaching consequences for the use and regulation of helicopter HUMS.
Loss of AS332L1 LN-OPG off Brønnøysund, Norway, 8 September 1997 Read Post »
An offshore helicopter incident highlighted a new hazard as offshore industry practices change. We look at the lessons for companies using both helicopters and walk-to-work vessels to their NUIs.
Mind the Handrail! – Walk-to-Work Helideck Hazard Read Post »
319 seconds to disaster: a high speed impact on approach to a drilling rig off Mumbai. Night offshore ops are 6 times higher risk than daytime ops. We look at the lessons.
Night Offshore Training AS365N3 Accident in India 2015 Read Post »
A collision during apron works at Stavanger. A skipped risk assessment by airport/contractors, misleading concrete barriers and confirmation bias. Highlights the fallacy of over reliance on safety reporting.
S-92A Collision with Obstacle while Taxying Read Post »
The UK Airprox Board discuss interesting Human Factors (HF) aspects to an airprox off Aberdeen, Scotland involving two North Sea offshore helicopters in Feb 2017.
North Sea S-92A Helicopter Airprox Feb 2017 Read Post »
We look at health monitoring, both oil debris and HUMS/VHM, in light of the EC225 LN-OJF accident investigation.
Super Puma Epicyclic Gear Health Monitoring Background Read Post »
We look at HSAC data on GOM ops in 2016. A decline in helicopter usage continues but there were no air accidents. This was only the 4th fatality-free year in 33. 2017 is not as rosy.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2016 Update Read Post »
Under customer induced time pressures, a pilot undergoing type conversion missed a unique type specific action that was not explicitly allocated to either PF or PM.
Strictly Scheduled: S-92A Start-Up Incident Read Post »
We report from the third HeliOffshore Conference and AGM on deepening commitment and collaboration to improve offshore helicopter safety.
Deepening Delivery: HeliOffshore 2017 Conference Report Read Post »
Corrosion was recently found on a flying control bracket of a 3 year old Australian Sikorsky S-92A masking the attachment bolt torque value.
Corrosion Found on an S-92A Flying Control Bracket Read Post »
An AW139 helicopter made a precautionary ditching off Abu Dhabi on 29 April 2017 after loss of drive to the MGB cooling fan.
AW139 A6-AWN Ditching off UAE, 29 April 2017 Read Post »
In light of the LN-OJF investigation (and the earlier G-REDL accident) we look at this Critical Part in more detail.
Super Puma Second Stage Planet Gear Background Read Post »
Good leaders inspire trust but there is a Dutch proverb: “Trust comes on foot, but leaves on horseback.” We discuss why trust is important in developing an organisation’s culture to overcome blame and fear and how behaviour is key.
Leadership and Trust Read Post »
News and photos from HAI Heli-Expo in Dallas, TX (6-9 March 2017).
Heli-Expo 2017 Photo Report Read Post »
A delay waiting for passengers from SGS to complete their work on a tanker in Galveston Bay meant this Bell 206B3 attempted a night flight back to shore.
Deadly Delay: GOM B206B3 Helicopter Night Accident 6 Feb 2017 Read Post »
An engine compressor failure while installing power line markers resulted in an unsurvivable impact and fire.
Fatal H500 / 369D Low Altitude Hover Power Loss: Power Line Maintenance Project Read Post »
We examine a recent total loss of tail rotor control to an offshore helicopter in the North Sea and previous similar occurrences.
CHC Scotia Sikorsky S-92A Loss of Tail Rotor Control Events Read Post »
