A low time pilot sets out to photograph a fishing boat in IMC that they are not qualified to fly in & the helicopter is not certified for.
The inevitable happens…
Inexperienced IIMC over Chesapeake Bay: Reduced Visual References Require Vigilance Read Post »
A rare engine failure mode related to miss-rigging a Shut Off Valve. The investigation triggered enhancing maintenance instructions.
Engine Shutdown Results in Revised SOV Rigging Instructions Read Post »
PSM+ICR: A propulsion system malfunction (a failing No 2 engine) was followed by an inappropriate crew response (shutting down the No 1 engine). The NTSB show how the pilot may not have been familiar with how the helicopter’s displays respond in emergencies.
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 »
NTSB points to a failure to consider the Density Altitude in this spectacular air ambulance accident caught on video. But there are wider lessons about planning and landing site hazards.
US Air Ambulance Near Miss with Zip Wire and High ROD Impact at High Density Altitude Read Post »
A Loss of Control – Inflight during a downwind approach to a busy remote landing site. The helicopter crashed in a difficult to access gully and caught fire. It took almost 10 hours for survivors to reach hospital. Five of the 7 occupants died.
Grand Canyon Air Tour Tragic Tailwind Landing Accident Read Post »
The sling for the underslung fire-fighting bucket contacted the tail rotor resulting in a loss of control. Investigators identified a vulnerability in the bucket’s design and shortcomings in promulgating essential design data to operators.
NZ Firefighting AS350 Accident: Role Equipment Design Issues Read Post »
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 »
Distracted by radio calls and with a poor split of duties the fire-fighting flight crew missed their high descent rate during their third attempt to uplift water. After the water impact there were survivability issues and one of the crew was unable to escape underwater.
Korean Kamov Ka-32T Fire-Fighting Water Impact and Underwater Egress Fatal Accident Read Post »
Operational pressure, overconfidence and a false sense of security from technology may have contributed to what ANSV describe as an inadequately risk assessed and planned flight.
A Short Flight to Disaster: A109 Mountain CFIT in Marginal Weather Read Post »
The BEA report that during descent a bird shattered the left-hand windscreen and injured the front seat passenger. The pilot was able to make a safe landing.
AS350B3/H125 Bird Strike with Red Kite Read Post »
Hydraulics control system wiring had been misconnected 16 years earlier and repeatedly missed during checks. When inadvertently activated, the “HYD” cut-off caused the TR servo-valve compensator to make the aircraft uncontrollable say GPIAAF.
Fire-Fighting AS350 Hydraulics Accident: Dormant Miswiring Read Post »
The Malaysian AAIB explains that two flying club helicopters had been flying ‘in company’ before the Mid Air Collision and they question the practice.
Mid-Air Collision of Guimbal Cabri G2 9M-HCA & 9M-HCB: Malaysian AAIB Preliminary Report 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 unlicensed pilot of a US registered helicopter lost control trying to hover taxi for fuel in Austria after an early morning flight from Italy.
Helicopter Destroyed in Hover Taxi Accident Read Post »
The fitment of unapproved engine control parts was fundamental to an accident during training say the SA CAA.
Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche Accident After Unapproved Parts Failed Read Post »
LOC-I on a low, slow downwind leg. The survivors had not trained with the specific AEA in place. The front crew both became trapped.
NH90 Caribbean Loss of Control – Inflight, Water Impact and Survivability Issues Read Post »
The NTSB preliminary report on a PC-12 ditching during a Pacific ferry flight points to a flameout while adjusting the ferry fuel system. Both crew were rescued after 22 hours in a raft.
Pilatus PC-12 Pacific Ditching Read Post »
An omission of a vertical profile on the Jeppesen chart, a demoted and confused First Officer plus a tired Commander… Yet a vertical profile was programmed in the FMS, but crews weren’t told.
A Saab 2000 Descended 900 ft Too Low on Approach to Billund Read Post »
The NTSB issue their preliminary report on an LA air ambulance hospital helipad landing accident.
NTSB on LA A109S Rooftop Hospital Helipad Landing Accident Read Post »
Spatial disorientation in night IMC during an air ambulance helicopter missed approach resulted in a fatal loss of control. The operator’s second night accident in less than three years in similar circumstances.
Air Ambulance A109S Spatial Disorientation in Night IMC Read Post »
Evidence is consistent with a practice autorotation being attempted to an ‘unsuitable’ Alaskan beach. Nr drooped, helicopter hit the sea, survivor found after a delayed emergency response. Airbus advises only ‘minimal crew’ for such training.
Alaskan AS350B3e Accident: Botched Autorotation Practice? Read Post »
The BEA look as production, maintenance fault-finding and flight operations lessons from a pair of incidents involving the AOA sensors on a Transavia Boeing 737-800.
AOA Anomalies on Successive B737-800 Flights Read Post »
Just because a company does the job one way for 30 years and has a 10k hour pilot doesn’t guarantee success. Techniques changed overnight after this accident. Once the tail rotor was catastrophically damaged, the consequences may have been reduced by the Bambi Bucket being a drag chute.
Short Sling Stings Speedy Squirrel: Tail Rotor Strike Fire-Fighting in Réunion Read Post »
Investigators identified chafing due to production errors but also highlight the first maintenance inspection was not scheduled until 36000 flying hours and there was poor guidance of when to use a fire axe to aid fire-fighting.
Embraer ERJ-190 EWIS Production Quality a Factor in Fire Read Post »
