Bell 525 Prototype N525TA Fatal Flight Test Accident
The first B525 Relentless helicopter prototype was lost in a fatal flight test accident on 6 July 2016.
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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
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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 »
EASA Annual Safety Review 2016 Published
EASA Annual Safety Review 2016 Published The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Annual Safety Review for 2016 is now available. In the introduction EASA say: The Review has been published since 2005 and the content of the document continues to evolve. Safety Risk Portfolios are now provided for 10 different operational domains. For the first time
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ANSV Issue AW609 Tilt Rotor Accident Investigation Report
ANSV Issue AW609 Tilt Rotor Accident Investigation Report Investigators say a prototype tilt rotor broke up in flight after a divergent dutch roll developed in a high speed dive. The Italian civil aviation safety investigation authority, the Agenzia Nazionale per la Sicurezza del Volo (ANSV), has issued an interim statement of the loss of prototype #2 (AC2) Leonardo AW609 tilt rotor N609AG
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HEMS Black Hole Accident: “Organisational, Regulatory and Oversight Deficiencies”
The operator had insufficient resources to effectively manage safety say TSB. The regulator had concerns but its approach did not ensure timely rectification.
HEMS Black Hole Accident: “Organisational, Regulatory and Oversight Deficiencies” Read Post »
ATR72 In-Flight Pitch Disconnect and Structural Failure
Significant structural damage occurs when crew make opposing pitch inputs say ATSB. The damage is missed for 13 subsequent flights.
ATR72 In-Flight Pitch Disconnect and Structural Failure Read Post »
For Rotors Grease is the Word
For Rotors Grease is the Word We look at two helicopter accidents (one fatal) where grease, and in particular the absence of grease, were critical factors. Case 1: AS355F1 N58020 15 September 2012, New Jersey (One Fatality) The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report that, Airbus Helicopters AS355F1, N58020 operated by charter operator Analar Corporation was making a positioning flight
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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,
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Rotor Blade Tool Control FOD Incident
Rotor Blade Tool Control FOD Incident (Western Australia Police Air Wing Airbus AS365N3 VH-WPX) The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has just issued a report on an incident where a helicopter’s rotor blades were damaged during start up by Foreign Object Debris (FOD), namely a tool that had been left behind from earlier maintenance. The Incident Flight
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UK AAIB: Boeing Safety Responses ‘Not Adequate’
UK AAIB: Boeing Safety Responses ‘Not Adequate’ Six months ago we published an article that discussed the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report into a serious incident involving a Boeing 747-443 G-VROM on 29 December 2014. AAIB has recently published an update on responses to their recommendations by Boeing. Two were classed ‘Not Adequate’, one ‘Partially Adequate’
UK AAIB: Boeing Safety Responses ‘Not Adequate’ 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 »
ValuJet Flight 592: 11 May 1996
This accident had major lessons on the management of maintenance/maintenance errors, dangerous goods handling and regulatory behaviour.
ValuJet Flight 592: 11 May 1996 Read Post »
Bell 412 Cross Tube Failure Case Study
Bell 412 Cross Tube Failure Case Study Earlier this year the German accident investigation agency, the BFU, published their report into Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) Bell 412HP that suffered a rear cross tube failure during start up at a hospital in Berlin on 6 September 2010. The helicopter was fitted with ‘high’ skids manufactured by Aeronautical Accessories Inc
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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
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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 »
5000-1 Safety Lesson: Communication
5000-1 Safety Lesson: Communication After their spectacular season, starting as 5000-1 underdogs but ultimately winning the English Football Premiership, a number of commentators have been discussing the success of Leicester City FC and their manager, Claudio Ranieri. In one article, the Guardian observes (emphasis added): They use technology that is more commonplace at the highest level…, regularly
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Chernobyl: 30 Years On – Lessons in Safety Culture
Chernobyl: 30 Years On – Lessons in Safety Culture Late at night on 26 April 1986 in the then USSR, a team of nuclear workers prepared to conduct a test on Reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant as part of an otherwise routine shutdown. The exercise was to test a modified safety system
Chernobyl: 30 Years On – Lessons in Safety Culture Read Post »
Dim, Negative Transfer Double Flameout
Inadvertently leaving lights dimmed, a compromised NVG mod, no aural low fuel warning and negligible recent experience on type all feature in this NZ HEMS incident.
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NASA ASRS at 40 and the Continued Challenge of Timeliness for Safety Reporting
NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System at 40 and the Continued Challenge of Timeliness for Safety Reporting On 16 April 16 2016 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS) celebrated 40 years of operation. Its origins highlights one major challenge of safety reporting, learning and action: timeliness. The Purpose and Administration of
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C-130J Control Restriction Accident, Jalalabad
C-130J Control Restriction Accident, Jalalabad The US Air Force (USAF) Air Mobility Command (AMC) has released its accident report into the fatal loss of control (LOC-I) accident involving of Lockheed Martin C-130J 08-3174 during a night-time take-off from Jalalabad Airfield, Afghanistan on 2 October 2015. The accident was caused by the failure to remove a loose article that had been deliberately placed
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Crew Bag FOD Shatters Hawk Canopy
A Canadian Hawk pilot got a big surprise when rolling inverted: his flight crew bag contacted the firing unit of the canopy explosive fragmentation system with shattering results…
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A319 Double Cowling Loss and Fire – AAIB Safety Recommendation Update
A319 Double Cowling Loss and Fire – AAIB Safety Recommendation Update The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has issued an update on responses to their safety recommendations from their investigation into British Airways Airbus A319 G-EUOE. G-EUOE, powered by IAE V2500s, lost both engine fan cowlings and suffered an associated fire on take-off from London Heathrow
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C-130 Fireball Due to Modification Error
C-130 Fireball Due to Modification Error A botched modification program unnecessarily changed the original design for a hydraulic system modification when a drawing was misread. A longer hydraulic hose was necessary after that change but an inappropriate design process short-cut meant the shorter hose remained listed as an alternative. The shorter hose was fitted to the modified fleet
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Fatigued Flight Test Crew Superjet 100 Crosswind Accident
Fatigued Flight Test Crew Crosswind Accident The Icelandic Transportation Safety Board (ITSB), the RNSA, recently issued their report into a wheels up runway excursion accident that occurred on 21 July 2013 to Sukhoi RRJ-95B ‘Superjet 100’ 97005 during flight tests by Sukhoi at Keflavik airport. The Flight Test Objective and the Accident Flight The purpose of
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