Special Mission Aircraft

Korean Kamov Ka-32T Fire-Fighting Water Impact and Underwater Egress Fatal Accident

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

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 »

Fire-Fighting AS350 Hydraulics Accident: Dormant Miswiring

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

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 »

NH90 Caribbean Loss of Control – Inflight, Water Impact and Survivability Issues

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Military / Defence, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

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 »

Short Sling Stings Speedy Squirrel: Tail Rotor Strike Fire-Fighting in Réunion

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

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 »

Loss of Control During HESLO Construction Task: BEA Highlight Wellbeing / Personal Readiness

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Regulation, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

BEA were unable to establish the reason for Loss of Control in the hover. The pilot was suffering from an unreported back condition and the HESLO technique required an awkward body position. BEA make recommendations about wellbeing and personal readiness.

Loss of Control During HESLO Construction Task: BEA Highlight Wellbeing / Personal Readiness Read Post »

Shocking Accident: Two Workers Electrocuted During HESLO

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

There was an inadequate pre-task briefing, and an undersized team. Operations continued as drizzle started in order to use all the mixed concrete. A device that would have increased separation from the live line was on-site but not used.

Shocking Accident: Two Workers Electrocuted During HESLO Read Post »

SAR AS365N3 Flying Control Disconnect: BFU Investigation

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Offshore, Oil & Gas / IOGP / Energy, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

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 »

Inadvertent Entry into IMC During Mountaintop HESLO

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Logistics, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

Possible self-induced commercial pressure and task fixation may have been factors in a HESLO accident involving a loss of visual reference at a mountain top site on lift 29 of 30, resulting in spatial disorientation and a partial loss of control say AIB Denmark.

Inadvertent Entry into IMC During Mountaintop HESLO Read Post »

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