Special Mission Aircraft

‘Crazy’ KC-10 Boom Loss: Informal Maintenance Shift Handovers and Skipped Tasks

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Military / Defence, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Informal verbal handovers over 4 shifts and skipping a key functional check had a hand in an air refuelling boom that went ‘crazy’ in flight and detached.

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When Red Bull Gives You More Than Wings…

Accidents & Incidents, Fixed Wing, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

When Red Bull Gives You More Than Wings… A database of US military aviation accidents and incidents complied by Military Times last year revealed an odd mishap.  It resulted in website The War Zone submitting a Freedom of Information Act request. The response detailed how the co-pilot of a US Air Force (USAF) Beechcraft MC-12W Liberty King Air 350 10-006450 had reached

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Loose Engine B-Nut Triggers Fatal Forced Landing

Accidents & Incidents, Helicopters, Human Factors / Performance, Maintenance / Continuing Airworthiness / CAMOs, Mining / Resource Sector, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

Loose Engine B-Nut Triggers Fatal Forced Landing On 26 September 2017 Hughes (later MD) 369D SE-JVI was being used for power line inspection on behalf of energy company Vattenfall, by the First European Aviation Company when it suffered a sudden power loss and impact with the ground that killed one occupant History of the Accident Flight The Swedish Accident Investigation Authority, the

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Survey Aircraft Fatal Accident: Fatigue, Fuel Mismanagement and Prior Concerns

Accidents & Incidents, Crises / Emergency Response / SAR, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Safety Culture, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft, Survivability / Ditching

Concerns had been raised about the pilot and the operation just days before this fatal accident. It highlights the importance of doing a proper due diligence and having independent aviation expertise available when contracting for special mission support.

Survey Aircraft Fatal Accident: Fatigue, Fuel Mismanagement and Prior Concerns Read Post »

Engine Failure after Inadvertently Being Put Back into Service Incomplete

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

An AGB module was inadvertently sent for overhaul. Work commenced before it was realised. The module was then sent back u/s but the log card entry was changed subsequently to serviceable not realising a filter was missing. The pilot made an excellent autorotation though.

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MC-12W Loss of Control Orbiting Over Afghanistan: Lessons in Training and Urgent Operational Requirements

Accidents & Incidents, Design & Certification, Fixed Wing, Human Factors / Performance, Military / Defence, Safety Management, Special Mission Aircraft

A very low experience on type flight crew had been paired together. Surprisingly little comment is made by investigators of insufficient certification testing of the modified aircraft and the failure to act after 4 prior ‘near catastrophic’ stall events.

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RCMP AS350B3 Left Uncovered During Snowfall Fatally Loses Power on Take Off

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

The engine intake was left uncovered during a lunch break, when it had started to snow. This allowed ice to form that broke away and damaged the engine. Turns out similar happened at a US HEMS operator within 12 months.

RCMP AS350B3 Left Uncovered During Snowfall Fatally Loses Power on Take Off Read Post »

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