A night Combat SAR training mission took two helicopters low over marshland. The second helicopter was brought down by birds scared by the lead aircraft.
USAF CSAR HH-60G Downed by Geese in Norfolk, 7 January 2014 Read Post »
At an uncontrolled aerodrome the Jungmann biplane struck the B412’s tail rotor. The biplane pilot died but all 10 POB on the firefighting helicopter survived.
Fatal Biplane/Helicopter Mid Air Collision in Spain, 30 December 2017 Read Post »
A suspension cable became entangled on the skid tube, followed by the fracture of the TR shaft due to cable or bucket contact with the TR.
Helicopter Tail Rotor Strike from Firefighting Bucket Read Post »
JTSB look at an inadvertent wheels up landing during a SAR mission.
SAR Crew With High Workload Land Wheels Up on Beach Read Post »
A helicopter was saved by cable cutters and an evasive manoeuvre when it struck wires near dusk when firefighting. Damage to a main rotor blade was not spotted for 3 days however.
Firefighting Helicopter Wire Strike Read Post »
While the response to this incident did include a design change the operator couldn’t it seems resist ‘re-eduction’.
Fallacy of ‘Training Out’ Error: Japanese AS332L1 Dropped Load Read Post »
An incorrect and unapproved repair of the engine compressor diffuser at an MRO resulted in failure of the compressor diffuser aft plate and partial loss of engine power.
Helicopter Engine Unapproved Repair Leads to Forced Landing Damage Read Post »
The pilot and both medical personnel on board were seriously injured and the helicopter was destroyed in yet another night HEMS accident in the US.
HEMS A109S Night Loss of Control Inflight: Excessive Cyclic Input in Missed Approach Read Post »
A US police AS350B3 Engine Off Landing was practiced on a part rocky, part boggy peninsular, 28 miles drive from emergency assistance. A hard landing damaged the helicopter but fortunately there were no injuries. NTSB highlight Airbus’ advice on such training.
Inappropriate Autorotation Training: Police AS350 Read Post »
NTSB indicate that a pilot used to the glass cockpit EC135P2+, who had only a brief online differences course for the EC135P1, oversped both engines when they were inadvertently set to manual control. This had happened in a 2006 fatal accident too. A modification to help prevent this had only been fitted to 2 of the 17 P1s in the US fleet.
US HEMS EC135P1 Dual Engine Failure: 7 July 2018 Read Post »
Investigators describe how the sudden loss of a window as a consequence of flying in a prohibited configuration may have made the pilot pitch up, allowing the under-slung fire-fighting bucket to strike the tail rotor.
Wayward Window: Fatal Loss of a Fire-Fighting Helicopter in NZ Read Post »
A Vortex Ring State developed during a tailwind approach to a hospital.
Hard Landing after VRS on Approach to a Hospital Site Read Post »
A misrigged release unit control cable on a Japanese AS350 chaffed and released the load while manoeuvring.
Load Lost Due to Misrigged HESLO Under Slung Load Control Cable Read Post »
We look at the ANSV report on a HEMS helicopter Inadvertent IMC event that ended with an AW139 colliding with a mountain in poor visibility.
Italian HEMS AW139 Inadvertent IMC Accident Read Post »
In May 2018 the NTSB published two reports into accidents involving helicopters attempting to carry out wildlife net captures.
Helicopter Wildlife Netting Accidents Read Post »
Self-induced pressure and inadequate OCC support / oversight were behind a fatal US HEMS night accident were an AS350B2 departed an unprepared landing site into IMC in which an LOC-I occurred.
US Fatal Night HEMS Accident: Self-Induced Pressure & Inadequate Oversight Read Post »
Taiwanese investigators determined that the hoist hook had been inappropriately assembled during maintenance 2 days earlier.
Hoist Assembly Errors: SAR Personnel Dropped Into Sea Read Post »
During take off from a floating ice runway, while supporting a US/UK nuclear submarine exercise in the Arctic (ICEX 2018), a civilian Twin Otter strikes a photographer alongside the runway.
Man Hit By Aircraft During Arctic Nuclear Sub Exercise Read Post »
We look at a fatal accident that demonstrates the criticality of assessing recommended service bulletins.
Fatal Engine Power Loss: Powerline Helicopter Not Modified IAW OEM Recommendations Read Post »
News and photos from HAI Heli-Expo 2018 in Las Vegas, NV.
Heli-Expo 2018 Photo Report Read Post »
Less than a month after a formal training course, a winch operator fatally falls from a Police B429 during hoist training in Delaware.
Fatal Fall From B429 During Helicopter Hoist Training Read Post »
Erroneous translation of a CMM from English to French resulted in incorrect instructions being followed.
Lost in Translation: Misrigged Main Landing Gear Read Post »
The Irish Air Corps (IAC) signed a contract on 19 December 2017 for three special mission Pilatus PC-12 aircraft, mission equipment and support services worth €32 million.
Irish Air Corps Order Pilatus PC-12s Read Post »
A US registered SA227 AT Merlin IVC surveillance aircraft, chartered from a Luxembourg company by an unspecified French government agency had a fatal accident in Malta.
Investigation into Secretive Surveillance Aircraft Accident in Malta 24 Oct 2016 Read Post »
The absence of a policy of landing with a specific minimum fuel quantity was a key factor in a survey helicopter’s loss of power and collision with trees near Whitecourt, AB in 2016.
Running on Fumes: Fatal Canadian Helicopter Accident Read Post »
