We look at HSAC data on GOM ops in 2016. A decline in helicopter usage continues but there were no air accidents. This was only the 4th fatality-free year in 33. 2017 is not as rosy.
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2016 Update Read Post »
We report from the third HeliOffshore Conference and AGM on deepening commitment and collaboration to improve offshore helicopter safety.
Deepening Delivery: HeliOffshore 2017 Conference Report Read Post »
A loose fuel tank cover on a motor yacht was blown free by a landing helicopter’s rotor downwash, struck the rotor, resulting in a water impact.
FOD and an AS350B3 Accident Landing on a Yacht in Bergen Read Post »
An AW139 helicopter made a precautionary ditching off Abu Dhabi on 29 April 2017 after loss of drive to the MGB cooling fan.
AW139 A6-AWN Ditching off UAE, 29 April 2017 Read Post »
The undetected failure of a TR pitch change bearing resulted in a horrific winching accident in Taiwan, in which two people died. We delve into the ASC’s final report (only published in full in Chinese).
AS365N3 Tail Rotor Pitch Control Loss During Hoisting Read Post »
An engine compressor failure while installing power line markers resulted in an unsurvivable impact and fire.
Fatal H500 / 369D Low Altitude Hover Power Loss: Power Line Maintenance Project Read Post »
An ATSB report into an Australian RPAS/UAS LOC accident highlights the importance of HF in ground station design and of data entry verification.
Drone Goes Walkabout: Hemispherical Human Factors Hiccup Read Post »
Investigators point to ‘overaggressive manoeuvre’ on take-off on a positioning flight back to base. Both occupants were seriously injured. The damaged helicopter span 50 times down heliport.
EC130B4 Loss of Control on Take-Off in Dubai Read Post »
We look at a fatal S-76C++ helicopter accident that highlights a range of certification, modification, crew alerting, training and emergency response lessons, and also discuss current activity on helicopter bird strike certification requirements.
Safety Lessons from a Fatal Helicopter Bird Strike: PHI Sikorsky S-76C++ Read Post »
The TSB say ‘competitive behaviour’ by fire-fighting pilots eroded the margin of safety during take-offs. We look at the cultural and SMS issues.
‘Competitive Behaviour’ and a Fire-Fighting Aircraft Stall Read Post »
Following an NTSB recommendation the NBAA has used FDM/FOQA data to look at how often critical Take Off checks are being missed and its almost 1 time in 5.
Business Aviation Compliance With Pre Take-off Flight Control Checks Read Post »
UK CAA issue their second update following the Feb 2014 CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of offshore public transport helicopter operations in support of the exploitation of oil and gas’).
UK CAA CAP1145: 2nd Update on North Sea Helicopter Safety (CAP1386) Read Post »
We look at HSAC data on GOM ops in 2015. A decline in helicopter usage is evident. 3 accidents but none fatal (only 3rd fatality-free year in 32).
Helicopter Ops and Safety – Gulf Of Mexico 2015 Update Read Post »
Martin-Baker celebrates the 70th anniversary of the first live in-flight test ejection with one of their ejection seats.
First Martin-Baker Ejection In-Flight in 1946 Read Post »
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,
NTSB Report on C208B Caravan Ditching, Molokai, Hawaii, 2013 Read Post »
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 »
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 »
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published its report into the 23 August 2013 accident were CHC Scotia Airbus Helicopters AS332L2 Super Puma G-WNSB impacted the sea on approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. The AAIB report is 266 pages long. This article is
AAIB Report on 2013 Sumburgh Helicopter Accident (CHC Scotia AS332L2 G-WNSB) Read Post »
Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016 Step Change in Safety held a webinar on North Sea helicopter safety (covering CA-EBS, emergency egress, FCOMs and airworthiness matters) on 9 March 2016 (following on from a March 2015 event we have previously covered). Introduction Step Change is a tripartite UK offshore health and safety organisation combining companies,
Step Change in Safety: Helicopter Safety Update 2016 Read Post »
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report News from HAI Heli-Expo 2016 in Louisville, Kentucky (1-3 March 2016): Airbus Helicopters H215 Airbus Helicopters had on show the newly designated H215, formerly the AS332C1e (i.e. an enhanced, short fuselage Super Puma) and AS332L1e (the long fuselage version), to be built in Romania and aimed at aerial work, disaster relief and other
Heli-Expo 2016 Photo Report Read Post »
Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching The ditching of Icelandic Coast Guard Aérospatiale SA365N Dauphin TF-SIF in the Atlantic off Reykjavik on 16 July 2007 highlights the importance of avoiding protuberances that can puncture emergency flotation systems, careful configuration management and establishing emergency drills. The Icelandic Transportation Safety Board (ITSB), the RNF, issued their report in
Pitot Punctures Floats in Icelandic SAR Ditching Read Post »
UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Not long after the fatal loss of Eurocopter AS332L2 G-WNSB of Sumburgh Airport, Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013 with 4 fatalities (AAIB Special Bulletin), the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched an rapid review on offshore helicopter safety. That CAA Review resulted in the CAP1145 report (‘Safety review of
UK CAA CAP1145 North Sea Helicopter Safety Two Years On Read Post »
EASA and Ejection Seat Certification The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) have issued a series of Certification Review Items (CRIs) for proposed Special Conditions and Equivalent Levels of Safety for a Part 23 ejection seat equipped tandem two-seat trainer aircraft to be certified in the Normal and Acrobatic categories. The CRIs consist of: CRI 102 Special
EASA and Ejection Seat Certification Read Post »
US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015 The safety of US Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) operations has been a topic we have discussed previously. With HeliExpo approaching, when 10 years of the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) will be marked and with US NTSB Board Member Robert Sumwalt just publishing a HEMS article in Professional Pilot,
US HEMS Accident Rates 2006-2015 Read Post »
An ATSB report on a fatal man overboard incident questions if blindly valuing compliance may create a culture that actually undermines safety.
Culpable Culture of Compliance? Read Post »
