US budget cuts (aka “Sequestration”) hit from today
Source: HeliHub.com, 01-Mar-13
US budgetary cuts, known as “sequestration”, starts today – 1st March 2013. The FAA needs to reduce its expenditures by about $600 Million for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2013. Among the changes which are likely to impact is a program whereby almost all their 47,000 employees will be forced to take unpaid leave for [...]
HAI-APS Auditor Workshop at Heli-Expo
Source: HAI, 01-Mar-13
If you are interested in becoming an auditor for the HAI Accreditation Program of Safety (HAI-APS), please plan to attend the HAI-APS Auditor Workshop at HELI-EXPO 2013 on Wednesday, March 6, from 1 pm to 5 pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to become familiar with the HAI-APS program, understand its relationship with IS-BAO, review [...]
01-Mar-13 F-GPGM Eurocopter SA316B Chattonay, France (1F)
01-Mar-13
Collided with trees and crashed into a lake killing the pilot
The Whys and Hows of Accident Reporting
Source: US Army, 26-Feb-13
While serving as a first sergeant years ago, I was frustrated when an accident report submitted to the U.S. Army Safety Center was returned to me for additional information. Unfortunately, because the accident occurred off duty and my Soldier had been rendered unconscious, I couldn’t provide any additional information. What I now realize is even [...]
EMS helicopter stranded after pilot breaks leg
Source: HeliHub.com, 25-Feb-13
A German air ambulance helicopter was grounded recently after the pilot suffered a broken leg away from base. The “Christoph 70″ helicopter – a Eurocopter EC135 – had landed on the rooftop pad at Pößneck on Tuesday 12th February at 15:30 hours for a patient transfer to Bad Berka. However, the pilot broke his leg [...]
25-Feb-13 FAP-667 Schweizer 300C Centro Poblado Camacho, Peru
25-Feb-13
Training accident, helicopter ended up on its side in grassy field. The two occupants of the aircraft were identified as pilot Captain Manuel Poblete FAP Pardo Aguilar (30) and passenger Major FAP Candle Italo Fernandez (36)
25-Feb-13 EJC-3378 Mil Mi-17 San Juan de Sumapaz, Colombia
25-Feb-13
Crashed from low level hover due to high winds
25-Feb-13 Bell UH-1N Parshall, US-North Dakota
25-Feb-13
Helicopter from Minot AFB made emergency landing, which injured two of the five occupants
24-Feb-13 EJC-2154 Sikorsky UH-60L Vistahermosa, Colombia (4F)
24-Feb-13
Crashed and exploded (possibly due to a mine) while engaged with FARC guerrillas
24-Feb-13 ZK-HAD Robinson R44 Lake Rotorua, New Zealand
24-Feb-13
Witnesses heard a loud bang before the R44 on a scenic tour made an emergency landing in the lake. Helicopter remained upright in less than 1m of water. All 4 POB exited safely
24-Feb-13 SX-HJV Eurocopter AS355N Trikala, Greece
24-Feb-13
Helicopter suffered gunshot damage in bungled prison breakout
23-Feb-13 Kabwe, Zambia
23-Feb-13
Emergency landing, while carrying journalists accompanying Vice president Guy Scott
FAA had twice suspended licence of pilot in fatal crash
Source: LA Times, 21-Feb-13
The pilot of a helicopter that crashed in Acton this month had his pilot privileges suspended twice in the last decade, according to FAA records (see full story). Details on the accident referred to can be found at 10-Feb-13 N59518 Bell 206B Acton, US-California (3F)
2013 CHC Safety & Quality Summit – Gala Dinner keynote speaker announced
Source: CHC, 20-Feb-13
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada – Simon Sinek, a leading motivational speaker and author of, Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action, has been confirmed as the keynote speaker for the Gala Dinner at the 2013 CHC Safety & Quality Summit. The Gala dinner will take place on Tues., March 19, at the Westin [...]
HAI reorganizes Flight Operations & Safety Department
Source: HAI, 20-Feb-13
Helicopter Association International (HAI) President Matt Zuccaro today announced a significant change in the organization’s staffing, designed to keep up with members’ changing needs. Paul Schaaf, currently the Chief Pilot for the Fairfax County Police Department, will join HAI in mid-March to assume the duties and responsibilities of Vice President of Operations, a job which [...]
ATSB Commissioner reappointed
Source: ATSB, 20-Feb-13
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) welcomed the reappointment of Ms Carolyn Walsh as a member of the ATSB Commission. Ms Walsh’s appointment by the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, the Hon Anthony Albanese will commence on 8 March 2013 and will run for a further three years. Ms Walsh has a wealth of experience [...]
20-Feb-13 Boeing CH-46E Phitsanulok, Thailand
20-Feb-13
Hard emergency landing in a forest in Phitsanulok province. Four of six (or seven?) occupants were admitted to hospital - Brigan Forney, Sarah Smith, Matthew Marcinko and Gavin Christian. Brigan Forney is reported to be suffering serious burns. Helicopter was taking part in Exercise “Cobra Gold 2013″
20-Feb-13 HB-YJX Elisport CH-7 Kienberg, Germany
20-Feb-13
Helicopter destroyed on landing in mountainous region on German side of border with Austria, pilot seriously injured. Ground was snow covered, and accident occurred at around 1,700m (5,577 ft) altitude
UK CAA’s GA safety publications to be overhauled
Source: CAA, 19-Feb-13
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is to strengthen its provision of safety information to general aviation pilots from this spring. The CAA announced today that the publishing group, Archant, will begin producing general aviation safety material on its behalf. Archant, publisher of Pilot magazine, has been awarded a contract to write and distribute three [...]
Rotorcorp solves crankshaft replacement problem for R44 owners
Source: Rotorcorp, 18-Feb-13
Airworthiness Directive 2012-19-01 has been issued by the FAA in September of 2012 for certain O540 and IO-540 engines installed in Robinson R44 helicopters. RotorCorp has arranged for priority pricing on Lycoming factory overhauled and rebuilt zero time engines that renders this new AD a non-issue for R44 helicopter owners around the world. The AD [...]
