14-Dec-2011Source: FAA
Updated placarding required. Applicable to _ALL_ Bell models, plus Eurocopter EC135 and Bo105... Read more
14-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The NTSB preliminary report cites the following factors which they evidently see as very important in this stage of their investigation (1) the impact location in a narrow ravine (2) the non-standard routing taken by the pilot (3) dusk light conditions Check out the details in the Preliminary report Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com... Read more
14-Dec-2011Source: NTSB
On December 7, 2011 at 1630 Pacific Standard Time, a Eurocopter AS350-B2, registration N37SH, operated by Sundance Helicopters as flight Landmark 57, crashed in mountainous terrain approximately 14 miles east of Las Vegas, Nevada. The 14 CFR Part 135 flight was a tourist sightseeing flight, which departed from Las Vegas McCarren International Airport (LAS), Las... Read more
14-Dec-2011
Emergency single-engine landing after chip light illuminated. Aircraft was en route to pick up patient.... Read more
14-Dec-2011
Early reports of private helicopter down on Raytheon property nr Tucson Airport. Pilot airlifted to UMC Trauma Center, no info on the other person on board. FAA spokesman said pilot reported engine failure prior to landing.... Read more
13-Dec-2011Source: AgustaWestland
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that the first two AW139 OGP Safety Advisors Training Programmes for the oil & gas safety advisors community in September and November 2011 have been hailed a success by those attending. This initiative, launched early this year, complements the oil & gas seminars that have been organised... Read more
13-Dec-2011
Pilot elected to make an emergency landing, which was executed safely with no damage to the helicopter... Read more
13-Dec-2011
“fell to the ground from low level” – tail boom severed by main blades, skids collapsed. 5 POB but none were patients.... Read more
12-Dec-2011Source: FAA
Cyclic control friction device... Read more
12-Dec-2011
One of two OH-58Ds which crashed around the same time at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on night training flights. Each involved 2 fatalities. Not yet released whether it was one accident or two. The four were named as Capt. Anne M. Montgomery, and Chief Warrant Officers Frank A. Buoniconti, Joseph S. Satterfield and Lucas Daniel Sigfrid... Read more
12-Dec-2011
One of two OH-58Ds which crashed around the same time at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on night training flights. Each involved 2 fatalities. Not yet released whether it was one accident or two. The four were named as Capt. Anne M. Montgomery, and Chief Warrant Officers Frank A. Buoniconti, Joseph S. Satterfield and Lucas Daniel Sigfrid... Read more
12-Dec-2011Source: ARSA
In response to an ARSA request, the FAA will review agency policy and guidance regarding part identification when more than one number is applied to a part at production. In a Dec. 6, 2011 letter, FAA Aircraft Maintenance Division Manager Steven Douglas stated that the FAA, “[shares ARSA’s] concern that the presence of multiple part numbers may... Read more
12-Dec-2011
Damaged in hangar prior to being put into service. Fixed wing aircraft manoevred and struck helicopter twice, causing two long scratches, which are reported as “relatively minor” were then covered up using a marker pen. All activity caught on hangar video surveillance. Gadsden Police on the case... Read more
12-Dec-2011
External load operations. Load had been transferred when pilot felt something unusual and elected to make an autorotation landing. Lost control in the flare and the helicopter landed heavily and rolled onto its side – severely damaged. Pilot listed as Eduardo Boisset Encina... Read more
12-Dec-2011
Helicopter caught fire shortly after landing. 13 POB all safe... Read more
12-Dec-2011
Precautionary landing after “Engine out” warning. Maintenance engineers attended scene and reportedly “repaired the faulty wiring”... Read more
11-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Sundance Helicopters AS350 that went down just west of Lake Mead had its engine and other parts replaced the day before it crashed, killing five people, investigators revealed Friday. Check out the NTSB press briefings:- early on Thursday 8th December 8pm on Thursday 8th December 5pm on Saturday 10th December William P Johnson –... Read more
11-Dec-2011
In November 2009, a Piasecki helicopter struck high tension wires shortly after departing from Adelanto airport as it headed for an airshow in Riverside, California. The helicopter crashed and burned, and all three aboard were killed. (see full story) See also HeliHub.com accident page – 07-Nov-09 N183YP Piasecki PV-18 Adelanto, US-California (3F)... Read more
11-Dec-2011Source: NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is holding a hearing on air race and air show safety. The hearing will be chaired by NTSB Chairman Deborah A.P. Hersman, and all five Board members will participate. During the one-day meeting, the Board will gather information on the safety regulations and oversight in the planning and execution... Read more
11-Dec-2011Source: NTSB
This is the text from the Preliminary Report. By its very nature, the details are subject to change and should not be relied upon. The Final Report for this incident will be issued in due course:- On November 24, 2011, approximately 1900 central standard time, a Robinson R44 II helicopter, N821JV, sustained substantial damage when... Read more
10-Dec-2011
Emergency landing due to mechanical issue. Upon inspection by the mechanic, a clogged left hydraulic filter was found which had made the collective feel stiff. After replacement, the aircraft was returned to service.... Read more
9-Dec-2011Source: NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board has launched a 12-member Go-Team to investigate the crash of a helicopter on a sight-seeing tour that occurred near Las Vegas at about 5:00 p.m. PT on Wednesday. Preliminary reports indicate that all five persons on board the helicopter were fatally injured. Senior Air Safety Investigator Bill English will serve... Read more
9-Dec-2011
Impacted terrain. The commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed... Read more
9-Dec-2011
Emergency landing in a peanut field. Photos appear to show helicopter intact and undamaged... Read more
8-Dec-2011
Pilot Richard Bran put the police helicopter down in a built up area after an unnamed problem... Read more
7-Dec-2011
5 killed on “sunset” tour flight. Pilot has been named as Landon Nield, 31. Passengers named include Delwin and Tamara Chapman, from Utica, Kansas, who were celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary. The other two passengers were 26-year-old Anupama Bhola and 28-year-old Lovish Bhanot, both from New Delhi, India.... Read more
7-Dec-2011
Substantial damage in field landing while practicing autorotations... Read more
6-Dec-2011Source: HeliHub.com
FAA boss Randy Babbitt, 65, was stopped by police in Fairfax County, Virginia, on Saturday after allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road. Hardly the behaviour of someone in charge of aviation safety, don’t you think?  Mr Babbitt was charged with driving while intoxicated, and yesterday made a request for an immediate leave... Read more
6-Dec-2011Source: HAI
The line between public use and civil aviation operations is currently so blurred, especially for contract operators, that the time has come to bring all the stakeholders together as a working group to provide clarity on the issue. That was the message HAI President Matt Zuccaro brought to the National Transportation Safety Board at its... Read more
5-Dec-2011
During flying training, the helicopter rolled over and subsequently impacted the ground. The two occupants were uninjured but the helicopter was seriously damaged.... Read more
4-Dec-2011
Main rotor blade struck street sign... Read more
3-Dec-2011
Extensively damaged in accident after the helicopter refueled, said Army aviation division commander Gen. Javier Rey, adding that the aircraft had problems “with a crosswind” that forced it to the ground. All nine occupants survived... Read more
3-Dec-2011
Tailrotor struck a mound of dirt on landing... Read more
2-Dec-2011Source: CHC
CHC Helicopter is pleased to announce that Registration for the 2012 CHC Safety & Quality Summit is now open! Our theme this year is: Improving Safety Culture Through Talent, Training and Trust. We have invited three world class speakers with expertise in each area:Â Mr. Tom Casey, Dr. Tony Kern, and Mr. Stephen M.R. Covey... Read more
2-Dec-2011Source: AAG
Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), the nation’s premier executive helicopter company, has again passed the industry’s most rigorous safety audit and retained its designation as a Wyvern Standard approved helicopter operator. The safety audit was completed in October. AAG is a subsidiary of Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., which is part of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX). Wyvern has... Read more
2-Dec-2011
Minor damage on landing... Read more
1-Dec-2011Source: NZ CAA
Main Rotor Blades – Inspection and Replacement... Read more
1-Dec-2011
Very heavy landing in ploughed field. Skids collapsed, post crash fire, all three POB safe... Read more
1-Dec-2011
Autorotated into the water and rolled over... Read more
30-Nov-2011Source: Sandel
Sandel Avionics has announced it has delivered its first production WireWatch wire alerting application to MSP Aero of Minneapolis, MN, for installation in a fleet of Agusta A109 helicopters operated by North Memorial Medical Center (NMMC) of Robbinsdale, MN. The industry’s first onboard wire-strike avoidance device, WireWatch, a proprietary feature of the Sandel HeliTAWS™ system,... Read more
30-Nov-2011
Went missing during fire fighting operations. Located some hours later in 7m of water. Bodies of pilot John “Prickles” de Ridder and passenger William MacRae from Dept of Conservation have been confirmed by divers as being inside the helicopter. Salt Air – Company statement here... Read more
30-Nov-2011
Impacted ground in fog while on low level pipeline patrol. 2POB, 1 fatal... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK welcomes the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report published on November 24 on the tragic crash of helicopter Flight 85N which took place off the Aberdeenshire coast on 1 April 2009. Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas UK’s health and safety director, said: “With today’s publication of the report, we remember, first... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration recently announced changes to the way it will distribute electronic aeronautical charting data. In an announcement posted on the agency website, the FAA said it will make the data available 24 hours before the charts’ effective date, instead of the 15 days’ advance release that had been standard. Plus, the agency... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: CASA
Extract from the CASA Director of Aviation Safety’s monthly briefing:- The unmanned aircraft systems sector is to get better regulatory support. CASA has set up a project to review the rules currently covering unmanned aircraft systems and to develop a package of new guidance material. Six advisory circulars will be published to guide both the... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: LA Times
To date, the FAA has issued 266 active testing permits for civilian drone applications but hasn’t permitted drones in national airspace on a wide scale out of concern that the pilotless craft don’t have an adequate “detect, sense and avoid” technology to prevent midair collisions. (see full story)... Read more
29-Nov-2011
The helicopter was doing training flights and crashed down during landing approach. All three POB killed... Read more
29-Nov-2011
Crashed while giving an 80-year-old her birthday present flight. Ended up on its starboard side with the tail boom apparently separated midway down its length.... Read more
29-Nov-2011Source: FAA
Non-conformities on adjustment of some hydromechanical units (HMUs) have been reported by a Turbomeca repair centre. The technical investigations carried out by Turbomeca are showing that only a limited number of HMUs are potentially affected by this non-conformity to HMU adjustment.... Read more
29-Nov-2011
Crashed in ploughed field with two minor injuries after falling 40m while working on powerlines. Helicopter substantially damaged... Read more
28-Nov-2011Source: CASA
Special flight safety checks are being carried out at 15 aerodromes across South Australia in early December 2011. The checks are being conducted for the Civil Aviation Safety Authority to make sure flight paths at the aerodromes continue to be safe. Checks will be conducted at: Adelaide, Cleve, Edinburgh, Kimba, Kingscote, Olympic Dam, Leigh Creek,... Read more
28-Nov-2011Source: CBC
Representatives for both companies wouldn’t give details of the settlement. Cougar’s statement of claim said it was looking for more than $20 million for negligence and fraudulent misrepresentation after the crash (see full story)... Read more
25-Nov-2011Source: Johns Hopkins University
A new study by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy finds that helicopters that service the drilling platforms and vessels in the Gulf of Mexico crash on average more than six times per year resulting in an average of 5 deaths per year. From 1983 to 2009, 178 crashes resulted... Read more
25-Nov-2011
Rolled over in run-on landing.... Read more
25-Nov-2011
Impacted terrain close to company helipad. Local DGAC records show the helicopter was only certified in Ecuador 7 days before. Four occupants – Pilot Patricio Villalba, front seat passenger Jorge Luis Villegas and two mechanics Luis Ferrario and Pedro Medina were all injured... Read more
24-Nov-2011Source: NTSB
On November 15, 2011, at 0837 mountain standard time, a restricted category Williams Helicopter Corporation, UH-1H, N502AW, experienced a loss of power, made a hard landing, and came to rest on its right side about 3 miles northwest of the Valle Airport (40G), Grand Canyon, Arizona. The pilot operated the helicopter under the provisions of... Read more
23-Nov-2011
Helicopter ended up on its port side with the tail boom sliced. 23-Nov-11 is assumed date – the first reference we can find is in the evening of that date.... Read more
22-Nov-2011Source: Aero Sekur
Aero Sekur Inc. will present a range of heli-safety and protection products at Heli-Expo 2012. The new addition to the Aero Sekur Group of companies will display complete system expertise for life-raft and flotation products. Specializing in integrated technology, Aero Sekur combines flotation bags and life-rafts with gas cylinders/inflation systems and housing for incorporation into... Read more
22-Nov-2011Source: FAA
N2 (power turbine speed) sensor harness wire crimping discrepancy... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- Agusta A109A II, N2NR at Mourne Mountains, Northern Ireland on 23 October 2010 Robinson R22 Beta, G-JERS at Cumbernauld Airport on 15 July 2011 Robinson R44 II Raven, G-GDJF at Skegness, Lincolnshire on 31 May 2011... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: Robinson
DATE: 27 October 2011 TO: R66 owners, operators, and maintenance personnel SUBJECT: Placards and Markings ROTORCRAFT AFFECTED: R66 helicopters S/N 0004 thru 0051, 0053 thru 0058, 0060, 0064 thru 0066, and 0071. TIME OF COMPLIANCE: Within next 150 flight hours or by 31 January 2012, whichever occurs first. BACKGROUND: Some placards and markings were revised... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: FAA
Number 2 Modular Avionic Unit (MAU) ventilation duct... Read more
21-Nov-2011Source: FAA
Monitor the power display when a generator is deactivated... Read more
19-Nov-2011Source: Hong Kong Civil Aviation Dept
Extract: The Civil Aviation Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (CAD) issued Accident Bulletin 2/2010 and Interim Statement 2/2011 on 27 July 2010 and 29 June 2011 respectively on the investigation of the accident on East Asia Airlines EA 206A on 3 July 2010. This Accident Bulletin provides further available... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: NTSB
This is the text from the Preliminary Report. By its very nature, the details are subject to change and should not be relied upon. The Final Report for this incident will be issued in due course:- On November 10, 2011, about 1214 Hawaiian standard time, a Eurocopter EC 130 B4, N11QV, collided with mountainous terrain... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: NTSB
This is the text from the Preliminary Report. By its very nature, the details are subject to change and should not be relied upon. The Final Report for this incident will be issued in due course:- On November 5, 2011, about 1620 eastern standard time, a Robinson R22 BETA, N413RM, operated by Ocean Helicopters Inc.,... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: NTSB
This is the text from the Preliminary Report. By its very nature, the details are subject to change and should not be relied upon. The Final Report for this incident will be issued in due course:- On November 3, 2011, about 1815 eastern standard time, N130AL, a Eurocopter EC 130 B4, sustained substantial damage during... Read more
18-Nov-2011
The families of three state Fish and Game employees from Fresno who were killed when their helicopter hit a utility line last year will receive a cash settlement from Southern California Edison, according to the families’ attorneys. (see full story) HeliHub.com page for this accident is at 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California... Read more
18-Nov-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Bird strikes are not that uncommon with helicopters as most are operating at relatively low level. But to have two EUrocopters make emergency landings on consecutive days with holes created by those bird strikes is unusual. On Wednesday a news gathering AS350B2 in Scottsdale, Arizona took a dove into the cockpit. The helicopter is operated... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: IFALPA
Recent technology has produced small, lightweight data recording devices suitable for use in small helicopters that lack traditional flight data recorders. The most popular models of these devices have built-in video recorders that image the cockpit area. IFALPA pilots have long supported the use of flight data recorders recognising the potential they hold for improving... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: FAA
Differential Compression Test (AC 43.13-1B) The differential pressure tester is designed to check the compression of aircraft engines by measuring the leakage through the cylinders caused by worn or damaged components. The operation of the compression tester is based on the principle that, for any given airflow through a fixed orifice, a constant pressure drop... Read more
17-Nov-2011Source: Tanis Aircraft Products
Tanis Aircraft Products has released a new video outlining the safety benefits of helicopter preheat. Tanis is the technology and innovation leader in aircraft preheat systems, including state of the art systems designed specifically for rotary wing aircraft. The new video highlights the functionality and features of the company’s helicopter preheat systems. Tanis preheat technology... Read more
14-Nov-2011Source: FAA
The FAA recently launched a wildlife poster outreach campaign for the general aviation (GA) community – pilots, airport sponsors, mechanics, engine manufacturers, students at aviation schools, and aviation organizations – to increase wildlife strike reporting among this important segment of aviation. For the last 50 years, the FAA has worked to reduce wildlife strikes at... Read more
