Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions leading to pilot spatial disorientation continue to be a leading cause of fatal helicopter accidents. From 2000 to 2019 in the United States, there were 130 fatal accidents directly linked to the issue of spatial disorientation. These accidents occurred regardless of pilot experience and they cut across all industries, including Emergency… Read more »
Helicopter Association International (HAI) began over 70 years ago as a group to promote and advocate for the helicopter industry. While HAI maintains that role today, the association also makes significant and robust contributions to safety programs for the industry. HAI’s vision is an industry with zero accidents, and in pursuit of that goal, its… Read more »
Can you imagine yourself in a situation where you only had 56 seconds to live? If you are a helicopter pilot and you find yourself in Unintentional Instrument Meteorological Conditions (UIMC), those precious 56 seconds may be a reality. “U.S. accident statistics reveal that a helicopter pilot operating under Visual Flight Rules who unintentionally continues… Read more »
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters in the main section, but under “AAIB Record-only investigations reviewed: November – December 2020” is this 11 Sep 2020 Robinson R44 G-CDUE Peterborough Business Airport, Cambridgeshire The helicopter was caught by a gust of wind as the… Read more »
Congressman Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks) and California Senator Dianne Feinstein announced the reintroduction of the Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant Helicopter Safety Act, which will require the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to strengthen federal safety standards for equipping helicopters. Congressman Sherman moved to first introduce this legislation in the wake of the tragic helicopter crash… Read more »
While conducting low level nighttime frost control operations, the helicopter dropped to the ground, rolled over and caught fire. No injury reported to the 2 POB
Night training mission in a routinely used area. In a press conference (video, 7m50s) Lt. Col. Nicole Washington noted that the weather was poor, with snow and a low ceiling of fog that affected both the subject flight and later search efforts for the victims. The Guard named those on board as Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jesse Anderson,… Read more »
Helicopter was one of three making the same route within minutes of each other. This helicopter impacted terrain and all 5POB received fatal injuries – named here as Pilot: Ernesto Ivan Verdecia Diaz Copilot: Luis Miguel González Santana Flight Engineer: Nivaldo García Herrera Bodyguard: Yoani Alarcón Ramirez Bodyguard: Osneiviz Pedro Martinez Reyes
Remained upright in very heavy landing. Engine fire. Skids collapsed, boom detached. Pilot (only person on board) airlifted to Rancagua hospital Chilean Army photo from Twitter
Many people across our industry have been calling for some years now for better regulation of hobby drones, along with more proactive policing and harder sentencing. At present the first US court case is progressing where a drone owner has pleaded guilty in a situation where a drone struck a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter. But this… Read more »
Crashed and caught fire, killing all five POB. The deceased were named here as Dr Kgopotso Rudolph Mononyane, an anaesthetist, Dr Curnick Siyabonga (Sia) Mahlangu a cardiothoracic surgeon and Mpho Xaba, a specialist theatre nurse for cardiothoracic and transplant, all from Netcare Milpark Hospital; Sinjin Joshua Farrance, an advanced life support paramedic at Netcare 911,… Read more »
The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) applauds the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) introduction of the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS). Developed at the recommendation of and in collaboration with NATA and other industry stakeholders, the online tool eases access to Office of Aviation Safety guidance materials through a new, centralized portal. “When it comes to safety, both speed… Read more »
Helicopter impacted lake. All four POB died in the accident. When the helicopter was recovered, one blade was missing and the tail boom had been sliced off. Pilot named in this report as Elio Marcaccio while passengers Moisés Selvi and Euclides Quintero, and a unnamed 14 year-old were added from this report