When hovering from the park point for take-off, the pilot loses control yawing to the left. The helicopter landed very hard. Investigators report aircraft destroyed
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 214B, 214B-1, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. This AD was prompted by a report of a shoulder harness seat belt comfort clip (comfort clip) interfering with the seat belt inertia reel. This AD requires… Read more »
The ATSB is investigating the near-collision with terrain involving Leonardo Helicopters AW139, VH-TJO, 25 km East of Goulburn, New South Wales, on 24 July 2020. While conducting a single-pilot NVG EMS flight, the aircraft entered an uncommanded descent and drift. The aircraft was recovered in close proximity to obstacles and during the recovery, the helicopter… Read more »
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has taken an important step towards increasing cybersecurity protection of large aeroplanes and rotorcraft by amending the rules related to the product certification. These amendments will step up safety on board by mitigating the potential effects of cybersecurity threats which could arise through intentional unauthorised acts of interaction… Read more »
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76C helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of inaccurate main gear box (MGB) indications in flight. This AD requires updating the remote data acquisition unit (RDAU) software and re-identifying the RDAU and, for certain helicopters, updating the software of… Read more »
According to the operator, their flight tracking program showed that the helicopter depart the Rifle Garfield County Airport (RIL), Rifle, Colorado, and was en route to perform a low altitude aerial observation flight of transmission/power lines. The flight track ended near the accident location after a 3 to 4 minute flight about one mile southwest… Read more »
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Eurocopter AS350B2 (G-PDGF), inadvertent release of underslung load, Glencoe, Argyll, Scotland, 3 March 2020
During winching operations, the helicopter’s main rotor blades struck a tree. The crew returned to Archerfield, after which inspection revealed substantial damage to all main rotor blades, which were replaced by engineers.
Senator Dianne Feinstein, Representative Brad Sherman (both D-Calif.), Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today introduced the Helicopter Safety Act, a bill to require terrain awareness and warning systems and crash-resistant flight data and voice recorders on all… Read more »
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- AW189 (G-OENC), wrong deck landing, Forties Charlie platform, northern North Sea, 25 March 2019
The National Transportation Safety Board, in a safety recommendation report issued Tuesday called on helicopter manufacturers to equip turbine-powered helicopters with crash-resistant systems to record data, audio, and images. The NTSB asked the manufacturers – Airbus Helicopters, Bell, Leonardo, MD Helicopters, Robinson and Sikorsky – to act since the Federal Aviation Administration has not implemented… Read more »
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Bell 429 (G-WLTS), un-commanded yaw during Power Assurance Check, Melksham, Wiltshire, 2 January 2019 AW109SP (G-VIVE), aircraft struck power lines during final approach, Robins Farm, Chiddingfold, Surrey, 04 November 2019 Robinson R44 II (G-LLIZ), helicopter rollover,… Read more »
The U.S. Helicopter Safety Team (www.USHST.org) has released an extensive Recommended Practice document which suggests training scenarios that will mitigate risk and improve aviation decision making. The training lesson plans in the document identify and describe numerous fatal helicopter accidents that involve some aspect showing a lack of sound aviation decision making that placed the… Read more »
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident(s) of:- Guimbal Cabri G2 (G-CILR), aircraft fire due to electrical short circuit, Wycombe Air Park, 22 July 2019 Correction: Sikorsky S-61N (G-ATBJ), control restriction on takeoff, Marchwood, Hampshire, 1 February 2018
