09-Jun-17 VT-NRK AgustaWestland AW119 Badrinath, India (1F)

Helicopter had difficulties on take-off and it appears that a crew member jumped from the aircraft prior to it impacting the ground, but was hit by the rotor blades and died – named as Vikram Lamba.  Helicopter had its skids ripped off and all four main blades ended up much shorter than they should have been.  Photos show the helicopter close to a rocky outcrop and the could possibly have impacted the rock, although unclear either whether that had actually happened, or whether it was cause or effect in the whole scenario.

Pilot Sanjay Wasi and co-pilot Alka Shukla suffered minor injury.

Passengers Naveen Bhai, Leela Ben, Harish Bhai and Ramesh Bhai were not seriously injured.

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, AW119, Civil, Fatal, India, Krestal Aviation, Safety

09-Jun-17 N590GG Robinson R44 Douglas, US-Wyoming

Main blades sliced tail boom and skids splayed out on heavy landing in gusty conditions.  2 POB injured

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Wyoming

04-Jun-17 N601HA Robinson R22HP Kenosha, US-Wisconsin

Helicopter ended on its side on the concrete apron with the sole occupant pilot seriously injured, who was then airlifted in a Flight for Life BK117

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Lakeshore Helicopter, R22, Robinson, Safety, US-Wisconsin

04-Jun-17 OE-BXY Airbus EC135 Hochsteiermark, Austria (2F)

During hoist operations with the rescuer and two patients being lifted, the wire separated from the helicopter causing all three to plunge into a ravine. The police rescuer age 28 and a woman aged 48 died from their injuries and a 47 year old man is seriously injured.  It is unknown why the wire separated from the helicopter

The police report of the accident says there were strong winds and the bad weather.

Tags: Accidents, Austrian Police, Civil, EC135, Eurocopter, Fatal, Safety

03-Jun-17 N7091F Robinson R44 Dimmit, US-Texas (1F)

Date was recorded as 04-Jun-17 when helicopter wreckage was found, but as reports state the pilot’s family were looking “in the middle of the night” for him, and he was last seen on 03-Jun-17, we believe the accident date would most likely have been 03-Jun-17. NTSB also tweeted on 4th June that they were attending “investigating yesterday’s crash of a Robinson R-44 helicopter in Dimmit, TX”.  No details of the situation have been reported, bar that it was working low level checking on cattle.

The accident killed 68-year old Don Oppliger – whos company owns ranches and farms in Texas, New Mexico and Nebraska to support the feeding of 230,000 cattle in six large feedlots. More than 90,000 acres of the roughly 150,000 acres held by the company are in Nebraska, including properties near Paxton, Wallace, Atkinson, Tryon and Johnstown.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-Texas

02-Jun-17 Eurocopter AS355F Newark, US-New Jersey

Helicopter made emergency landing on main runway of Newark Airport.  No reported damage

Tags: Accidents, AS355, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety, US-New Jersey

02-Jun-17 D-HFCQ Robinson R44 Rostock, Germany

Main blades struck street light on final approach to land at the Hohe Düne marina, and the instability created led to the crash.  Tail (including rotor) separated in the accident.  The complete scene is best seen in this YouTube video. Light injuries to the 4 POB – although some reports say 3 POB and one injury on the ground.

There is a marked helipad at this location – see map

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Germany, R44, Robinson, Safety

31-May-17 Airbus AS532 Uludere, Turkey (13F)

Crashed after hitting high voltage wires shortly after take-off (one report says three minutes after take off).  All 13 POB deceased.  DHA news agency is reported as saying the helicopter was carrying a delegation, headed by a major-general, which was inspecting the Senoba region.

All 13 POB deceased, named as 23rd Border Division Command Major General Aydoğan Aydın, Colonel Oğuzhan Küçükdemir, Colonel Gökhan Peker, Colonel Songül Yakut, Major Koray Onay, Captain İlker Acar, Captain Nuri Şener, Pilot Captain Serhat Sığınak , Pilot Lieutenant Alldmüttalip Kesikbaş, Chief Sergeant Mehmet Erdogan, Technical Sergeant Fevzi Kıral, Sergeant Zeki Koç, and Infantry Specialist Sergeant Hakan İncekal

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, Fatal, Military, Safety, Turkey, Turkish Army

31-May-17 Boeing AH-64 Dornstadt-Tomerdingen, Germany

Emergency landing in a field of crop. No apparent damage from photos in press.  Quote > Instruments indicated that the hydraulics powering the flight control system had a loss in pressure, prompting a “land-as-soon-as-possible condition”

Tags: Accidents, AH-64, Boeing, Germany, Military, Safety, US Army

31-May-17 Z402 Airbus SA316 Dayarampura, India

Precautionary landing due to change of weather – it was a very soggy field

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Eurocopter, India, Indian Army, Military, SA316, Safety

30-May-17 Airbus AS365N3 Moorea, French Polynesia

French Navy Dauphin made a wheels up landing on the runway, with the helicopter remaining upright on its belly. Three POB not injured

The French Navy have two examples based at Papeete/Tahiti-Faaa (PPT / NTAA), serialled 6872 and 6928

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Eurocopter, French Navy, French Polynesia, Military, Safety

29-May-17 SMH-589 Mil Mi-17 Baddegama, Sri Lanka

While involved in flood relief support, helicopter landed in a residential garden, with the boom breaking off against the roof of the house. Registration validated by photo on this page

None of the 11 POB injured.  Helicopter substantially damaged

Tags: Accidents, Mi-17, Mil, Military, Safety, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Air Force

28-May-17 XB-CCP Robinson R44 II Chiconquiaco, Mexico

Crashed and destroyed by fire.  3 POB seriously injured.  Passengers named as Carlos Marcelo Ruiz Sánchez and Juan Domínguez were transferred to a hospital in Naolinco, while the pilot was taken to a hospital in Xalapa.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Mexico, R44, Robinson, Safety

27-May-17 Mil Mi-17 Neluwa, Sri Lanka

37-year- old SLAF airman, YMS Yaparathna, fall off a helicopter while conducting a rescue operation, along with the two individuals he was rescuing.  All three were injured when they fell, and were admitted to the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital where the airman later died of his injuries.  He was posthumously promoted from Flight Sergeant to the rank of Warrant Officer

Tags: Accidents, Mi-17, Mil, Military, Safety, Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan Air Force

27-May-17 Mil Mi-17 Chilov Island, Azerbaijan

Successful emergency landing after reported engine failure.  Helicopter was en route to the Oil Rocks field with 15 pax and 3 crew.  No damage, no injuries

Tags: Accidents, Azerbaijan, Civil, Mi-17, Mil, Offshore, Safety, Silk Way Helicopter Services

27-May-17 VT-ENX Airbus AS365N Ahmedabad, India

Helicopter was flying from Manekpur in Valsad to Himmatnagar when the engine reportedly heated up.  Successful safe emergency landing made.  VVIP – the Chief Minister of Gujarat (Vijay Rupani) was on board.  The actual helicopter involved has not yet been identified and may have been a replacement in any case – after other issues with the CM’s helicopter earlier in the year.

Rupani was travelling with his personal secretary Shailesh Mandaliya

Registration assumed from a photo of the CM’s helicopter posted online by the Gujerati Government

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Civil, Eurocopter, India, Safety

27-May-17 Mil Mi-8 Maritime Territory, Russia

One of 7 POB injured in a rough landing of a Mil Mi-8 helicopter in the Far East’s Maritime Territory

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Mi-8, Mil, Russia, Safety

25-May-17 N62UP Airbus EC135 New Castle, US-Delaware (1F)

Air ambulance on training flight. Crash shortly after take off, killing the pilot. No patients or medical crew were on board.  Pilot named as Michael Murphy

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, Civil, EC135, EMS, Eurocopter, Fatal, Metro Aviation, Safety, Training, US-Delaware

25-May-17 VT-CMM Sikorsky S76C++ Nilanga, India

Helicopter came down less than 30 seconds after take-off.  Video shows a sudden spark 41 seconds after take-off on a very low climb-out (which could suggest it hit wires), and the helicopter descended quickly from there.  4 POB including the Chief Minister of the State of Maharashtra, but no significant injuries.  The helicopter did not gain any significant height between take-off and impacting the wires.

Thge official line from the state press dept is > ”The pilot decided on an emergency landing within 2 minutes of take-off. The helicopter didn’t crash-land, but got caught in wires while landing. We experienced sudden jerks, but no one suffered any injury. The CM has called for a detailed probe into the incident,’’ said Ketan Pathak, officer on special-duty (OSD) with the Chief Minister’s Office.

This report states air temperature was 45C.  The “brown out” from blown up earth/dust could be contributory – one suggestion was that the helipad had not been sufficiently watered and thus the dust cloud greater than it could have been.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Government of Maharashtra, India, S76, Safety, Sikorsky

25-May-17 N11FX Bell UH-1 Höfen, Austria

While landing after an aerobatic demo flight, the rotor blades came into contact with a building and the tail rotor gearbox separated from the aircraft.  Subsequent small fire was put out and helicopter written off on the helipad.  Pilot Siegfried Schwarz

Tags: Accidents, AH-1, Austria, Bell, Civil, Flying Bulls, Safety

23-May-17 XB-LUB Bel 47D Amacuzac, Mexico (1F)

Helicopter crashed during mosquito control operations, and burnt out in the following fire.  Sole occupant pilot died in the accident

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, B47, Bell, Civil, Fatal, Mexico, Safety

23-May-17 Bell UH-1 Naccache, Lebanon

Emergency landing made on a road; Photo shows helicopter apparently intact and complete, with no damage

Tags: Accidents, Bell, Lebanese Air Force, Lebanon, Military, Safety, UH-1

22-May-17 AN-136 Eurocopter EC145 Punta Chame, Panama

Helicopter was flying from Santiago (Veraguas Province) to Panama Pacifico airport in the capital city, and was impacted by a flock of birds causing a loss of thrust in its tail rotor.  Am Emergency landing was made at Punta Chame, which resulted in the helicopter being on its port side on the edge of the beach.

Pilot named as Major Oriel Reyes, was returning after completing a humanitarian SAR mission with the Joint Task Force, including the National Civil Protection System (SINAPROC) and other SAR Aircraft Units.  Helicopter registration was given in Panamanian Navy press release.

Passengers were named as Commissioner Belisario Bonini and Sergeant Primero Augusto Sánchez

Tags: Accidents, EC145, Eurocopter, Military, Panama, Panamanian Navy, Safety

22-May-17 N207CH Airbus AS350B2 Herbert Glacier, US-Alaska

Landing accident on a glacier.  No injuries to 7 POB

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Coastal Helicopters, Eurocopter, Safety, Tours, US-Alaska

22-May-17 N2032S Schweizer 300CBi Eden Prairie, US-Minnesota

Fell onto starboard side during training accident.  Two POB not seriously injured

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Hummingbird Aviation, S300, Safety, Schweizer, US-Minnesota

21-May-17 Leonardo AW101 Hamr el Ain, Algeria (3F)

Helicopter crashed in open farmland on a night reconnaissance mission, killing three POB.  Post crash fire.  Reported location is right by significant amounts of high voltage lines converging on a power station site, and the Algerian Navy later confirmed (below) that the helicopter hit powerlines.

The official statement in the news section of the Algerian Navy website shows an AW101 and official naval photos of three men in their uniforms, thus confirming 3 fatalities and not 5 as reported in some sources.

The statement reads as follows – During a night training patrol on the Blida-Tipaza axis, a rescue helicopter belonging to the Naval Forces was crashed on Sunday the 21^st of May 2017, at 9.40 pm after having struck high-voltage power lines near the commune of Hamr El Ain, in the Wilaya of Tipaza, causing the death of the members of its crew, composed of three officers.  In this painful circumstance, Major General HAOULI Mohamed Larbi Commandant of the Naval Forces sends his heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families and assures them of his deep compassion and support in the aftermath of this tragic accident.

Tags: Accidents, AgustaWestland, Algeria, Algerian Navy, AW101, Fatal, Military, Safety

20-May-17 6595 Airbus HH-65 Berkeley, US-California

Emergency landing after the autopilot system failed and a crew member smelled something electrical burning.  Helicopter removed from site by road back to base at CGAS San Francisco

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS365, Eurocopter, Military, Safety, US Coast Guard, US-California

20-May-17 N2322Z Robinson R22 Linden, US-New Jersey

Fell onto starboard side in training accident.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R22, Robinson, Safety, Training, US-New Jersey

20-May-17 N778TL Robinson R66 Canon City, US-Colorado

Close to company base, helicopter landed upright, but with main blades slicing the tail boom off close to the tail rotor

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Colorado Vertical, R66, Robinson, Safety, Tours, US-Colorado

19-May-17 Robinson R44 Heilbron, South Africa (2F)

two farmers and their sons were returning home from the Nampo Harvest Day on Bothaville in the Free State when the accident occurred.  One farmer, Douw Wentzel Snr, and the other farmer’s son Andre Deale suffered fatal injuries.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R44, Robinson, Safety, South Africa

19-May-17 N197LL Airbus EC145 Terre Haute, US-Indiana

While in cruise flight at 3000 MSL, a “loud bang” was heard with a secondary “loud rushing” noise. The pilot verified no flight control or system malfunction and initiated a precautionary landing to nearest suitable landing area. After landing, a post-flight inspection revealed a broken copilot chin bubble with bird remains. No occupant was seated in the co-pilot seat at time of incident. The crew was in the cabin area, attending to patient care. No injuries were sustained from the incident and no additional aircraft damage was noted.

Flight program = Indiana University Health LifeLine

NOTE – report quotes operator as Metro Aviation, but this aircraft was re-registered to Air Methods in March 2017.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, EC145, EMS, Eurocopter, Metro Aviation, Safety

18-May-17 N6040Y Bell 407 Fort Worth, US-Texas

FAA reported substantially damaged after hard landing on training flight – aircraft operated by Bell Helicopter Training Academy

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Civil, Safety, Training, US-Texas

17-May-17 VH-MNU Robinson R44 Moreton Island, Australia

During aerial work, the helicopter collided with trees and subsequently with terrain. The pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety

14-May-17 Tabayama, Japan (1F)

When the rescue helicopter — which was hovering over the scene — moved its position, rocks and tree branches suddenly tumbled down the slope over the patient (who had fallen and summoned help) and the two rescue workers on the ground. The man was airlifted to a hospital in Kofu where he was confirmed dead. The two rescue workers sustained light injuries.  Police are investigating the details of the rock slide, which may have been caused by the helicopter.  There is no mention in available press of damage to the helicopter

Fatality named as 49-year-old Tomohiro Ito, a banker from Yokohama.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, Japan, Safety, SAR

13-May-17 HB-ZTM Airbus AS350B2 Kandersteg, Switzerland (1F)

During landing phase, helicopter fell on its port side, killing the pilot.  3 of the 5 passengers were slightly injured.  Pilot named in prelim accident report as Schweizer Bürger

Tags: Accidents, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Fatal, Mountain Flyers 80, Safety, Switzerland

13-May-17 Bell 407 Mosul, Iraq

Helicopter shot down from ground fire.  Reports do not agree as to whether the two occupants were fatally injured or not.  In one report, a Bell 407 is shown with holes in the front windscreen

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Iraq, Iraqi Army, Military, Safety

13-May-17 D-HHFW Bell 206B Hirtshals, Denmark

While being transported, the trailer carrying the helicopter started to fishtail from the towing vehicle – causing the helicopter to work free of the straps/cables holding it in place, and the trailer finally turned over, causing significant damage to the helicopter

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Civil, Denmark, Safety

10-May-17 OM-BYM Bell 429 Vyšnej Šebastová, Slovakia (2F)

4POB – two firefighters, who were fatally injured, and two police.  The fatalities were named as Peter Toďor, who died at the scene, and Radoslava Lacka, who died a little time later in hospital.  Reported as a training flight and helicopter spiralled down from 100-200m altitude to a very heavy landing.

Tags: Accidents, B429, Bell, Civil, Law Enforcement, Safety, Slovak Police, Slovakia

10-May-17 D-HAFB Westland-Bell 47 Pertisau, Austria (2F)

Crashed and burnt out killing both on board, after reportedly hitting the cables of a material cableway.  According to a report in the Tyrolean edition of the “Kronen Zeitung”, Peter H. (55) from Tulfes and Richard G. (52) from Hall.

Tags: Accidents, Austria, B47, Bell, Civil, Fatal, Safety

10-May-17 N480W Enstrom 480 Pfunders, Italy (1F)

Helicopter had started the day in Pisa, flying north and refuelling at Bolzano.  On next leg to Salzburg it encountered some difficulties and one report suggests it was on fire before reaching the ground and burning out in a ravine.  Sole occupant pilot fatally injured – reported as a 75 year old Austrian national

Tags: 480, Accidents, Civil, Enstrom, Fatal, Italy, Safety

10-May-17 G-HKCN Airbus H125 Bergen, Norway

Ended up in the water next to the superyacht it is based on – MY Bacarella after the helicopter’s downdraft caused a loose tarpaulin to rise up into the rotors shortly before touchdown, and evasive action by the pilot steered the helicopter away from the boat and into the water alongside.  Three POB, one seriously injured, two with minor injuries.  One occupant, Quentin Smith, named the seriously injured colleague as David Tang in this television interview and the third occupant as Charles without giving a surname.  Hong Kong press later named the third occupant as Charles Chan, chairman of media company TVB

Accident timed at 21.24 local time

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Norway, Safety

10-May-17 N428JG Robinson R44 Vevay, US-Indiana

Struck powerline during agricultural work and force landed in the field below

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, St Louis Helicopter

08-May-17 HL9414 Kamov Ka32 Samcheok, Korea (1F)

Helicopter struck wires and made an emergency landing into shallow water – but ended upright with little apparent damage from available press images.  However, one crew member knocked unconscious in the manoeuvre and later died in hospital from his injuries

Civil registration HL9414, and also carries Korea Forest Service fleet code FP 608

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Firefighting, Ka32, Kamov, Korean Forest Service, Safety, South Korea

07-May-17 9N-AKG Airbus AS350B3e Everest Base Camp, Nepal

Helicopter was hit by an object while flying and damage was sustained to the boom (picture).

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Heli-Everest, Nepal, Safety

07-May-17 Bell 206 Waterloo, US-Illinois

Helicopter involved in low level agricultural work, clipped wires and came down into the field.  Pilot walked away

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, B206, Bell, Civil, Safety, US-Illinois

05-May-17 N981RR Robinson R44 Santa Barbara, US-California

Two passengers and a pilot were taking a waterfront tour, when the R44 experienced mechanical problems and an emergency landing was made.  The helicopter struck two vans near a golf course and caught fire, but all three occupants got out before the flames broke out.

Operator was Santa Barbara Helicopter Tours, who lease it from Spitzer Helicopters

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, Santa Barbara Helicopter Tours, US-California

05-May-17 G-MATH Airbus AS350B3 Wycombe Air Park, UK

Landed on its port side with minimal damage to anything on the starboard side (stabiliser, tail rotor), although starboard skid somewhat bent.  Possible dynamic roll-over.  3 POB all to hospital, one with life-threatening injuries

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety, UK

04-May-17 RA-04156 Robinson R44 Inzer, Russia (3F)

Crashed killing 3 onboard as the helicopter was monitoring forest fires in Bashkortostan, Russia. Reports coming in state that the pilot and 2 forestry workers were killed instantly when the R44 came down in the forest

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Fatal, R44, Robinson, Russia, Safety

04-May-17 Bell UH-1D Tanay, Philippines (3F)

Encountered engine trouble while on a landing approach inside the headquarters of the Philippine Army’s 2nd Infantry Divisiion in Sitio Hilltop, Barangay Sampaloc, Camp Capinpin in Tanay.  Helicopter crashed and burned out in a wooded area

The helicopter was taking part in a disaster rescue operation training course involving 60 soldiers from the 2nd Infantry Division and 12 policemen from Calabarzon in Region-4 with Camp Capinpin as venue.

3 fatalities from 4 POB

Tags: Accidents, Bell, Fatal, Military, Philippine Air Force, Philippines, Safety, UH-1

03-May-17 F-HUSH Robinson R44 II Monléon-Magnoac, France

Helicopter sank into the ground on landing and then tilted backwards. The pilot applies more power but loses control of the helicopter which falls onto its side.

BEA 2017-0233

Tags: Accidents, Civil, France, R44, Robinson, Safety

03-May-17 N401JS Robinson R44 Cimarron, US-New Mexico

FAA report no injuries in force landing, damage to helicopter “unknown”

Tags: Accidents, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety, US-New Mexico

02-May-17 N457PH Bell 407 Grand Bay, US-Gulf of Mexico

On May 2, 2017, about 0635 central daylight time, a Bell 407 made a precautionary landing at Grand Bay receiving station in the Gulf of Mexico, near Boothville, Louisiana, after the pilot noticed a vibration in-flight. VMC prevailed at the time of the accident.The non-scheduled domestic passenger flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 135, and a company VFR flight plan had been filed and activated. The pilot and four passengers on board the helicopter were not injured.The cross-country flight originated from Boothville (LS08), Louisiana, at 0629, and was en route to Main Pass 311A in the Gulf of Mexico when the accident occurred.

The pilot had noticed a vibration in-flight and landed the helicopter on the oil platform. As he was shutting down the engine, the vibration worsened and he completed the shutdown using the rotor brake. Post-accident inspection revealed a tip cap had separated from one of the tail rotor blades, and cracks were noted on the tail rotor gear box, mounting hardware, and tail boom, all considered to be substantial damage.

Tags: Accidents, B407, Bell, Civil, Offshore, PHI, Safety, US-Gulf of Mexico

02-May-17 G-MCGG Sikorsky S92 Kirkfieldbank, UK

Helicopter went unserviceable on the ground at an emergency callout

Tags: Accidents, Bristow Helicopters, Civil, S92, Safety, SAR, Sikorsky, UK

02-May-17 ZK-IED Airbus BK117A3 Porirua Harbour, New Zealand

Sole occupant pilot Rick Lucas experienced tail rotor failure and helicopter started to spin so he elected to ditch it in the shallow waters of Porirua Harbour, N of Wellington

Tags: Accidents, BK117, Civil, Eurocopter, Heliforce, New Zealand, Safety

02-May-17 N911GE Bell 206B Fort McCoy, US-Florida

A Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter that was assisting the Florida Forest Service and Marion County Fire Rescue with active brush fires crashed while dipping a bucket for water in a lake.  Pilot is named in press reports as Sgt. John Rawls

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Civil, Firefighting, Marion County Sheriff, Safety, US-Florida

01-May-17 Sikorsky UH-60 Scottsville, US-New York

Precautionary landing made at country club after the windshield developed a crack and its anti-icing system started to short out.  It was later flown back to base at Rochester

Tags: Accidents, Military, Safety, Sikorsky, UH-60, US Army, US-New York

28-Apr-17 HB-XXM Airbus SE3160 Steffisburg, Switzerland

After hearing a loud noise at an altitude of 3500ft, the pilot commenced autorotation and landed in a field without further apparent damage.  Once on the ground, damage was found to a tail rotor control cable

Tags: Accidents, Civil, Eurocopter, SA316, Safety, Switzerland

27-May-17 N914ET Airbus EC135 Tyler, US-Texas

N914ET was on the return trip back to their base when they had a bird strike. They diverted to a local airport to do a precautionary landing and check for damages. No injuries were associated with this incident. There was no damage noted by the pilot or crew. The aircraft returned to base without further incident.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, EC135, EMS, Eurocopter, Metro Aviation, Safety

30-Oct-16 ZK-IZR Guimbal Cabri G2 Tarras, New Zealand

The helicopter hit a pole and crashed at 4.30am whilst engaged in frost control operations due to the pilot being unable to see due to the canopy fogging up. The pilot was injured.

Tags: Accidents, Civil, G2, Guimbal, New Zealand, Safety, Tailwind Helicopters

21-May-16 C-GSHX Bell 206L4 North West Territories, Canada

A Great Slave Helicopter Bell 206L-4 (C-GSHX) rolled over when pilot exited helicopter to unhook sling load. The pilot contacted Ektaki, NT (CYOA) radio.

CADORS 2016C1746

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Canada, Civil, Great Slave Helicopters, Safety

12-May-16 VH-WGB Robinson R22B Wallal Downs Station, Australia

The ATSB is investigating a collision with terrain involving a Robinson R22, VH-WGB, 220 km NE of Port Hedland Airport, Western Australia, on 12 May 2016.

While conducting aerial work, the helicopter collided with terrain. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the helicopter was substantially damaged.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R22, Robinson, Safety

06-May-16 C-FLRQ Rotorway Exec 162F Delburne, Canada

The privately owned Rotorway 162F, C-FLRQ, was enroute from the manufacturer’s facility in Red Deer, AB (CYQF), to a private strip near Big Valley, AB. In the vicinity of Delburne, AB, the FADEC controlled engine (RI162) began to lose power, and then came back on. The pilot decided to conduct an autorotation in a field. During touchdown, the helicopter flipped onto its right side. The helicopter was substantially damaged; the pilot, who was the lone occupant, was not injured.

CADORS 2016C1659

Tags: Accidents, Canada, Civil, Exec, Rotorway, Safety

04-May-16 C-GOPK Bell 206B Fort St James, Canada

C-GOPK, a Highland Helicopters Bell 206 B departed Williams Lake (CYWL) and was carrying out scanning operations over a logged area about 112 nm NW of Prince George when the helicopter spun to the left and descended into the ground. The helicopter was destroyed, the pilot was injured, but the 2 passengers appeared to have no injuries. All 3 were taken to hospital in Fort St. James, BC. There was no post impact fire. The 406 Emergency Locator Transmitter activated

CADORS 2016P0618

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Canada, Civil, Highland Helicopters, Safety

29-Apr-16 LN-OJF Airbus EC225 Bergen, Norway (13F)

Main rotor blades and hub reportedly detached in flight, and a video online purports to show this subsystem spinning down to earth.  The remainder of the helicopter descended at high rate, impacting  rocky ground with 13 fatalities on impact and being consumed in the post-impact fire.  The helicopter was being operated for Statoil, and en route from the Gullfaks B platform to Bergen Airport

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS332, CHC, Civil, EC225, Eurocopter, Fatal, Norway, Offshore, Safety

15-Apr-16 ZK-IMS Guimbal Cabri G2 Tikitere, New Zealand

Pilot made an emergency landing in a paddock for unknown reason.  Inspection cover in firewall had not been closed during pre-flight checks and helicopter was consumed by fire.  Sole occupant pilot got out OK without injury

Tags: Accidents, Civil, G2, Guimbal, New Zealand, Safety

26-Mar-16 C-GAWZ Robinson R44 Redfern Lake, Canada

on a local pleasure flight from a private facility at Redfern Lake, BC. As the pilot attempted a landing at approximately 7800 feet ASL near the edge of a cirque, the aircraft encountered descending air on final. The pilot elected to continue the approach and increased the collective to maintain the sight picture. The pilot then noticed the low rotor warning with the rotor RPM decreasing rapidly toward 70%. The aircraft landed hard and rolled over several times down the slope. The pilot and the two passengers evacuated the aircraft with no injuries. There was no post impact fire; however the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

CADORS 2016P0406

Tags: Accidents, Canada, Civil, R44, Robinson, Safety

25-Mar-16 VH-WHU Bell 206B Mackay, Australia (1F)

The ATSB is investigating a fatal accident involving a Bell 206B helicopter accident near Camila, Queensland on 25 March 2016.

During crop spraying operations, the helicopter struck powerlines before colliding with terrain. The pilot was fatally injured and the helicopter was destroyed by post-impact fire.

Tags: Accidents, Agricultural, Australia, B206, Bell, Civil, Safety

24-Mar-16 C-GGQL Bell 206B Port Renfrew, Canada

C-GGQL, a Far West Helicopters Bell 206B, was departing with two passengers on board off a helipad at an elevation of about 2500 feet ASL, 4 nautical miles north of Port Renfrew, BC. During the vertical ascent to rise above tree height, the torque gauge was indicating about 90-95%. Upon reaching an estimated 100-150 feet, the rotor RPM (Nr) was down to about 97%. The pilot reduced the collective slightly in an attempt to recover to 100% Nr. When the RPM did not recover, the ascent was stopped (at tree top height, approximately 200-250 feet) and the pilot immediately initiated a descent back towards the helipad. Almost immediately, the rotor RPM had decreased to 90% Nr and the low rotor RPM caution light and horn activated. The landing was hard, the left skid wedged under a helipad log and tilted backward. The main rotor blades struck the ground as the throttle was being rolled off and the helicopter came to rest on its right side. The occupants were not injured and evacuated unassisted.

CADORS 2016P0405

Tags: Accidents, B206, Bell, Canada, Civil, Far West Helicopters, Safety

21-Mar-16 VH-RGY Robinson R22 Richmond, Australia

The ATSB is investigating a collision with terrain involving a Robinson R22, VH-RGY, at Richmond Airport, Queensland, on 21 March 2016.

After engine start, the helicopter collided with terrain resulting in substantial damage. The pilot was uninjured.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R22, Robinson, Safety

17-Mar-16 9N-AJI Airbus AS350B3e Langtang, Nepal

Crashed on take off after unloading construction materials, ending on its starboard side.

Tags: Accidents, Airbus Helicopters, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Fishtail Air, Nepal, Safety

16-Mar-16 C-FBLW Airbus AS350BA Smithers, Canada

C-FBLW, a TRK Helicopters Aerospatiale AS350 BA helicopter, was operated under contract to SKEENA Heli-Ski from the Bear Creek Lodge, BC, about 82 nautical miles north west of Smithers, BC. The flight was returning to base camp in the late afternoon with a pilot and 6 passengers on board. As the pilot was maneuvering the helicopter close to the steepening terrain, the cyclic control was moved forward. The nose of the helicopter pitched down and the speed increased to Vne (+/-). The pilot then moved the cyclic back and left, however the helicopter rolled right and pitched up. The cyclic stick was difficult to move, and the helicopter collided with terrain on a steep snow covered slope. The main rotor blades cut a swath through the deep snowpack on the left side, and continued to turn until the pilot shut down the engine (Honeywell LTS 101-700D-2) and applied the rotor brake. All occupants appeared uninjured and expedited egress to the left side due to the steep, downhill slope on the right side. The helicopter was substantially damaged, but the ELT was not triggered to send out an emergency signal.

CADORS 2016P0400

Tags: Accidents, AS350, Canada, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety, TRK Helicopters

25-Feb-16 D-HVBB Eurocopter EC135T2+ Bimöhlen, Germany (2F)

Police helicopter crashed killing two and the third is in a critical condition.  More news awaited.  D-HVBB registration to be finally confirmed

Tags: Accidents, Civil, EC135, Eurocopter, Fatal, German Federal Police, Germany, Law Enforcement, Safety

21-Feb-16 Airbus AS350 Uritorco, Argentina

Crashed during the rescue of a paraglider who had suffered multiple fractures

Tags: Accidents, Argentina, AS350, Civil, Eurocopter, Safety

20-Feb-16 VH-LYW Robinson R22 Roma, Australia

The ATSB is investigating a wirestrike and collision with terrain involving a Robinson R22 helicopter, VH-LYW, 88 km northeast of Roma, Queensland, on 20 February 2016.

During aerial mustering operations, the helicopter struck powerlines and subsequently collided with terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the helicopter was destroyed.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, Mustering, R22, Robinson, Safety

14-Feb-16 VH-HXY Robinson R44 Hughenden, Australia

During the approach and landing, the pilot sighted powerlines strung across his landing point, and manoeuvred to remain clear of them.  While on the ground, the wind veered from a southwest to a southerly direction, so that to take off into wind, the helicopter would track perpendicular to the powerlines. After completing the pre-take-off checks, the pilot turned his attention to a mob of cattle, to ensure the noise of the helicopter would not send them through a fence.  Taking off initially parallel to the powerlines, and the pilot then turned to manoeuvre around a tree and climbed to about 20 ft above ground level. The tree momentarily obscured the powerlines and the pilot’s attention was on the cattle.

As the helicopter rounded the tree, at an airspeed of about 50 kt, the skids struck the powerlines. The pilot heard the wires contact the helicopter and it decelerated rapidly. The pilot lowered collective and pulled back on the cyclic, but the helicopter rolled forwards over the wires, descended rapidly, and collided with the ground passenger-side down in a nose down attitude. The wire was hooked on the helicopter’s right skid, with power still running through it. After the blades stopped turning, the pilot exited the helicopter. The pilot was not injured and the helicopter was destroyed.

Tags: Accidents, Australia, Civil, R22, Robinson, Safety