Police identified the pilot as Richard Zane Whitesides, aged 21. The R22 was impounded, and contained both firearms and several empty beer cans. Dusty Whitaker, prinicpal of Whitesides’ employer Texas Extreme Helicopters said the flight was not authorized. Whitesides was fired the next day
Source: San Angelo Standard Times, 27-Jan-11
In accordance with Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, an inspector’s investigation is in progress to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident involving a Eurocopter AS332 L2 helicopter (registration mark B-HRN) operated by Government Flying Service that made an emergency landing in Shing Mun Reservoir on December 27, 2010. The… Read more »
Source: Hong Kong CAD, 27-Jan-11
A recent report prepared by the State Audit Institution (DDK) on a 2009 helicopter accident that killed six people, including Grand Unity Party (BBP) leader Muhsin YazıcıoÄŸlu, has found the deaths “suspicious.â€Â HeliHub.com page for this accident is here. File photo
Source: World Bulletin, 26-Jan-11
Thge television station AS350B2 – known as “Globocop” – was hit by three rifle shots at about 7:30 am. The reporter Karina Borges, the system operator and the pilot Roberto Mello Kings Antonio Ramos was not injured. one of the bullets hit the floor, the second, the central region, and the third, the tail of the… Read more »
Source: Marataizes, 26-Jan-11
The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland today announced a $2.4 million donation by Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd. (HMDC) towards the installation of new, state-of-the art simulation training equipment at the Institute’s Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC) in Foxtrap, NL. “A commitment to safety is something we value and… Read more »
Source: Marine Institute, 26-Jan-11
The Pretoria News has reported that CCTV footage and Global Positioning System (GPS) data has been sent overseas for forensic analysis. See HeliHub.com accident page at 23-Jul-10 ZS-HMY Eurocopter BK117 Witbank, South Africa (7F) [File photo]
Source: Eyewitness News, 26-Jan-11
As part of a plea agreement reached last month, 43-year-old Frank Newton Anderson pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of interfering with the operation of an aircraft. Authorities say Anderson temporarily blinded the helicopter pilot with a laser device last April.
Source: Miami Herald, 25-Jan-11
Joseph Standish, aged 27, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.
Source: Chester Chronicle, 25-Jan-11
When it comes to safety, where does corporate responsibility end and personal accountability begin? It’s a question that aviation companies around the world struggle with daily. It’s also the theme of one of the world’s largest aviation safety conference, being held March 28-30 in Vancouver, BC. “Because aviation is so highly regulated, most companies live… Read more »
Source: CHC, 25-Jan-11
Mobisir Ali, 23, fired the green-coloured light beam from a hotel window as the Greater Manchester Police helicopter was flying at 1,000ft over Oldham. Magistrates in the town were told the pilot lost his night vision and he was unable to see his instruments or the skyline for several seconds.
Source: Manchester Evening News, 24-Jan-11
A man accused of firing at and Orange County Sheriff’s Office helicopter last year was found guilty on Friday. 26-year-old Jason Dennis McGuire now faces at least 10 years in federal prison
Source: Orlando Sentinel, 24-Jan-11
HeliHub.com editor note – we appreciate that this is primarily about airliners, but given the increase of laser incidents with helicopters, we decided it needs to be included, at least for awareness. WASHINGTON – The FAA announced today that in 2010, nationwide reports of lasers pointed at airplanes almost doubled from the previous year to… Read more »
Source: FAA, 19-Jan-11
Course date: 14-18 Mar 2011 Course overview The Cranfield Safety and Accident Investigation Centre is proud to offer a new course for transport accident investigators who may find themselves involved in the various legal processes including Coronial Inquiry, Public Inquiry, Fatal Accident Inquiry and both civil and criminal litigation. The course has been developed in… Read more »
Source: Cranfield University, 19-Jan-11
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 23-Jul-10 N40TA Bell B206 New Hampton, US-Mississippi [file photo]
Source: WCF Courier, 18-Jan-11
HeliHub.com is having increasing success with its “Gallery†feature, recording over 5,000 images and increasing at a rate of approximately 450 per month The Flickr gallery provides users of HeliHub.com the opportunity to upload their own photos, and the early success is demonstrating just how valuable this will become over time. HeliHub.com plans to utilise… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 17-Jan-11
The FBI has opened an investigation into a person who shined a laser pointer into the cockpit of a medical helicopter. [report does not state helicopter type – photo is representative of teh AirMed fleet in Salt Lake City]
Source: KSL, 17-Jan-11
see also HeliHub.com report – 28-Jul-10 N275RA Bell B206 St.Olaf, US-Iowa
Source: KCRG, 16-Jan-11
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue does not refer to any helicopters and this update is included in HeliHub.com for completeness.
Source: AAIB, 16-Jan-11
The Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) has officially filed its comments with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in response to the FAA’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), “Air Ambulance and Commercial Helicopter Operations, Part 91 Helicopter Operations, and Part 135 Aircraft Operations; Safety Initiatives and Miscellaneous Amendments.†Summary of Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM),Docket… Read more »
Source: AAMS, 16-Jan-11
The state of Maryland has filed a $4 million lawsuit against the federal government over the 2008 crash of a state police helicopter that killed four people.
Source: Buffalo News, 13-Jan-11
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident at – 09-Jan-11 N926MF Bell 427 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (File photo)
Source: Dominican Today, 13-Jan-11
The National EMS Pilots Association has submitted a 22-page position paper on the FAA Notice of Proposed Rule Making pertaining to helicopter air ambulance operations. January 10 was the deadline for the public submission of comments on the proposed changes to FAR Part 135. The new rules, if implemented as proposed without modification, will be… Read more »
Source: NEMSPA, 13-Jan-11
A Lakeland man that authorities said pointed a laser light at a Polk County sheriff’s helicopter in November is facing up to 20 years in federal prison.
Source: Tampa Bay Online, 13-Jan-11
Today the National Transportation Safety Board adopted a study that concluded that general aviation (GA) airplanes equipped with airbags provide additional protection to occupants in accidents involving survivable forward impacts. Airbags are designed to mitigate head and upper body injuries and are installed in the lap belt or shoulder harness portions of the restraint system…. Read more »
Source: NTSB, 12-Jan-11
The Society of Aviation and Flight Educators (SAFE) has submitted a comprehensive response to the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), Air Ambulance and Commercial Helicopter Operations… (Docket No. FAA–2010–0982; Notice No. 10–13). In addition to input from other members, the principle authors of the response included SAFE members Mike Coligny, a five-time Master Instructor, and… Read more »
Source: SAFE, 12-Jan-11
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) will hold a news conference for the media on Wednesday, February 9, 2011 to make public the final TSB investigation report (A09A0016) into the crash of a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009. This will be held at the Delta St…. Read more »
Source: TSB, 11-Jan-11
Mobosir Ali, 23, of Newport Street, Oldham, has been charged with shining a light at an aircraft so as to endanger or distract the pilot.
Source: Manchester Evening News, 10-Jan-11
A world-renowned expert on reducing human error in aircraft operations will be a keynote speaker at a major aviation safety conference in Vancouver. Organizers of the 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit organizers are pleased to announce that Dr. Tony Kern, CEO of Convergent Performance, will be a keynote speaker at this year’s event, March… Read more »
Source: CHC, 10-Jan-11
The report said that the main cause of the accident was the inability of pilots to notice and arrest the lateral drift of the chopper to its left due to lack of ground reference until the main rotors came into contact.  See HeliHub.com page at 07-Nov-10 9N-AIX Eurocopter AS350 Solukhumbu, Nepal (2F)
10-Jan-11
Flight crews reported the beam coming from southwest Calgary in an area near the Home Depot at the Shawnessy Shopping Centre. Calgary police, with the support of the HAWCS helicopter, moved into the area but couldn’t find the offender, they said.
Source: CBC, 07-Jan-11
The new 2011 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 418 standards, incorporated into most building codes, now require all future and upgraded heliports to meet FAA design guidelines in addition to numerous NFPA safety equipment, training and emergency plan requirements that ALL heliports must now meet. Is your heliport in compliance? Raymond A. Syms & Associates (RAS… Read more »
Source: Raymond A. Syms, 07-Jan-11
At about 5.55am last Saturday the pilot of the force chopper reported a laser being shone at the aircraft as it was flying over the Bramley area of Leeds.
Source: Yorkshire Evening Post, 06-Jan-11
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM), the largest air medical transportation company in the world, recently was informed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it successfully exited Level 2 status in the FAA’s Safety Management System (SMS) pilot program. Air Methods is the only helicopter air medical operator to have exited Level 1 and Level 2… Read more »
Source: Air Methods, 06-Jan-11
The new issue of FAA Safety Briefing celebrates the publication’s 50th anniversary by looking back on the state of general aviation (GA) safety and highlighting a half century of safety focus and progress. The magazine, then called FAA Aviation News, was first published in January 1961, just three years after the creation of the FAA. Its purpose was… Read more »
Source: FAA, 06-Jan-11
NTSB report noted that an autopsy revealed traces of an antihistamine and an opiate on the body of pilot Dennis Donovan, aged 70. See also HeliHub.com accident report page – 05-Jan-10 N5016U Bell B206 nr Redinger Lake, US-California (4F)
06-Jan-11
A paperwork glitch has deprived investigators of the flight incident recorder onboard a crashed CV-22 despite evidence that the critical device survived, according to president of the accident investigation board.
Source: Flightglobal, 05-Jan-11
Taiwan has developed new technology to retrieve information from damaged GPS chips, which will be particulary helpful in accident investigation where no flight data recorder is present, Japan’s Council for Aviation Safety said Tuesday 28th. CAS director Kuan Wen-lin briefed the media on the use of the technology, noting that Japan’s Transportation Safety Board sought… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 05-Jan-11
A Winter Park man faces 20 years in federal prison for shining a laser pointer into the cockpit of an Orange County Sheriff’s Office helicopter.
Source: Miami Herald, 04-Jan-11
Cpl. Joseph Andreasen and flight officer Cpl. Shawn Bogart were on patrol in North Naples at about 1 a.m. Saturday when a green laser light entered the left side of the helicopter, injuring both of their left eyes
Source: Naples News, 04-Jan-11
The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) transmitted to the President and Congress a Department of Transportation (DOT) report responding to a whistleblower’s allegations that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) failed to ensure that Airworthiness Directives (ADs) were issued in a timely manner.  ADs are rules that FAA issues to address unsafe conditions that exist in… Read more »
Source: Office of Special Counsel, 04-Jan-11
NBC Nightly News recently aired a report on the FAA’s Next-Generation Air Traffic System that featured the pioneering application of that system’s backbone, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), for helicopter operations in the Gulf of Mexico. “The FAA is touting a revolutionary system that it says will overhaul air traffic control across America, making the nation’s… Read more »
Source: HAI, 04-Jan-11
The NTSB has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) seeking comments from the public regarding amendments to its procedural rules dealing with review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) certificate actions and its rules concerning applications for fees and expenses under the Equal Access to Justice Act. The NTSB listed three main reasons for… Read more »
Source: NTSB, 04-Jan-11
Rescuers used a Stokes basket to lift the man off the trail and up to the helicopter, but as that basket got close to the door, it started to spin faster and faster. (VIDEO)
Source: Arizona Family, 03-Jan-11
But the general who led the crash investigation said Thursday that there was strong evidence to indicate that the $87 million-plus aircraft, which has a history of technical problems, experienced engine trouble in the final seconds leading to the crash. HeliHub.com accident reports here
20-Dec-10
Wayne P. Groen was arrested by FBI agents, spotlight in hand, in his driveway, dressed only in underwear, said special agent Fred Guut.
Source: MyNorthWest, 20-Dec-10
Sgt Jenkins said the attempt to dazzle the helicopter pilot had serious implications. “Endangering an aircraft is an offence and carries a five-year prison sentence,” he added. “Unfortunately for us, their night vision equipment is often better than ours.”
Source: This is Hull & East Riding, 17-Dec-10
HAI is pleased to be working on a research project with the FAA on usage validation for Health Monitoring Systems (HUMS)-equipped helicopters. The project has the potential to increase operational efficiency and safety for HUMS-equipped aircraft with the ultimate goal of conditioned-based maintenance. Please help us by taking a couple of minutes to fill out… Read more »
Source: HAI, 17-Dec-10
The sole survivor of a 2008 Maryland State Police helicopter crash in District Heights has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the FAA, alleging negligence on the part of air traffic controllers.
Source: Gazette, 14-Dec-10
Oil & Gas UK and NATS, the UK’s leading air navigation service provider, today announced the world’s first operational use of wide area multilateration technology for tracking offshore flights. Helicopters in transit to and from oil and gas platforms in the North Sea are now visible to air traffic controllers from takeoff to landing, increasing… Read more »
Source: Oil & Gas UK, 14-Dec-10
The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) announced today early steps in an implementation strategy for the Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry Phase I Report Recommendations. The report contains 29 recommendations. The C-NLOPB completed its review and accepts 27 of the 29 recommendations in full. Recommendation 12, which calls for an on-going ban on night… Read more »
Source: C-NLOPB, 14-Dec-10
CHC Helicopter is pleased to announce that: Registration for the 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit is now open! To address the core issue of many aviation incidents and accidents, this year’s theme is “Corporate Responsibility vs. Personal Accountability: Two Sides of the Same Coin.†The Summit is taking place in downtown Vancouver at the… Read more »
Source: CHC, 13-Dec-10
FAA says it doesn’t have the authority to regulate the safety of aircraft operated by other federal agencies or state and local governments – and they (exception the military) generally don’t have the aviation expertise to do it themselves.
Source: Fosters Daily Democrat, 13-Dec-10
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accident of:- * Robinson R22B G-RIDL at Macclesfield, Cheshire on 15 November 2009 * Robinson R22B G-NWDC at Londonderry Eglinton Airfield on 8 August 2010 * Schweizer 269CBi G-LINX at Stalmine, Lancashire on 22 September 2009
Source: AAIB, 13-Dec-10
In any type of rollover accident, the transmission can puncture the fuel tank. The fix is simple: instead of using a rigid fuel tank, use a soft bladder tank that won’t rupture.
Source: Aviation Law Monitor, 13-Dec-10
NTSB raised questions about a pilot’s decision to fly the rescue mission and whether the pilot was overworked before starting the mission, and it disclosed he was taking prescription medication for depression. Helihub.com accident report here
Source: Star Tribune, 13-Dec-10
Carson Helicopters has been an active participant in the NTSB investigation of the Weaverville crash of N612AZ and as such has not commented publicly during the investigation due to regulatory prohibitions. We have a strong commitment to all the people affected by this tragic accident and to current flight operators of the S61 helicopter to… Read more »
Source: Carson Helicopters, 12-Dec-10
Judge Laurel A. Beatty sentenced Shapiro to 20 days in jail and 100 hours of community service.
Source: Columbus Dispatch, 12-Dec-10
The pilot of the 12-year-old 500E sold last year to Versatile Helicopters, of Chemainus, British Columbia, was forced to make an emergency landing following engine failure, the company said in court papers filed yesterday in U.S. District Court.
Source: Columbus Dispatch, 11-Dec-10
William “Bill” Coultas of Cave Junction says the NTSB ignored his written and oral testimony that loss of power in an engine caused the crash of the S61
Source: Mercury News, 11-Dec-10
NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD Public Meeting of December 7, 2010 (Information subject to editing) Aircraft Accident Report Crash During Takeoff of Carson Helicopters, Inc., Firefighting Helicopter Under Contract to the U.S. Forest Service, Sikorsky S-61N, N612AZ Near Weaverville, California August 5, 2008 NTSB/AAR-10/06 Stay Connected Receive Press releases by e-mail Subscribe to our RSS feeds This is… Read more »
Source: NTSB, 10-Dec-10
As the temperatures in Florida plummet, so helicopters are called in to fly low level over fields to minimise the chance of frost ruining the crop. Sadly, these operations brought no fewer than three casualties in one County earlier today. Robinson R44 N666SL clipped a post at Palm Beach Glades County Airport, Pahokee around 2am… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 09-Dec-10
The NTSB stated that Carson Helicopters deliberately withheld information on the aircraft’s safety specifications. Those actions “included the intentional alteration of weight documents and performance charts and the use of unapproved performance calculations”
Source: KDRV, 08-Dec-10
Kevin Wayne Foster, 39, of Shasta Lake, and a 16-year-old teen were booked into the Shasta County jail Monday evening after Sheriff’s Department officials said they had flashed a green laser at a CHP helicopter.
Source: KRCR, 08-Dec-10
The helicopter, which was found very recently, had disappeared in July 1965 around Buta, in north-eastern Congo.
Source: LeVif, 06-Dec-10
Michael Anthony Fowler is accused of violating a Florida law prohibiting the intentional focusing of lasers on moving aircraft
Source: Miami Herald, 06-Dec-10
Kansas City police pulled over a pickup truck Wednesday night after a passenger aimed a green laser at the police helicopter, temporarily blinding the pilot.
Source: Kansas City Star, 06-Dec-10
HeliHub.com maintains what we believe to be the most comprehensive record of helicopter accidents and incidents on the internet. Here is our report for October 2010 Useful Links * Civil Accidents * Military Accidents * Fatal Accidents – both civil and military * 2009 Annual Review of Fatal Accidents * Safety News October 2010 was… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 04-Dec-10
The placement of a mounted gun at the main door of a Chinook helicopter brought down by enemy fire Afghanistan in August impeded the exit of personnel after landing (see HeliHub.com report of accident)
Source: Vancouver Sun, 04-Dec-10
The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a public Board meeting on Tuesday, December 7, at 9:30 a.m., in its Board Room and Conference Center, 429 L’Enfant Plaza, S.W., Washington, D.C. There is one item on the agenda. The Board will consider a final report on the following accident: On August 5, 2008, a Sikorsky… Read more »
Source: NTSB, 03-Dec-10
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Mexico complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based on the results of a November FAA review of Mexico’s civil aviation authority. Under the leadership of Secretary Juan Molinar and Director General Hector Gonzalez… Read more »
Source: FAA, 02-Dec-10
The pair, Uday M. Warekar (33) and Palraj Thevar (38), were working for Air Works Engineering, the company in-charge of maintaining Anil Ambani Group’s Bell-412
Source: Sify, 01-Dec-10
US and European regulators say a new and improved main gearbox mounting structure for the Sikorsky S-92A continues to exhibit the cracking problems that plagued an earlier design
Source: Flightglobal, 01-Dec-10
The incident spurred an investigation by USU police after the flight crew reported seeing the light originate somewhere near the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum on Oct. 3.
Source: Herald Journal, 29-Nov-10
David H. Hopwood, 35, of the 7000-block of Bristol Place in Sykesville was charged with reckless endangerment, attempted second-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and prohibited use of a laser pointer.
Source: Eldersburg Patch, 25-Nov-10
A Martin County Sheriff’s Office helicopter pilot encountered an unexpected obstacle in the sky just after midnight. The aviation unit was on patrol in Jensen Beach when a laser illuminated the cockpit, according to the sheriff’s office.
Source: WPTV, 25-Nov-10
