HAI’s Safety Committee is looking for new members to join its ranks. The primary objective of the Safety Committee is to improve hazard and risk identification, assessment, and mitigation, with the result of eliminating fatalities, accidents, and incidents in the helicopter industry. It also seeks to advise, educate, and consult with HAI members and the… Read more »
Source: HAI, 06-May-10
Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found the main cause of the crash was a cracked clutch shaft. Mr Mulligan said it appeared an inappropriate product was painted over the crack.
Source: Yahoo, 06-May-10
Grand Prairie, Texas – American Eurocopter announced today that it has appointed the 2010 Vision Zero Aviation Safety Award Blue Ribbon Committee. The members of this committee will be responsible for evaluating the applications and determining the winner of the prestigious Vision Zero Aviation Safety award, which was established by American Eurocopter with the purpose… Read more »
Source: American Eurocopter, 05-May-10
The helicopter was helping on a robbery search in the south Sacramento area on Friday night when witnesses reported seeing people on the roof of a middle school.
Source: Nercury News, 04-May-10
The National EMS Pilots Association (NEMSPA) has joined with Alertness Solutions of Cupertino, California to serve as the exclusive distributor of the Z-Coach fatigue management program to members of the 24/7 nation-wide air medical transport community. Z-Coach is an innovative, comprehensive, internet-based program that provides individuals with knowledge, strategies, and tools to enhance safety and… Read more »
Source: NEMSPA, 04-May-10
The attorney for flight paramedic Mickey Lippy’s family said Wednesday that his wife and young daughter deserve restitution for the “negligent acts” of FAA air traffic controllers – who are claimed to have provided outdated weather information
30-Apr-10
“Progress may not be as fast as some people might like — and perhaps I might like,” said commissioner Robert Wells in an interview. “But you know, in fairness, they are making progress.”
Source: CTV, 30-Apr-10
The pilot of a small plane that collided with a sightseeing helicopter over New York’s Hudson River last summer had scant seconds to see the helicopter as it rose to his altitude
Source: CNN, 30-Apr-10
GE Aviation recently announced the launch of the first proven web-based health and usage monitoring system utilizing GE Advanced Anomaly Detection (AAD) technology. The system is introduced with AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, on the AW139 to further enhance its global Customer Support Services. “This application of our Advanced Anomaly Detection technology brings about one of… Read more »
Source: GE Aviation, 23-Apr-10
At the recent HAC Convention and Trade Show, outgoing committee chair Robert Gallagher and incoming chair Corey Taylor presented the final draft of the Land Seismic Industry Best Practices on schedule, standards that will now be put to the HAC board of directors for sector-wide adoption. Developed in conjunction with key oil and gas producer… Read more »
Source: HAC, 23-Apr-10
From the “HAI President’s Message” series…. As you are aware, safety is my favorite topic, as I believe it ultimately affects everything we do in our industry — both in the present and for the future. With this in mind, you would think all owner/operators would have a laser focus on this issue, making it… Read more »
Source: HAI, 22-Apr-10
As part of the package provided, the Nigerian Navy is to train to the university level, the children of Lt. Commodore Ahmed Tijani Yusuf and Lt Commodore Mailafia Ibrahim, Pilot and Co-Pilot of Nigerian Navy Agusta reconnaissance helicopter
Source: This Day, 21-Apr-10
Monday was a sad day for French helicopter manufacturer Guimbal as they recorded the first accident of one of their Cabri G2 two-seaters at Söllingen Airport in Germany. More details here – the two occupants were not injured at all. HeliHub.com has a very extensive Safety data section, often picking up data on accidents not… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 20-Apr-10
Administrators are slated to meet Friday to discuss whether to replace the older chopper with a newer model, in addition to replacing the totaled aircraft, which is covered by a $5.4 million insurance policy, after a $25,000 deductible.
Source: News Press, 20-Apr-10
The computer fell in the alley behind a home three blocks and across the Mississippi River from St. Cloud Hospital. Hospital officials said Life Link III had just landed with a patient and was leaving the helipad when the crew’s computer was left on the helicopter’s skid.
Source: WCCO, 20-Apr-10
Last Friday 9th April was a very significant first for Bristow. The first commercial flight of a helicopter with the collision avoidance system TCAS-II installed. This safety system, which has been standard on fixed wing aircraft for years, was proven to work on helicopters by an Aberdeen and Redhill based team, and has now been… Read more »
Source: Bristow Helicopters, 16-Apr-10
New Jersey Air National Guard helicopter pilots have helped Camden police with day and nighttime patrols for the last eight months or so on a “routine basis,” Police Chief Scott Thomson said Tuesday night.
Source: Philadelphia Enquirer, 15-Apr-10
A Winter Park owner of a security company is facing a list of charges after allegedly shining a laser into the cockpit of an Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter.
Source: WDBO, 15-Apr-10
The eruption under a glacier in the Eyjafjallajoekull area of Iceland is the second in Iceland in less than a month. Aberdeen Airport, central to the majority of North Sea oil rig support helicopter flights, closed at Midnight and the latest update at 04.45 local states “Following advice from the Met Office, the airspace around… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 15-Apr-10
Accident being referred to involved Robinson R22 registered N3234G (HeliHub.com data page for this accident)Â Press reports at the time showed that the accident date was inconclusive with both 14th and 15th October being quoted by different sources – the wreckage not being found until Friday 16th.
Source: NewsOn6.com, 14-Apr-10
Oil companies operating in Newfoundland and Labrador say they won’t be able to fully comply with orders to improve offshore helicopter safety until late 2010
Source: CBC, 11-Apr-10
Accident referred to is in HeliHub.com database here – 01-Apr-09 G-REDL Eurocopter AS332 11m E of Peterhead, UK
Source: Press & Journal, 08-Apr-10
Accident referred to occurred 14-Aug-09 C-GTKE Bell B212 between Lillooet and Lytton, Canada – see HeliHub.com data page
Source: Vancouver Sun, 07-Apr-10
The 16 men who died when a Super Puma helicopter crashed into the North Sea have been remembered on the first anniversary of the tragedy.
Source: BBC, 07-Apr-10
Refers to accident of Robinson R22 N3234G at Tahlequah, OK – see HeliHub.com page for this accident
Source: Tahlequah Daily Press, 07-Apr-10
HAI’s Operator Safety Award annually recognizes operating members for safe operations during the previous year. HAI provides one engraved commemorative plaque and year-date medallion at no cost to first time recipients who qualify. Members who renew their membership to the Operator Safety Award will receive a 2009 year medallion to place on their plaques. Applicants… Read more »
Source: HAI, 06-Apr-10
A spokeswoman says weather concerns prompted her medical transport company to turn down what appears to be the flight that led to a fatal Hospital Wing medical helicopter crash in Brownsville early this morning.
Source: Jackson Sun, 25-Mar-10
British JetRanger owner Joel Tobias regularly blogs about flying his JetRanger, and it’s great to read stories written by such an enthusiastic private pilot. However, as he leads his readers through night training exercises, a sense of alarm was raised in a recent missive:- “there were no emergencies, but we did become involved in a… Read more »
Source: HeilHub.com, 23-Mar-10
An Orlando man is in jail today on charges he shot at a law enforcement helicopter.
Source: The Ledger, 22-Mar-10
The National Transportation Safety Board attributed the fatal 2008 crash of an Air Angels medical helicopter in Aurora to the pilot’s “inadequate preflight planning” and flying too low, which caused the copter to strike a radio tower.
Source: Chicago Tribune, 22-Mar-10
Billionaire businessman Michael Erceg flew his executive helicopter – and the Dutch businessman who was his passenger – into treetops that he apparently failed to see in time, according to a NZ Civil Aviation Authority report
Source: NZ Herald, 22-Mar-10
Seven air ambulance companies have agreed to make changes in how pilots communicate with each other as they approach a Flagstaff hospital. The changes come as a result of the June 2008 mid-air collision of two medical helicopters that killed seven over the skies of Flagstaff.
Source: Arizona Daily Star, 22-Mar-10
Three weeks after welcoming the world for the Olympic Games, one of the world’s largest flight safety conferences lands in Vancouver on March 22, attracting more than 500 delegates to hear aviation safety experts from all over the world. The CHC Safety and Quality Summit is a non-profit event dedicated entirely to flight safety that… Read more »
Source: CHC, 18-Mar-10
HeliFlite is honored to announce that it has received the prestigious ARGUS Platinum rating by ARGUS International, Inc., the worldwide leader in performing on-site safety audits for corporate flight departments, charter operators, and commercial airlines. “ARGUS is pleased to include HeliFlite Shares on the exclusive list of ARGUS Platinum rated charter operators,” stated Joe Moeggenberg,… Read more »
Source: HeliFlite Shares, 17-Mar-10
The second crash test of a small lightweight helicopter at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., was a smashing success, literally — just as engineers had predicted. “Three, two, one, release,” said the technician on the loudspeaker at the Landing and Impact Research Facility. With that countdown the helicopter smacked hard into the concrete…. Read more »
Source: NASA, 15-Mar-10
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- Robinson R44 Raven G-CDXB at Culter Helipad, Aberdeenshire on 07-Oct-09 Robinson R44 Raven II G-TIMC at Barnsdale Hotel, near Rutland Water, Rutland on 27-Sep-09 Rotorway Executive 162F G-JONG at 1.5 miles East of Bullington Cross on… Read more »
Source: AAIB, 13-Mar-10
Accident being referred to involved Robinson R22 registered N3234G (HeliHub.com data page for this accident)Â Press reports at the time showed that the accident date was inconclusive with both 14th and 15th October being quoted by different sources – the wreckage not being found until Friday 16th.
Source: Tulsa World, 12-Mar-10
SkyTrac Systems is pleased to announce its sponsorship of the 2010 CHC Safety and Quality Summit March 22-24 in Vancouver BC. SkyTrac recognizes the importance in contributing to an event that promotes safety in aviation, and is proud to be involved. Steve Fuhr, VP and Director of Business Development and Mike Zelin, Director of International Sales and… Read more »
Source: SkyTrac Systems, 11-Mar-10
HAI’s Operator Safety Award annually recognizes operating members for safe operations during the previous year. HAI provides one engraved commemorative plaque and year-date medallion at no cost to first time recipients who qualify. Members who renew their membership to the Operator Safety Award will receive a 2009 year medallion to place on their plaques. Applicants… Read more »
Source: HAI, 11-Mar-10
Observers, experts and employees said the crash of Cougar Flight 491 highlighted the need for a separate safety agency to replace an offshore regulator that has the competing tasks of promoting the industry and protecting workers
Source: Canadian Press, 11-Mar-10
As part of the continued expansion of HeliHub.com, all of our news articles are now available on the Google Buzz platform. Seen initially as a cross between Facebook and Twitter, Buzz is fast carving out its own niche in the social networking world. Google’s launch of Buzz was not without its controversy, but has now… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 10-Mar-10
HeliHub.com accident report – click here 07-Mar-10 5X-MAC AgustaWestland AW119 Bugiri, Uganda
Source: Daily Monitor, 10-Mar-10
Helicopter Association International (HAI) has released a new, online aviation wire strike safety awareness video. “Surviving the Wires Environment” is posted as a streaming video on the HAI Web site, and can be viewed for free by HAI members and nonmembers. The video was produced in cooperation with Southern California Edison (SCE) and AEGIS Insurance… Read more »
Source: HAI, 10-Mar-10
NATS Services is now using Sensis Corporation’s Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) system in the North Sea off the coast of Scotland for helicopter flight following. Air traffic controllers are using the WAM surveillance information as a supplement to established procedural flight rules until the WAM system completes testing and regulatory approval for flight information services later this… Read more »
Source: Sensis, 10-Mar-10
Floor-mounted fuel controls on a helicopter that crashed in 2008 near Chickaloon, killing four people and injuring one, contributed to the accident according to a NTSB report released Wednesday
Source: KTUU, 04-Mar-10
The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) hosted a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council Helicopter Safety Team (GCCHST), attended by all helicopter operators in UAE, Qatar and KSA.
Source: Emirates News Agency, 03-Mar-10
HeliHub.com continues its expansion with the addition of a gallery on the popular image bank website Flickr.com The Flickr gallery provides users of HeliHub.com the opportunity to upload their own photos, and over time this will become a very valuable resource. In time, HeliHub.com will utilise this gallery to provide imagery on the website itself… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 03-Mar-10
A scholarship and bursary program has been established in the memory of the 17 victims of the crash of Cougar Flight 491 off Newfoundland last year.
Source: News 880AM, 02-Mar-10
Accident investigators have now made several recommendations for Bristow Helicopters, which is based at Aberdeen Airport. The incident on November 21, 2006, happened near the Dutch port of Den Helder
Source: Evening Express, 27-Feb-10
A paramedic who may never walk again after a helicopter winch line snapped during a Torres Strait rescue is launching legal action over the accident.
Source: Cairns.com.au, 24-Feb-10
The Heli-Expo 2010 trade show is spotlighting a range of innovations that will help keep American Eurocopter at the forefront of the U.S. rotary-wing marketplace with helicopters that are even safer and more environmentally friendly. Technologies displayed at Heli-Expo 2010 by parent company Eurocopter (stand #3128) include revolutionary main rotor blade designs that reduce noise… Read more »
Source: American Eurocopter, 24-Feb-10
AgustaWestland is assuring customers with helicopters on order that it will deliver them with a newly designed boom starting in April.
Source: AIN, 24-Feb-10
The two Robinson R22s were reported in HeliHub.com here:- 05-May-09 VH-PHT Robinson R22 Springvale station north of Halls Creek, Australia (1F) 05-May-09 VH-HCB Robinson R22 Springvale station north of Halls Creek, Australia (1F)
Source: WA Today, 18-Feb-10
Incident referred to reported in HeliHub.com here 14-Feb-10 N127TS Eurocopter EC135 Cave Creek, US-Arizona (5F)
Source: AIN, 18-Feb-10
This follows an incident where Aviation Sergeant Don Childs safely landed his Bell 407 after being shot seven times (see HeliHub.com accident report)
Source: America's Most Wanted, 17-Feb-10
The regulators of Newfoundland’s oil industry have ordered a faster emergency response after the head of an inquiry into offshore helicopter safety made an urgent call for improvement.
Source: Chronicle Herald, 14-Feb-10
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- Robinson R44 Clipper G-DBUG at Welshpool Airport, Powys on 09-Jul-09 Robinson R44 Raven G-EKKO at Swansea Airport on 29-Mar-09
Source: AAIB, 13-Feb-10
Columbia Helicopters will hold a press/industry briefing at 10:00 AM Monday, February 22, 2010, regarding certain unfounded allegations related to the crash of a Carson Helicopters’ S-61 in 2008. Members of the media and all interested industry personnel are invited to attend. Columbia Helicopters’ Vice President of Marketing, Todd Petersen, and General Legal Counsel, Tonya… Read more »
Source: Columbia Helicopters, 12-Feb-10
Eurocopter’s Serge Durand said that it is disturbing that while the worldwide helicopter accident rate is 4.5 per 100 thousand flight hours in Mexico is three times greater
Source: La Jornada, 11-Feb-10
Appleton said. “I didn’t even see the impact. I had lost sight of him and I just heard a loud boom, and then there I am flying with a turkey buzzard sitting on my lap, on top of my forearm.”
10-Feb-10
A north Queensland mayor wants a bat colony to be moved away from the Charters Towers Hospital due to concerns about the danger to air traffic.
Source: ABC, 09-Feb-10
Accident aircraft was Hughes 269A N115ES – NTSB report here
Source: WRAL, 08-Feb-10
Air Methods Corporation (Nasdaq:AIRM) recently was informed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that it successfully exited Level 1 Safety Management System (SMS) status and is currently working toward achieving Level 2 SMS status. Air Methods believes it is currently the only helicopter air medical operator to participate in the FAA’s SMS voluntary implementation program,… Read more »
Source: Air Methods, 04-Feb-10
“The events of March 12th changed my life forever, there´s no doubt about that,” said Burt, who is also a vice-president of Cougar´s parent company, VIH Aviation
Source: Oilweek, 02-Feb-10
Cougar Helicopters found a single, hairline crack in a main gearbox footing of a Sikorsky S-92A helicopter that flies workers in Newfoundland to and from the offshore oilfields.
Source: Canada.com, 29-Jan-10
The FAA have got very confused today. They have put out an accident report stating the date as 29-Jan-10 (today) and the time as 2330 UTC, and it’s not yet 2130 UTC as we file this on HeliHub.com Not only that, the helicopter is unregistered and not intended for flight… perhaps it’s children’s climbing frame… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 29-Jan-10
HeliHub.com report on this 19-Aug-09 accident is here
Source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 29-Jan-10
A 51-year-old Medford man has been convicted of shining a green laser beam into a Massachusetts State Police helicopter
Source: Boston Globe, 29-Jan-10
see HeliHub.com Safety Documents page for relevant documentation
Source: STV, 27-Jan-10
On January 13 and 14, Helicopter Association International (HAI) President Matt Zuccaro attended a meeting of HAI affiliate, the Helicopter Safety Advisory Conference (HSAC), in New Orleans. The first day of the meeting involved HSAC committee work sessions addressing such issues as flight following/ADS-B implementation, HSAC-recommended safety procedures, and maintenance technologies. The second day consisted… Read more »
Source: HAI, 25-Jan-10
HeliHub.com page for this accident can be found here
Source: Typically Spanish, 25-Jan-10
Generally, accidents are not the result of any one single event, but the product of several. My view is that every flight must pass through several gates in sequential order for the accident to happen — the final gate being the pilot. Logically, we as pilots have the final opportunity to prevent an accident. A… Read more »
Source: HAI, 21-Jan-10
The helicopter crash which claimed the life of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy was caused by pilots’ error who lost the chopper’s control and were engrossed for vital six minutes trying to locate a flight manual HeliHub.com page for this accident is here
Source: Outlook India, 21-Jan-10
HAI is pleased to announce the 2010 AgustaWestland Safety Award recipient, Terry Palmer; Manager of Rotorcraft Programs, Flight Safety International, Dallas, Texas. Terry Palmer’s impressive aviation career began when she served on the airport board in Mesquite, Texas while obtaining her initial pilot ratings. Soon after, in 1989, she opened an FAA Part 141 Flight… Read more »
Source: HAI, 19-Jan-10
HeliHub.com Data Analysis – definitive and reliable reviews on key aspects of the global helicopter industry. We are launching this new series of articles with a statistical review of fatal helicopter accidents in 2009. HeliHub.com maintains an ongoing review of helicopter accidents throughout the year – see our Helicopter Accident page. Our review of fatal… Read more »
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Jan-10
