27-Sep-2013
Prosecutors say that when the U.S. Forest Service solicited bids for helicopters to be used in firefighting operations, Metheny submitted proposals with altered performance charts and falsified weight and balance records. Then, after winning the $20M contract, the incorrect information was given to pilots who had to calculate the maximum payload capacity during firefighting operations.... Read more
27-Sep-2013Source: Bond/Bristow/CHC
Offshore helicopter operators Avincis Group, Bristow Group and CHC Helicopter announced today they have launched a review of safety practices that will deepen their commitment to share best practices and consistently operate at the highest possible level of safety. The three companies leading this effort will reach out to other helicopter operators to encourage them... Read more
27-Sep-2013
69-year old pilot Carl Enlow had stopped flying tours at a fair for a refuel and to allow a relief pilot to take over. Enlow went back to speak to the pilot who relieved him when his hat blew off his head and he was struck by the rotor when he reached for it.... Read more
26-Sep-2013
Helicopter landed close to building, and two passengers alighted. On take-off, the main blades hit the building, causing both of the recently alighted passengers and the pilot to be injured. The pilot’s 12 year old son on board was unharmed.... Read more
26-Sep-2013
Skids caught on fence on final approach to land. Helicopter ended up on its starboard side, injuring all four on board, one seriously. Occupants named here as DG Sherpa, Anita Sherpa, Lakpa Sonam Sherpa, and helicopter pilot Captain Arun Malla.... Read more
26-Sep-2013
The occupants survived without serious injuries, but the helicopter was badly damaged. The commercial helicopter was engaged in a lifting task south of the lake Rostujaure when something went wrong... Read more
25-Sep-2013Source: BALPA
Please see below a comment from the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA) on today’s announcement that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) will be conducting a review into North Sea aviation safety. ‘We will consult with those members currently operating in the North Sea as to their views on the effectiveness of a CAA-led review, but... Read more
25-Sep-2013Source: Oil & Gas UK
Robert Paterson, Oil & Gas UK’s health, safety and employment issues director, said: “Oil & Gas UK welcomes the CAA’s review of offshore helicopter operations in the North Sea and we and our members stand ready to engage fully in the process. As the CAA highlights in its announcement, considerable efforts have already been made... Read more
25-Sep-2013Source: UK CAA
The CAA is undertaking a review of North Sea helicopter operations. It will be a joint review with the Norwegian CAA and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and advised by a panel of independent experts. It will study current operations, previous incidents and accidents and offshore helicopter flying in other countries to make recommendations... Read more
25-Sep-2013
State Police helicopter made wheels-up landing and remained upright on the fuselage... Read more
25-Sep-2013
Technical issue on Presidential helicopter prevented take-off... Read more
25-Sep-2013
Helicopter contacted a mound of earth on landing, causing it to end up on its side. Some reports suggest the wind was gusty and may have been contributory. Two of the four POB injured and airlifted to hospital... Read more
23-Sep-2013Source: Bristow Group
Bristow Group will be the Platinum Sponsor for The International Helicopter Safety Team’s (IHST) Seventh International Helicopter Safety Symposium. This event for safety professionals will take place Feb. 27-28, 2014, in Anaheim, Calif., immediately following the close of Heli-Expo 2014. The IHST, which promotes safety and works to reduce civil helicopter accidents worldwide, was formed... Read more
22-Sep-2013
An MH-60S assigned to HSC-6 crashed in the central Red Sea Sept. 22, while operating with the guided-missile destroyer USS William P. Lawrence (DDG 110). Three personnel are accounted for and stable but two perished – named as Lt. Cmdr. Landon L. Jones and CW3 Jonathon Shelby Gibson. The crash was not due to any sort... Read more
21-Sep-2013
Heavy impact, post crash fire, no survivors. Two POB were pilot/owner Chad Nelson and passenger Brynne Smith. This report quotes Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office saying the debris field is a radius of half a mile.... Read more
21-Sep-2013
Heavy landing, Skid collapsed... Read more
20-Sep-2013
Precautionary landing after bird strike with a goose. 16 hours later it was flown to Lossiemouth for more detailed examination... Read more
19-Sep-2013Source: Russian Sport Ministry
[electronic translation] On Monday, 16 September, in the course of the search and rescue operation in the area of the village Selco Staritskogo region Tver region Internal Affairs Ministry and the Emergencies Ministry found the wreckage of helicopter AgustaWestland AW119 Koala, who disappeared under mysterious circumstances on Saturday, September 14. The pilot of the crashed helicopter... Read more
19-Sep-2013
A federal police helicopter crashed into the mountain range inthe southern state of Guerrero, killing all three crew members and two passengers onboard... Read more
19-Sep-2013
Force landing in field with patient on board – photos show tail boom separated, starboard skid collapsed. Pilot injured his back. Helicopter was en route to Baptist Medical Center in Jackson from Pioneer Community Hospital in Ackerman.... Read more
18-Sep-2013
Started to spin uncontrollably at 10m altitude. Landed heavily, and 2 of 3 POB to hospital.... Read more
16-Sep-2013Source: HeliHub.com
From the very close attention HeliHub.com gives to safety data, we have noticed a recent spate of accidents involving winching operations where the person being winched is the fatality. Check out these three 12-Sep-13 Sikorsky UH-60 Springville, US-California (1F) 57-year-old volunteer Shane Krogen fell about 50 feet from a helicopter during a marijuana-eradication effort in... Read more
16-Sep-2013
The military in the United Arab Emirates says a helicopter has crashed during a training mission, killing one crew member. Tuesday’s statement from the UAE Armed Forces Command gave no further details.... Read more
16-Sep-2013
Logging operations – it appears the pilot released the logs, indicating he knew of a problem prior to the crash. Witnesses then saw a rotor separate from the helicopter followed by it turning upside down and falling to the ground. Pilot was named as William Bart Colantuono, 54, of Indialantic, FL... Read more
16-Sep-2013
Pilot allowed rotor speed to decay too low on final approach – hit ground hard and rolled onto its starboard side... Read more
14-Sep-2013
Helicopter lost contact with ATC and was not found for over two days. Impact of the crash killed both on board. The pilot was Margarita Afanaskina, champion of various helicopter flying competitions (see tribute from Russian Ministry of Sport). Passenger was senior forestry official named Sergei Medvedev... Read more
13-Sep-2013
Crashed and consumed by fire, killing all three on board. One was named as Krzysztof Mielewczyk, husband of a member of the Polish Parliament... Read more
13-Sep-2013
An instructor and his trainee student have survived a helicopter crash in a paddock with only minor injuries. R22 ended up on its starboard side. Student reportedly moved the engine mixture control instead of the carburettor heat control,... Read more
13-Sep-2013
Emergency landing on hillside. Helicopter needed roading out for repair. The helicopter was en route to a brush fire in the city of La Verne... Read more
12-Sep-2013Source: Eurocopter
Improved safety in poor visibility conditions is an advantage that pilots at Eurocopter in Donauwörth are now able to enjoy. The onsite helicopter landing pad at Eurocopter’s headquarters in Germany is the first helipad in Europe to make use of Localizer Performance with Vertical (LPV) guidance, a highly precise, GPS-supported instrument approach procedure. The new... Read more
12-Sep-2013Source: Bell
Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company (NYSE: TXT), announced today it will hold a regional safety symposium for rotorcraft pilots and technicians from across China on Tuesday, September 24 at the InterContinental Beijing Beichen hotel in Beijing, China. A new initiative for Bell Helicopter, the safety symposium educates maintainers and operators on key safety practices... Read more
12-Sep-2013Source: TSB
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) today released its investigation report (A11H0001) into an incident where a Sikorsky S-92A operated by Cougar Helicopters Inc. inadvertently descended and came within seconds of striking the water in July 2011. “The aviation industry is increasingly relying on cockpit automation in its day-to-day operations,” said Daryl Collins, the Investigator-in-Charge. “Despite the many benefits of... Read more
12-Sep-2013Source: AAIB
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... Read more
12-Sep-2013
57-year-old volunteer Shane Krogen fell about 50 feet from a helicopter during a marijuana-eradication effort in Tulare County and died... Read more
12-Sep-2013
Soldier abseiling down rope died after falling to the ground. Reports in subsequent days suggest the rope was intentionally cut after the helicopter suffered a major malfunction and had to make an emergency landing to save the 13 on board.... Read more
12-Sep-2013
Technical issues prevented take-off and required engineer next day... Read more
12-Sep-2013
Tour helicopter struck by a bird, shattering the windshield. The only passenger on the aircraft suffered minor injuries. The aircraft landed safely at Burns Field in Hanapepe. Registration and type quoted by FAA do not tie up – N798JH was an AS350BA previously used by the company and no longer current.... Read more
12-Sep-2013
Operator told the press “debris flew into the main rotor blades causing some damage to the aircraft”. FAA report says “tail rotor separated from aircrxaft”... Read more
12-Sep-2013
Helicopter grounded after pilot found hole (possibly from a bullet) in a rotor blade on pre-flight inspection... Read more
12-Sep-2013
1 injured from 9 passengers and 3 crew on board.... Read more
11-Sep-2013Source: TSB Canada
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is launching an investigation into the crash of a Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) helicopter. The CCG helicopter, operated by Transport Canada, departed from the CCG vessel Amundsen and crashed in the McClure Strait, off the coast of Banks Island, Northwest Territories. The TSB is gathering information and will... Read more
11-Sep-2013
Crashed after reported engine failure. No injuries... Read more
11-Sep-2013
Substantially damaged in force landing on road... Read more
10-Sep-2013Source: HAI
Friday, September 13, is the last day HAI will receive Rotor Safety Challenge proposals for presentation at HEI-EXPO 2014, in Anaheim, California. Industry experts and educators who wish to present a one-hour safety education session as part of the Rotor Safety Challenge must submit their proposals to HAI by close of business Friday, September 13.... Read more
10-Sep-2013Source: AHIA
History was made on the evening of Mon 9 Sep ’13, when the AHIA and CASA took part in the first teleconference to formalise the establishment of a CASA Liaison Officer to work with the various AHIA working groups now undertaking a detailed review of a range of new CASRs and associated standards. Peter Crook,... Read more
9-Sep-2013Source: Bristow
On Friday, August 23, 2013 Bristow SAR operations in Sumburgh was tasked by ARCC to conduct the rescue operations for the tragic helicopter accident that occurred offshore approximately two miles west of Sumburgh. Within minutes a Bristow SAR team was airborne, took operational command, coordinating with a Bond SAR helicopter, an RAF helicopter and RNLI.... Read more
9-Sep-2013
Crashed and consumed by fire, killing all three on board. Photos of wreckage show it half buried, implying significant vertical speed at impact.... Read more
9-Sep-2013
A Canadian Coast Guard Bo105 operating from the research icebreaker Amundsen crashed at night into the Arctic Ocean, killing all three on board. They were named as Marc Thibault, commanding officer of the CCGS Amundsen, Daniel Dubé, helicopter pilot and Klaus Hochheim, an Arctic scientist affiliated with the University of Manitoba. CADORS 2013C3920... Read more
7-Sep-2013
Helicopter in open field on its side, substantial damage. 2 POB not injured. “The pilot in command made an abrupt turn to avoid a massive bird strike” and was “unable to recover complete control of the helicopter before it struck terrain,” said IDOT spokeswoman Paris Ervin in this report. Pilot was Steve Young, bureau chief... Read more
7-Sep-2013
Landed on an IED during training flight, blowing one skid off. Helicopter caught fire. 2 POB were U.S. Army CW4 Thomas “Andy” Miller and Afghan air force Lt. Massoud Islamkhil – both were saved by a Mi-17 crew... Read more
5-Sep-2013
Crew of three stranded by weather on a volcano after freezing rain left thick ice on their helicopter. The three were identified as pilot Sam Egli, USGS geophysicist John Paskievitch and University of Alaska-Fairbanks researcher Taryn Lopez... Read more
4-Sep-2013
Post-flight inspection revealed remains of small bird on barrier screen for oil cooler inlet. No damaged identifed.... Read more
3-Sep-2013Source: HAI
HAI’s annual Fall Aerial Firefighting Committee Meeting will once again be held at the Grove Hotel in Boise, Idaho, from November 18-20. Registration for the meeting has officially opened. There are still opportunities to help sponsor the annual meeting. Sponsors are the only attendees permitted to exhibit during the meeting. Click here to see the opportunities available. To reserve your... Read more
3-Sep-2013Source: HAI
HAI and the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) hosted a safety seminar for 70 members of the rotorcraft community August 28 at a location in surburban Philadelphia. Speakers included FAA flight surgeons Harriet Lester and Dominick Zito, who gave an informative talk to help listeners navigate over-the-counter medications and keep their ground time to a minimum.... Read more
2-Sep-2013Source: AAIB
At 1717 hrs UTC on 23 August 2013, an AS332 L2 Super Puma helicopter crashed into the sea whilst on approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. Four of the 18 occupants lost their lives. The AAIB immediately despatched a team of investigators and support staff to Aberdeen and the Shetland Islands. In accordance... Read more
1-Sep-2013Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK’s chief executive, Malcolm Webb, said: “We commend the HSSG’s thorough review of this situation and the agreement which has been reached today. Oil & Gas UK is in complete alignment with this agreement, including the decision to return the aircraft in question to flight in a phased and proper manner and... Read more
1-Sep-2013Source: HSSG
On Saturday 24 August, Step Change in Safety’s Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) took the precautionary measure of taking a time out for safety by recommending temporary cessation of all commercial passenger flights of the AS332 L, L1, L2 and EC225 variant of helicopter to and from offshore oil and gas installations within the UK, following the... Read more
1-Sep-2013
Taking off after refuelling, banked hard and crashed into the ground. The pilot, 34-year-old Shane Templeton, was ejected from the aircraft and sustained serious head injuries.... Read more
31-Aug-2013
Hit powerlines and crashed, killing all three on board. The victims were identified as William Brownfield, 61, of Caballo, Duane Zietlow, 78, of Elephant Butte and the pilot, Ebenezer Priebe, 34, of Tucson, Ariz. [and before anyone asks, “Truth or Consequences” is indeed a town name]... Read more
31-Aug-2013
68-year old man, named as Robert Davis, fell 30m from a winch harness and died while being winched on board after injuring his ankle. Press reports say he weighed between 120 – 140 kg, and this will be taken into account during the investigations.... Read more
31-Aug-2013
Force landing. No injuries... Read more
29-Aug-2013
Substantially damaged in crash shortly after takeoff, ending up on its port side. Both POB to hospital... Read more
29-Aug-2013
Lost power – force landing in field... Read more
28-Aug-2013Source: IHST
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) will host its seventh worldwide helicopter symposium for safety professionals on Feb. 27-28, 2014, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif., immediately following the close of HAI HELI-EXPO 2014. The symposium will focus on the importance of helicopter pilot self-discipline and personal responsibility. In addition to international aviation safety experts... Read more
28-Aug-2013
Force landing, substantial damage – skids completely collapsed and tail boom separated. Pilot with minor injuries and five passengers uninjured... Read more
28-Aug-2013
Emergency night landing in school field after experiencing unusual rotor blade vibration. Attended to by engineer next day on site. Pilot named by CBS47 as Johnny Reyes... Read more
27-Aug-2013Source: Oil & Gas UK
Oil & Gas UK held a meeting in Aberdeen today (Monday 26 August) to discuss the operational impact of the temporary suspension of Super Puma helicopters following the crash of an L2 model on Friday with the tragic loss of four lives and injury to others. There were 80 representatives of oil and gas operators... Read more
27-Aug-2013Source: OPEIU
The Professional Helicopter Pilots Association International (PHPA), a council of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), AFL-CIO, is mourning the loss of four passengers who were killed on August 23, 2013, when a CHC L2 aircraft crashed into the waters off the coast of Sumburgh, United Kingdom. Fourteen people, including two crew members,... Read more
26-Aug-2013Source: HeliHub.com
Eurocopter have a major uphill PR battle ahead of them, for certain. Since the Shetland fatal accident on Friday – less than three days ago as this is written – a Facebook page “Destroy the Super Pumas” has gained over 28,000 followers. While it is clearly not something people in the aviation industry would support,... Read more
26-Aug-2013Source: CHC
Extract from CHC statement 11pm UK 25th August:- CHC plans to resume normal operations on Monday with AS332L/L1 and EC225 aircraft. We will continue to hold all flights worldwide involving AS332L2 aircraft, except for those involved in life-saving SAR and medevac missions. In the U.K., consistent with a request by the Helicopter Safety Steering Group... Read more
26-Aug-2013Source: HAI
Attention all helicopter pilots: don’t miss this landmark event featuring the very latest information on the safety issues facing the rotorcraft industry, presented by some of the top industry experts in their field! On August 28, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Feasterville-Trevose, Pennsylvania, a panel of experts from AgustaWestland, Helicopter Association International (HAI), the FAA... Read more
26-Aug-2013
Ditched into lake on water sampling operations. Registration not fully confirmed, but believed correct. Floats deployed, but helicopter turned over, so all you could see afterwards were the floats which suspended the helicopter... Read more
26-Aug-2013
Descended into powerlines in high density altitude with 4 POB... Read more
26-Aug-2013
Heavy landing during a training exercise and caught fire. 4 POB unharmed... Read more
25-Aug-2013Source: Erickson Air-Crane
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (NASDAQ: EAC) (“Erickson” or “the Company”), a leading global provider of aviation services to a diverse mix of commercial and government customers, and the vertically-integrated manufacturer and operator of the powerful heavy-lift Erickson S-64 Aircrane helicopter, announced today that it has appointed Dr. Michael D. New as the Company’s Vice President of... Read more