3-Mar-2011Source: TurnTo23.com
US Attorney Benjamin B. Wagner announced that a federal grand jury has returned an indictment today charging Jeffrey Lee Gentry, 33, of Bakersfield, with interfering with the safe operation of a Kern County Sheriff’s Department helicopter by shining a hand-held laser into the cockpit.... Read more
3-Mar-2011Source: Sextant Readings
Safety Management Systems (SMS) are becoming increasingly widespread throughout the world’s helicopter, HEMS and helicopter maintenance sector as a result of ICAO mandating that all member states require a State Safety Program (SSP). Our Q-Pulse solution is the information foundation to meet or exceed the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) SMS Toolkit attributes guidance. Q-Pulse... Read more
2-Mar-2011Source: NEMSPA
The National EMS Pilots Association – NEMSPA – is proud to be a part of Heli-Expo 2011, Helicopter Association International’s annual trade show of All Things Helicopter in Orlando Florida, March 5-8. Visit us in the Orange County Convention Center at Booth #5711. NEMSPA has collaborated with two of industry’s premier safety organizations to showcase... Read more
2-Mar-2011Source: Eurosafety
Eurosafety is pleased to announce the release of their latest IPhone application, Risafety. This app is ESI’s latest effort in their goal to improve airframe knowledge and safety in the helicopter community. The iSafety App is designed to provide a method to review caution panel emergency procedures for the R22 and R44 Helicopters. This training... Read more
2-Mar-2011Source: CHC
The CHC Safety and Quality Summit is approaching fast and courses are filling up. A limited number of seats are have been made available for the 2 Day Accident/Incident Investigation Analysis Course (March 31-April 1). Additionally, due to the popularity of this course, it will be repeated April 2-3 and a few seats are available in that... Read more
2-Mar-2011Source: HeliHub.com
A Bell 206B JetRanger of Upper Limit Aviation has crashed at Bolinder Field – Tooele Valley Airport. The helicopter was on a training flight and suffered a very heavy landing. Both occupants were reportedly trapped in the helicopter, which ended up on its starboard side and with the boom separated from the airframe. HeliHub.com adds... Read more
27-Feb-2011Source: KPHO
On Friday morning, news helicopter crews were all chasing breaking news when someone from the ground shined a laser in their direct line of sight.... Read more
27-Feb-2011Source: Moderate Voice
A documentary by British filmmaker Vaughan Smith on this subject has recently been broadcast on Al Jazeera television’s “People and Power” series.... Read more
25-Feb-2011Source: HAI
The annual HAI Operator Safety Award recognizes the safe operation of helicopters by HAI Regular Members. To be eligible for consideration for the current award, operators must not have had an accident during 2010. HAI presents first-time recipients with an engraved commemorative plaque and year-date medallion. For following accident-free years, Members will receive year-date medallions... Read more
22-Feb-2011Source: HAI
The FAA Safety Team (FAAST) has eight regional teams that run regular local events to update pilots, mechanics and small operators on particular hazards to safe general aviation flying. Those teams, which have earned a reputation for conducting highly useful briefings for fixed-wing fliers, are focusing on developing the same strength for the helicopter community.... Read more
22-Feb-2011
Brown out at 30 to 40 ft during an NVG approach... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: CHC
A fast-paced debate between three keynote speakers is sure to be among the highlights of the fast approaching CHC Safety & Quality Summit. Held March 28 – 30, 2011 at the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, the CHC Safety & Quality Summit will feature approximately 70 sessions examining this year’s theme,... Read more
21-Feb-2011Source: Edmonton Journal
The helicopter crew narrowed the source of the light to a city home where police confiscated a laser pointer from a 10-year-old boy. His parents were home, but hadn’t realized what their son was up to.... Read more
17-Feb-2011Source: Long Beach Post
A 34-year old Long Beach woman has been arrested for pointing lasers at Police and Sheriff helicopters while they conducted a search for suspects in an unrelated incident in January. Kelly Ann Smith has been charged with two felony counts of discharging a laser at an aircraft.... Read more
16-Feb-2011Source: CHC
The CHC Safety & Quality Summit General Sessions are now available for registration. To Click here to view the Agenda and Course descriptions. Course descriptions will be updated as more information becomes available. Some sessions are offered in multiple time slots to make scheduling as flexible as possible. You can modify your choices at any... Read more
16-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Mil Mi-28 Night Hunter has been grounded following a fatal crash yesterday – see HeliHub.com safety report at 15-Feb-11 Mil Mi-28N Budyonnovsk, Russia (1F). A Russian Ministry of Defense spokesman said the crash of the Mil Mi-28 Night Hunter attack helicopter occurred Tuesday in the Budyennovsk district of the Stavropol region. Reports vary on... Read more
13-Feb-2011Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- AS355F1 Ecureuil II, G-BPRI atAbridge, Essex on 23 October 2010 Sikorsky S-92A, G-SARC at Isle of Harris on 9 July 2010 Robinson R22 Beta, G-HRBS at Goodwood on 28 September 2010... Read more
12-Feb-2011Source: Vancouver Sun
Offshore oil companies are grounding helicopter flights over rough seas off Newfoundland as recommended by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: Record Searchlight
Kevin Wayne Foster was ordered to stand trial on two felony and two misdemeanor counts stemming from the potentially dangerous Dec. 6 helicopter incident. If convicted, Foster faces about 4 years 8 months in prison, said Shasta County Deputy District Attorney Craig Omura.... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: CHC
With the 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit only two months away, organizers are pleased to recognize the sponsors supporting the aviation safety conference aimed at improving safety in aviation globally. A non-profit aviation safety conference held March 28 – 30, 2011 at the Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, the CHC... Read more
11-Feb-2011Source: NTSB
The National Transportation Safety Board has established a Twitter account and a YouTube channel as the Safety Board broadens its communication efforts by moving into social media. The handle for the Twitter account is “ntsb” (www.twitter.com/ntsb). The YouTube channel is “ntsbgov” (http://www.youtube.com/ntsbgov). “Transparency and open government are key components of NTSB’s agenda to improve transportation... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: HAI
from the president of HAI, Matt Zucarro Bring up the topic of “Aviation Security†and my response is “Are you trying to ruin my day or what?†I remember all too well the events of 9/11/2001, considering I was just departing my home for a meeting near Manhattan when the first plane struck, and years... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
Los Angeles Police say that a 14-year-old boy is in custody, accused of pointing a green laser at both a police helicopter and a plane headed to LAX – Los Angeles International Airport. Sgt. Mike Richardson told the media that the boy was booked Tuesday night on suspicion of pointing a laser at the pilot,... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: TSB
Pushing a series of four key reforms to improve helicopter safety, the Transportation Safety Board today released its final report into the fatal 2009 crash of Cougar Flight 91 off the coast of Newfoundland. “We want the legacy of this accident to be a safer system for all those who fly over water,” said Board... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: CTV
The Transportation Safety Board says there were 16 factors that contributed to the crash that caused the death of 17 people in an offshore helicopter crash off Newfoundland two years ago.... Read more
10-Feb-2011Source: CHC
The 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit is now accepting applications for the Dr. Peter Gardiner Aviation Student Grant. The grant is open to full-time aviation students in Canada and the United States interested in attending the aviation safety conference March 28-30, 2011, and the two-day Human Factors Analysis and Classification System (HFACS) course March... Read more
9-Feb-2011Source: Magellan Aerospace
Magellan Aerospace announced today an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore, India for a new Wire Strike Protection System (WSPS®). The agreement includes the design and development of a WSPS for the HAL Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), which will be carried out at Magellan’s Bristol Aerospace division in Winnipeg in 2011. Bristol is the global expert for this... Read more
8-Feb-2011Source: HeliHub.com
The Transportation Safety Board (“TSB”) of Canada has announced that it will be holding a press conference for the media on Wednesday to publically release the final TSB investigation report (reference id A09A0016) into the crash of a Cougar Helicopters Sikorsky S-92A off the coast of Newfoundland on March 12, 2009. Members of the panel... Read more
8-Feb-2011Source: HazardEx
Duncan Trapp brings with him a wealth of industry knowledge and a proven track record for introducing new initiatives and technologies to increase safety performance across the CHC fleet having previously held the position of safety and regulatory manager since 2007.... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: Independent Online
This was made known by the Managing Director of Bristow Helicopters, Capt Akin Oni, briefing journalists on efforts at repositioning the company and the aviation safety conference tagged, “Target Zero,†in Lagos recently.... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: The Edwards Law Firm
Most would think government aircraft are some of the safest in the country. As it turns out, this is likely not the case. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates airlines, lacks the authority to regulate the safety of aircraft operated by state and local governments or other... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: Winnipeg Free Press
Two widows whose husbands were killed in a British Columbia helicopter crash have won a court fight to add Transport Canada to the list of people and groups they claim are liable. The accident occurred 17-Sep-05... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: Stars & Stripes
A buoy typically used for underwater surveillance fell from a Navy SH-60F Seahawk helicopter and crashed into a farm field... Read more
6-Feb-2011
HeliHub.com accident page – see 31-Jan-11 N530RL MD Helicopters MD530FF Waterman’s Peak, US-Arizona (1F)... Read more
6-Feb-2011Source: Senator Whitehouse
Washington, DC – The Senate has passed, with a 96-1 vote, an amendment introduced by U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) that would crack down on individuals who shine laser pointers at aircraft – an action which can temporarily blind pilots and put passengers at risk. The bipartisan amendment, which is cosponsored by Senators Jay Rockefeller... Read more
3-Feb-2011Source: World Stage
The forum with a theme “Fostering a safety Culture” is expected to bring stakeholders from aviation, oil and gas industry and government circles to discuss the latest trends in aviation safety.... Read more
2-Feb-2011Source: Today's Zaman
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 25-Mar-09 TC-HEK Bell B206L4 Haci Omerli, Turkey (6F) File Photo... Read more
2-Feb-2011
The International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) is building on several years of helicopter accident analyses to distill and present more information that pilots, mechanics, and small- and medium-sized operators can put to use every day to enhance safety. The executive committee of the team, which is pursuing a goal of cutting helicopter accident rates 80... Read more
2-Feb-2011
A helicopter pilot with the Department of Homeland Security has been indicted for making false statements to investigators about an incident where a man drowned trying to cross the Rio Grande River. Helicopter involved was OH-6 N5185B... Read more
1-Feb-2011Source: CHC
John Nance, best-selling author, professional speaker, pilot, licensed attorney and aviation correspondent for ABC News and Good Morning America, will be a keynote speaker at a major aviation safety conference in Vancouver. Organizers of the 2011 CHC Safety & Quality Summit announced today that John Nance, one of America’’s most dynamic professional speakers, will join... Read more
30-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
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 December 2010 Useful Links * Civil Accidents * Military Accidents * Fatal Accidents – both civil and military * 2009 Annual Review of Fatal Accidents * Safety News December 2010 was... Read more
29-Jan-2011Source: IOL
Lt.Col Shabir Khan was discharged on Thursday but de Lt.Col Kosie de Villiers’s recovery is expected to take a little longer, though the enthusiastic pilot was in good spirits in the Unitas Hospital on Thursday. See accident page at 21-Jan-11 ZS-HWX MD Helicopters 369D Wonderboompoort, South Africa... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: The Press
Patients are suffering unnecessary trauma because Christchurch Hospital has “the worst helipad in the South Island”, says Graeme Gale, owner-operator of Helicopters Otago, which runs the Otago rescue helicopter from Mosgiel... Read more
28-Jan-2011Source: KRON4
The pilot radioed for police who launched a search helicopter. The pilot of that helicopter says someone pointed a laser at him as well. That allowed officers on board to target a location for the laser... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: FAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced that Croatia complies with international safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), based on the results of a reassessment of Croatia’s civil aviation authority. Croatiahas made significant progress and is now upgraded from the Category 2 safety rating... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
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 November 2010 Useful Links * Civil Accidents * Military Accidents * Fatal Accidents – both civil and military * 2009 Annual Review of Fatal Accidents * Safety News November 2010 was... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: San Angelo Standard Times
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... Read more
27-Jan-2011Source: Hong Kong CAD
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
26-Jan-2011Source: World Bulletin
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... Read more
26-Jan-2011Source: Marataizes
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
26-Jan-2011Source: Marine Institute
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
26-Jan-2011Source: Eyewitness News
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]... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: Miami Herald
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.... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: Chester Chronicle
Joseph Standish, aged 27, was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 150 hours unpaid work.... Read more
25-Jan-2011Source: CHC
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
24-Jan-2011Source: KIRO
A lawyer for a Lynden man charged with temporarily blinding the crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol helicopter during a mission last fall says he shined a spotlight at the helicopter out of curiosity.... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: Manchester Evening News
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.... Read more
24-Jan-2011Source: Orlando Sentinel
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... Read more
20-Jan-2011Source: The Northern Light
A federal grand jury indicted Wayne Groen last week for allegedly interfering with the operation of an aircraft and two counts of incapacitating pilots while operating an aircraft. Both are federal crimes that carry a maximum prison sentence of 20 years.... Read more
19-Jan-2011Source: FAA
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
19-Jan-2011Source: Cranfield University
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
18-Jan-2011Source: WCF Courier
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident – 23-Jul-10 N40TA Bell B206 New Hampton, US-Mississippi [file photo]... Read more
17-Jan-2011Source: HeliHub.com
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
17-Jan-2011Source: KSL
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]... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: KCRG
see also HeliHub.com report – 28-Jul-10 N275RA Bell B206 St.Olaf, US-Iowa... Read more
16-Jan-2011Source: 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
16-Jan-2011Source: AAMS
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
13-Jan-2011Source: Buffalo News
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.... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: Dominican Today
see also HeliHub.com page for this accident at – 09-Jan-11 N926MF Bell 427 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (File photo)... Read more
13-Jan-2011Source: NEMSPA
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
13-Jan-2011Source: Tampa Bay Online
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.... Read more
12-Jan-2011Source: NTSB
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
12-Jan-2011Source: SAFE
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
12-Jan-2011
HeliHub.com page for this accident is at 31-Dec-10 N385PH Eurocopter EC135 Weyers Cave, US-Virginia... Read more
11-Jan-2011Source: TSB
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
