17-May-2012
Pilot suffered spinal injuries after crashing the single-seat CH-7 Kompress. Helicopter extensively damaged (see photo)... Read more
16-May-2012Source: HAI
HAI and the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) present a two-day safety seminar, June 1-2, 2012, in Irving, Texas. The target audiences on the first day are commercial helicopter operators and pilots, and the target audiences for the second day are General Aviation helicopter pilots, certified helicopter flight instructors, and helicopter student pilots. For more information and to register, click here.... Read more
16-May-2012
Crashed from low level during take-off and ended up on its starboard side within the police compound. Press statement said it was a mechanical issue. Pilot named as VÃctor Ojeda Esqueda and passengers were Secretary of Public Security Jesús Pinto Ortiz and director of the State Preventive Police, VÃctor Manuel Bosques.  All three to hospital. ... Read more
16-May-2012
R44 was engaged in aerial saw work, clearing trees away from powerlines. While reportedly ferrying back to a field landing site, the helicopter crashed and was destroyed (photo). Sole occupant pilot had minor injuries.... Read more
16-May-2012
Fumes in the cockpit – led to fleet grounding.... Read more
16-May-2012
Very heavy landing which caused the main blades to snap 30cm from the root. It would appear that rotor rpm decayed to the extent it fell vertically out of the sky. Skids splayed out, mast damaged but tail boom appears unscathed... Read more
15-May-2012Source: Bond Aviation Group
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services announced the resumption of flights following the release of important data from Eurocopter. The full fleet of helicopters will return to service over the next 24 hrs. Bill Munro, Managing Director of Bond Offshore Helicopters said, “Bond puts safety first, above... Read more
15-May-2012Source: Oil & Gas UK
The Helicopter Safety Steering Group (HSSG) met today, Monday 14 May, to share preliminary information on the recent helicopter ditching incident in the North Sea. Making up the HSSG are helicopter operators, oil and gas operators and contractors, offshore trade unions, the pilots’ union BALPA, the regulators HSE and CAA and Oil & Gas UK.... Read more
15-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Iain King, of Wetherby, appeared at York Crown Court on Monday where he denied making false representations to procure a private pilot’s licence for Mr Spencer, who was flying the helicopter. (see press story). This relates to the accident of Gazelle YU-HEW on 26 January 2008 which resulted in the fatal injuries of the pilot... Read more
15-May-2012Source: Bond Aviation Group
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd., one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services concur with the initial findings of the AAIB interim Service Bulletin S2/2012 issued which indicates component failure. The bulletin states that, “An initial visual inspection of the main gearbox has identified a 360° circumferential crack on the bevel gear vertical shaft,... Read more
15-May-2012
Missile training device accidentally dropped from Apache helicopter out of Fort Hood.... Read more
14-May-2012
Helicopter appears to have descended vertically to impact point – no skid-marks near site. Accident killed 72-year old pilot and his passenger. Helicopter caught fire on landing and the two fatalities were found in the wreckage by firemen after they put out the blaze.... Read more
14-May-2012
Precautionary landing due to low visibility... Read more
13-May-2012
Tail rotor strike on take-off... Read more
11-May-2012Source: Bond Offshore Helicopters
Controlled ditching in North Sea and all 14 on board into liferafts and later rescued. The helicopter remained upright on its emergency floats. Flight number was “Bond 88R”... Read more
11-May-2012Source: Bond Aviation Group
Bond Offshore Helicopters Ltd, one of the UK’s leading providers of energy support services reports that at 12.13h today an Eurocopter EC225 helicopter (registration G-REDW) outbound from Aberdeen going to the Ensco102 Maersk Resilient platform made a controlled descent 24 nautical miles off-shore. The Captain and Co-pilot made the controlled descent and landed on the... Read more
11-May-2012
Crew member suffered serious head injuries when “releasing the transport line” (literal translation). Investigation ongoing, few details.... Read more
10-May-2012Source: Bond Air Services
Bond Air Services, the UK’s largest independent emergency and mission critical helicopter operator providing air ambulance helicopter services, police and marine support to offshore wind farms and lighthouses, will resume flight operations of the EC 135 fleet at 07:00 on 9th May. Bond Air Services took the decision to suspend all flight operations for the... Read more
10-May-2012Source: HAI
In an unusual public rebuke, the FAA’s Office of Special Counsel said in letters to the White House and Congress that it lagged in responding to urgent safety problems, with the administration not following through on promised corrections in five of seven whistleblower cases. Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner claims there is a pattern dating at... Read more
10-May-2012
Unknown circumstances led to landing on Mount Taylor where pilot activated the ELT and both occupants walked away to raise the alarm. Pilot Jareb Mirczak of Nevada and passenger Sean Mossing of Carson City. Level of damage not clear, although State Police report refers to “wreckage”... Read more
9-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
9-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
Four weeks ago, Eurocopter issued an AD regarding the main rotor hub of the EC135 after a crack was found. This was an “ordinary AD” as far as those of us in the industry are concerned, and there was a schedule of actions which need to be taken by operators just like there normally is.... Read more
9-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
9-May-2012
Crashed into a wheat field during agricultural operations. Pilot named as Brian Townsend... Read more
9-May-2012
After experiencing some blade damage in flight, an emergency landing was made. The impact killed pilot Rodolfo León Gavilán. The other 18 on board survived. The police had been engaged on an anti-drug trafficking mission.... Read more
9-May-2012
Crash landed at Ranchi Airport due to tail rotor problems. Local reports suggest that pilot made a high speed landing on wheels and the helicopter then turned over up to six times as a result of this landing. However, it meant that all survived and the 6 POB have already been declared “out of danger”... Read more
8-May-2012Source: Heliflite
Heliflite, Australasia’s longest serving authorised Robinson distributor are holding Robinson Factory Pilot Safety Courses in Sydney, Melbourne & Wanaka (NZ) during late May/ early June. All three courses will be conducted by Robinson’s Chief Instructor and Test Pilot, Tim Tucker. The Wanaka course will be held at the Edgewater Resort, Sargood Drive, Wanaka from Thursday... Read more
8-May-2012
8 Killed when AW119 crashed while en route from the reconstruction of an April 2012 massacre at Dover and was returning to the state capital of Goiana. The Civil Police confirmed the names of the eight occupants of the aircraft. They are: the Police crew Jorge Moreira, Antonio Goncalves, Osvalmir Carrasco, Vinicius da Silva, Bruno Carneiro... Read more
6-May-2012Source: HAI
On Mon., May 7, from 9:00 a.m., Helicopter Association International, the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), and local industry experts will present a one-day safety workshop for all helicopter pilots and operators in Alaska. Topics include important issues affecting Alaska pilots, best practices, educational outreach, and initiatives to mitigate accidents. The workshop will also serve as... Read more
4-May-2012
Royal Netherlands Air Force pilot heard a strange noise shortly after takeoff from the base of Florennes and elected to put the helicopter down in a field. No damage... Read more
4-May-2012
Whilst manoeuvring for landing at a private helipad, the helicopter’s tail rotor blades struck an adjacent fence. The pilot received no unusual cockpit indications and was unaware of the tail rotor strike until after shutdown.... Read more
3-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
HeliHub.com is today launching a second daily email bulletin – specifically focusing on Helicopter Safety. This will pick up accident reports, news items related to safety as well as alerts to safety documents. While the news stories are an overlap with our main daily news headlines email, this one will provide more insight into helicopter... Read more
3-May-2012
Following an event in which high torque was used, flight data was analysed on behalf of the operator using incorrect conversion information relevant to earlier variants of the helicopter. The operator was therefore unaware that total torque had exceeded a level at which maintenance action was required. This article suggests the passengers were Paul Macartney... Read more
2-May-2012
Crash from low level while on gas pipeline survey. Pilot Wayne Spry and his two passengers, Jerry Senger and Clint Shoemaker received minor injuries.... Read more
2-May-2012
Came down on training flight. Instructor and student both reported injured and to hospital... Read more
2-May-2012
Rotor blades clipped a small branch of one of the trees while the helicopter was manoeuvring to land... Read more
2-May-2012
Crashed in a residential neighbourhood, both occupants hospitalised -Alan Cottrell and Ron Ponce... Read more
1-May-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
1-May-2012Source: Bell
The Bell Helicopter, Textron Inc. safety publication, Helicopter Professional Pilots Safety Program or HELIPROPS, designed for helicopter pilots, is now available electronically online. Bell’s newsletter Human AD, Airworthiness for Humans, is published in English and Spanish and is distributed to readers in approximately 122 countries. A popular feature of the newsletter are articles from helicopter pilots’ own experiences flying... Read more
1-May-2012
Struck trees with main rotor blades while landing... Read more
30-Apr-2012
The helicopter was on a transport mission from Barranquilla to Caucasia when the accident occurred, killing all 13 on board – 7 from the Colombian Air Force and 6 from the Colombian National Police. Pilot was named as Major Abel Jorge Garcia Cardona, while Lieutenant Hector Vega Alejandro Cuevas was serving as copilot.... Read more
30-Apr-2012
EMS helicopter taking off from accident site – and downwash caused awning to blow over... Read more
29-Apr-2012
Alpine rescue expert and two others were being lowered on a winch to rescue a trapped climber. Due to poor visibility, the pilot released the winch at too high an altitude – about 10m AGL. Franz Franzeskon died instantly in the fall while the two others suffered multiple injuries. No technical issues reported with the... Read more
29-Apr-2012
Annual check ride with NVGs in EMS helicopter. After a satisfactory slope landing, the PIC repositioned the helicopter to a flat area and performed a hovering autorotation, which resulted in a hard landing. After the flight, during a post-flight examination, substantial damage was discovered to the tail boom and the aft portion of the fuselage... Read more
28-Apr-2012
Written off after hitting high-tension cables climbing out from a precautionary off-field landing due to an ill passenger. Three injured to hospital.... Read more
27-Apr-2012Source: Global Aerospace
Global Aerospace, Inc., a leading provider of aerospace insurance products and services, announced the launch of a new website dedicated to providing safety resources to the aviation community. Developed through the company’s SM4 safety program, the new website is an indispensable resource for aviation professionals who are serious about improving and promoting safety within their... Read more
27-Apr-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
27-Apr-2012Source: ARGUS International
Professional Resources In System Management, LLC (PRISM) is pleased to report the completion of a three-day Safety Management System (SMS) course in conjunction with the Rotary Wing Society of India (RWSI). The course took place in New Delhi, India and focused on the Four Pillars of SMS, safety culture, just culture, decision making, SMS risk... Read more
27-Apr-2012
Agricultural accidents. Starboard skid reportedly hit crop, Pilot got out on his own. Tail boom severed from fuselage. Pilot later named in press as 59-year-old Thomas Green of Gettysburg... Read more
26-Apr-2012Source: HAI
On Mon., May 7, from 9:00 a.m., Helicopter Association International, the FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam), and local industry experts will present a one-day safety workshop for all helicopter pilots and operators in Alaska. Topics include important issues affecting Alaska pilots, best practices, educational outreach, and initiatives to mitigate accidents. The workshop will also serve as... Read more
26-Apr-2012
Crashed shortly after take off, killing all five Ukraine nationals on board. Helicopter was one of two being ferried from Ukraine to Turkey for firefighting operations there.... Read more
26-Apr-2012
There were no injuries among the crewmen aboard and the helicopter suffered no damage as a result of the precautionary landing. 8 POB. C ode 540 from the press photo (link 2) leads us to believe this was Bu164771... Read more
26-Apr-2012
Substantially damaged in heavy landing. Both occupants to hospital. Weather report as winds gusting to 30 knots at the time of the accident... Read more
25-Apr-2012Source: ARSA
Aeronautical Repair Station Association Senior Vice President Gary Fortner, vice president of Quality Control & Engineering at Fortner Engineering in Glendale, Calif., testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Aviation Subcommittee about the excellent work repair stations across the country and around the world are doing to ensure aviation safety. “For repair stations, good... Read more
25-Apr-2012Source: HAI
HAI is saddened at the passing of long-serving member of the HAI Safety Committee, Bruce L. Gillaspie, Sr., who died January 21, 2012 in Lafayette, La. He was 68. Born in Battle Creek, Mich., Gillaspie served in Vietnam as a U. S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot before flying oil and gas operations for PHI, Inc.... Read more
25-Apr-2012
Emergency landing after running out of fuel. No damage.... Read more
24-Apr-2012
Agricultural ops, crashed in field... Read more
24-Apr-2012
Precautionary landing due to an engine fault... Read more
24-Apr-2012
Crash landed on a road during a training flight. 3 POB to hospital but not seriously injured.... Read more
21-Apr-2012
Struck tail rotor on landing... Read more
21-Apr-2012
Tail rotor struck ground handling platform during landing... Read more
20-Apr-2012Source: AAIB
The monthly bulletin from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been released. This month’s issue covers the accidents of:- AS332L2 Super Puma (G-PUMS), Automatic Flight Control System disconnect on 29 July 2011 near Aberdeen. AS365N3 Dauphin II (G-REDG), engine fire at Norwich Airport, 18 April 2011... Read more
20-Apr-2012
Police reported “A man believed to be in his 50’s has died when the single seat experimental helicopter he was operating crashed on a property north of Eromanga”. Helicopter type may be a Masquito. Another report noted he was mustering at the time.... Read more
20-Apr-2012
Landed and fell onto its side during a training flight. 2 of the 6POB injured.... Read more
19-Apr-2012Source: RDCA
“Safety Management without the Mumbo Jumbo†is a recently published book about how to manage safety. The book demystifies safety management. Simple explanations and anecdotes make this book an interesting read for anyone who has an interest in or who is responsible for safety. The book has been published in hard copy and E-Book format.... Read more
19-Apr-2012Source: HAI
HAI is seeking a Deputy Director of Safety. Duties and responsibilities include: assisting HAI Director of Safety regarding safety-related matters, acting as the point of contact for and managing staff associated with the HAI Accreditation Program, working with the FAA Safety Team to develop online educational materials, making safety presentations on behalf of HAI, and... Read more
19-Apr-2012
A Black Hawk helicopter crashed Thursday in southern Afghanistan, killing all four POB. Weather was apparently a factor. Fatalities named as Chief Warrant Officer 2 Nicholas Johnson, 27, San Diego; Spc. Dean Shaffer, 23, Pekin, Ill.; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Don Viray, 25, Waipahu, Hawaii; and Spc. Chris Workman, 33, Boise, Idaho.... Read more
18-Apr-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
18-Apr-2012
Tail rotor separated while landing on glacier... Read more
18-Apr-2012
Emergency return to airfield after loss of right pedal control. Reported as a tail rotor pitch change link bearing failure... Read more
17-Apr-2012
U.S. Coast Guard responded to a downed helicopter about 82 nautical miles off Vermilion Bay in the vicinity of Vermilion Block 336. The Sikorsky S-76 was floating upside down, and the life raft had been deployed. All 7 POB accounted for... Read more
17-Apr-2012
Minor unspecified damage on landing... Read more
16-Apr-2012Source: US Marine Corps
Capt. Phillip A. Wiktor, a UH-1Y Huey pilot and the hazardous materials officer-in-charge with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 169 and a Rochester, Minn., native, received the 2011 Marine Corps Ground Safety Officer of the Year Award at the 26th Executive Force Preservation Board in Washington, D.C., March 28. Wiktor was awarded for his efforts... Read more
16-Apr-2012Source: HeliHub.com
This news item is part of the accident data provided by HeliHub.com on this site. Information provided in this update may potentially be incomplete or inaccurate as we frequently post these stories only a very short time after the accident has occurred. Users of HeliHub.com are advised to carry out their own checks and searches,... Read more
