Flight Safety Foundation Helicopter Safety 2002

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November–December 2002

Aerial Ambulance Loses Engine Power During Approach in Dense Fog 6 pages. [PDF 80K]

After diverting a flight because of low fuel, the pilot was told that visibility was approximately five meters (16 feet) at the highway intersection where he attempted to land a Bell LongRanger III. The engine stopped producing power during the approach, and the helicopter struck terrain.

September–October 2002

Abrupt Maneuver and Mast Bumping Cited in Loss-of-control Accident 4 pages. [PDF 42K]

Witnesses said that the Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 helicopter was being flown at low altitude when the main rotor separated and a rotor blade struck the cabin.

July–August 2002

Data Show 50 U.S.-registered Helicopters Involved In Wire-strike Accidents From 1996 Through 2000 6 pages. [PDF 83K]

In each of the accidents, the helicopter was either destroyed or damaged substantially. Fifteen accidents resulted in at least one fatality; nine other accidents resulted in serious injuries.

May–June 2002

Unsecured Fasteners in Tail-rotor System Faulted for Bell UH-1H Loss of Control 6 pages. [PDF 154K]

New Zealand investigators said that the failure to install split pins during maintenance likely caused nuts and bolts in a tail-rotor-blade pitch-control mechanism to become loose, leading to the pilot’s loss of control of the ex-military helicopter during approach and landing.

March–April 2002

Boost Pump Failure Starves Bell 214B Engine of Fuel 6 pages. [PDF 119K]

Canadian investigators said that the aircraft flight manual did not adequately describe the potential consequences of a boost pump failure and that the pilot’s lack of recurrent training might have affected his ability to conduct an autorotation.

January–February 2002

Sikorsky S-76B Strikes Water During Approach to North Sea Oil and Natural Gas Production Platform 8 pages. [PDF 44K]

The flight crew was conducting a go-around in dark-night conditions and did not observe the high rate of descent that followed a large power reduction during the turn to final approach. The crew’s application of collective to reduce the sink rate came too late to prevent the helicopter from striking the water.