Flight Safety Foundation Helicopter Safety 2004

These publications are in Acrobat^® Portable Document Format (PDF) and require a copy of Adobe Reader^®. If you do not have a copy of Adobe Reader, you can download and install a free copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2_allversions.html.

November–December 2004

Use of Night Vision Goggles Increases in Civilian Helicopter Operations 8 pages. [PDF 143K]

Technological advances during the past decade have produced night vision goggles (NVGs) that amplify the brightness of a nighttime scene thousands of times. Nevertheless, NVGs have human-performance limitations, including decreased field of view, decreased visual acuity and altered sensitivity to colored lights.

September–October 2004

Ship’s Changing Heading Cited in AS 332’s Rollover on Helideck 4 pages. [PDF 70K]

The final report by the U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that as the ship drifted, the helicopter was subjected to an increasing crosswind component, which — combined with factors such as the lifting force generated by the main rotor and the natural movements of the ship — forced the helicopter onto its side.

July–August 2004

Maneuver Cited in AS 350’s Uncontrolled Descent 6 pages. [PDF 113K]

The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board said that the pilot on the Grand Canyon air tour apparently flew the helicopter over a cliff and then initiated a descent that he was unable to stop.

May–June 2004

Bell 206L Strikes Water During Low-altitude Flight in Whiteout Conditions 4 pages [PDF 79K]

The fatal accident occurred on a snowy afternoon after the pilot, who did not have an instrument rating and had been assigned to operate only under visual flight rules, picked up four technicians who had been working on airport navigation equipment in Alaska.

March–April 2004

Cracked R22 Main-rotor Blade Results in Warning on Vibration 6 pages. [PDF 120K]

The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that the blade was near catastrophic failure because of the crack, which was 80 millimeters (three inches) long, in a main-rotor blade root-end fitting.

January–February 2004

Unstable External Load Blamed in Helicopter Water-contact Accident 6 pages. [PDF 100K]

The U.K. Air Accidents Investigation Branch said that the BO 105 struck water off the coast of Scotland after the external load hit the tail rotor, severing the blades. The accident report included recommendations for improved guidance on the preparation, construction and carrying of external loads.