September AAIB Bulletin

[BoeingMEL]

September AAIB now on-line.

Dave Richards' interesting Euro T2 forced landing covered and a bizarre R44 accident but still nothing on Steve Hildich's (twin squirrel) tragic accident. Next month maybe? bm

[VeeAny]

Links As Follows

G-IWRC EC135T2 (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/september_2008/eurocopter_ec135_t2__g_iwrc.cfm)
Autopilot problems ends up with forced landing and rollover.

G-LAVH R44 (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/september_2008/robinson_r44_raven_ii__g_lavh.cfm)
High Cyclic Force after takeoff causes oscillation and ground contact, A/C destroyed by fire.

G-REDM AS332 (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/september_2008/eurocopter_as332l2_super_puma__g_redm.cfm)
Lightning Strike, while enroute from Rig to Aberdeen.

[Hilico]

Not to mention...

Rotorsport autogyro lifts off nose-high on first solo, excess drag brings it back down again - here. (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/cms_resources/Rotorsport%20UK%20MT-03,%20G-CEUI%2009-08.pdf)

RAF 2000 autogyo runs off side of runway after landing - here. (http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/september_2008/raf_2000_gtx_se_gyroplane__g_ccuh.cfm)

Nor also to mention that this is September of which year?, mutter mutter.

[MightyGem]

Well, it's hardly going to be last year, or 1962, is it?

[Hilico]

No, this month it isn't. But next year? Or even if you're looking back at AAIB threads, type AAIB in the search field. Then try to decide which month you're looking at.

When I manage to add the thread first, I give it a standard title for a reason.

[Whirlygig]

That's very true Hilico! :ok: One admires organisational skills :ok:

But in reality (http://www.pprune.org/search.php?searchid=3997096)

The date also helps as a guide so we can't be too harsh! ;)

Cheers

Whirls

[BoeingMEL]

I see that, for the last forty five years Hilico, your dream has been to fly helicopters. Your present tally of 11 hours indicates that, on average, you have amassed 15 minutes per annum!

Wonder how many hours you'd have today if you'd spent less time nit-picking and immersing yourself in trivia?

Sorry to sound bitter but when a post appears in September 2008 and announces the latest September AAIB bulletin..... well, it's not rocket-science is it?

:ugh: Cheers bm

[Whirlygig]

Boeing, you running any CRM courses soon? :} :p

Cheers

Whirls

[r44raven]

Ouch!:eek:

[Coconutty]

Talking of nit picking ......

RAF 2000 autogyo

Is this a new type of aircraft then ?

I tried searching the AAIB reports for every month of every year and can find zero reports of incidents involving an autogyo :confused: ;)


... slinks off after spell check before posting :oh:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d129/coconut11/Coconutty.jpg

[ivakontrol]

I'm suprised the AAIB haven't published the AS350 (Colin Mcrae) crash yet. Other threads (rumours) seem to imply pilot error!

[Aser]

Thanks for the "heads up" !

Aser


Helicopter flew 200 miles with damaged rotor blade – report
craft damaged by lightning

By Stephen Christie

Published: 16/09/2008

A HELICOPTER which was struck by lightning while ferrying 15 oil workers to Aberdeen flew nearly 200 miles with a “damaged beyond repair” rotor blade, an official investigation has revealed.

According to a report published by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Super Puma chopper was around 190 miles north-east of the Granite City when it entered a “line of showers”.

The report, based on the pilots’ accounts and AAIB inquiries, states: “About 30 seconds after entering the line of showers, both pilots saw a bright flash at the rotor tip in the one o’clock position, accompanied by a ‘bang’ or ‘pop’ sound.”

According to the Civil Aviation Authority website the helicopter is owned by International Aviation Leasing based in Cheltenham. The machine is leased to Bond Offshore Helicopters, based at Kirkhill Business Park in Dyce, Aberdeen.

The drama unfolded at around 1.30pm on February 22 this year when the four-year-old helicopter was cruising at 2,000ft having collected the workers from the Bruce Field in the North Sea.

The report continues: “Although the lightning strike had not caused any noticeable effects on the aircraft’s behaviour, the crew initially decided to head towards the nearest available platform which did not involve returning through the line of showers, in accordance with the checklist requirement to land as soon as possible.”

The pilot, a 39-year-old with nearly 4,000 hours’ flying experience, and the co-pilot, considered diverting to Sumburgh in Shetland or Kirkwall in Orkney.

However, the weather in these areas was said to be “unsuitable”. The pilots then discovered that the nearest platform deemed suitable had “unfavourable” weather conditions and all the other nearby platforms reported winds speeds of 50 knots.

The pilots chose to continue to Aberdeen where an “uneventful landing” was made. No one was injured in the incident which destroyed one of the four rotor blades “beyond repair”.

The report goes on: “Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the main rotor blades. Of the four rotor blades, one was damaged beyond repair limits, while the remaining three were repairable.”

The checklist for the chopper model affected in the accident requires the crew to land as soon as possible following a lightning strike to the craft.

[verticalhold]

ASER;

Let me guess. That nugget must have come from the Aberdeen Depressing Journal.

Its' nice to see that the P&J still likes to sensationalise everything. At least this time there were no outright lies, just the usual level of over-excited horse s***.

New name on me though. I suppose their previous "aviation expert" must be retired or dead by now.

VH