I am living near much less hostile environment (Adriatic sea) but during some
winter storms, sea shows real nature. Last ditching incident was more than 30 years
ago when one Mil Mi8 T crew made emergency landing near shore line after some
tail rotor heating elements separation in flight causing intensive tail vibrations. Most of PAX drowned. Later investigation find out that crew response, to shut down and autorotate to ditching in sea, without emergency flotation, was mistake.
Out of some recent incidents we can be sure that most of Western
helicopter industry unfortunately approaching to serious technical problems
much in way, like our friend BMax claims "Ostrich engineering"....
Remember AW Tail on AW139
Remmber 2005. S76 Copterline near Tallin, when 14 people perished.
Copterline Flight 103 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
And this last unfortunate S92 issue...
