One thing that Bell were quick to change was the clearance to fly in snow with the Particle Separator - they made it compulsory to use the Snow Deflectors which Agusta did not. The CAA missed this anomaly and as a result the Clyde Helicopter Bell 206B (which ran alongside an Agusta Bell 206B for a while) crashed in a snowstorm in December 1989 killing one unfortunate policeman.
It was being used to back-up their Bo105 which was on contract to Strathclyde Police. The cops had decided against helmets - 'an unnecessary expense' I seem to remember the quote went. Man dies of head injuries. Fortunately they were all wearing them when their EC135 hit the mountain one dark and cheerless night.
G.
