UK AAIB Feb 2011

[VeeAny]

There are three helicopter incidents in this month’s AAIB bulletin.

AS355 Public Transport
G-BPRI
The first involving a twin squirrel hit by a golf buggy whilst on a golf course can be found here http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...RI%2002-11.pdf .


R22 Self Fly Hire
G-HRBS
The second involving an R22 on a solo sortie after a brief check ride, a loss of control lead to a damaged tail boom http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...BS%2002-11.pdf .

S92 SAR
G-SARC
The third on a SAR mission entered IMC and had trouble engaging autopilot modes at low speed in a mountainous area.
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/cms_resources...RC%2002-11.pdf

GS

[Hilico]

Gee, I hate it when the situation gets exasperated. I'd've overcontrolled in an exasperated situation.

[HeliComparator]

Yup, quality control at AAIB ain't what it used to be! Which is a great shame.

HC

[toptobottom]

Poor guy - he must have been exacerbated

What IS exasperating, is this:

The instructor returned to the aircraft and confirmed with the pilot that he was still happy to undertake a flight on his own.

The pilot thought he was going to roll the aircraft, then spun it through more incompetence, then unsurprisingly admitted he was 'shaken' as he'd then impacted the ground so hard he bent the tail. I wonder what it was that gave the instructor the confidence to believe the pilot was safe to fly away on his own

Perhaps a refresher lesson in the office over a strong coffee, some supervised practice and an inspection of the aircraft would have been prudent

[[email protected]]

The S92 incident looks interesting - the last thing you want in an IMC abort in the mountains is the aircraft fighting you! Maybe all that clever technology isn't that clever after all

[MightyGem]

I always thought that once you were in dynamic roll-over, that was it. You gone passed the point of no return, and that there was no chance of recovery.

[OvertHawk]

Crab - you are predictable.... (which is more than can be said for the AP on the S92 it seems)

[Lioncopter]

Very true crab but just think all that effort of finding all the little gotcha's like that in the system (and having them fixed or everyone made aware) may have gone to waste....at least for the UK.

[John R81]

I think my training was inadequate!

I don't recall being trained to deal with a runaway golf buggy incident.