Baton Rouge PD R-44 fatal 26th March 2023

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Originally Posted by wrench1

Depends on the type of operation. I believe the BRPD ops was Public Use so no FAA oversight and only need to follow basic Part 91 air space rules. A number of public/govt entities operate in a similar fashion. FYI: this program has been flying for over 10 years.

Yes as you say, very limited oversight from the FAA with only Advisory Circulars (not mandatory or regulatory) to determine if the operation is PAO (Public Aircraft Ops) or not. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...ac_00.1-1b.pdf

The USHST seem to be the people doing most to reduce helicopter accidents in the US - their website is good https://ushst.org/ But they are a voluntary organisation albeit one with a great vision.

PAO clearly has different roles to normal GA yet is regulated (very lightly) in much the same way which, given the type of flying (as in this case) that can be conducted by PAO (night high speed car pursuits) seems surprising.

[Torquetalk]

Originally Posted by Robbiee

No R44 is instrument certified, but most of the ones I've seen have had at least an artificial horizon, and many now even have glass cockpits. Plus, the police version of the R44 has some pretty cool stuff..

Thanks Robbie, you are right. I meant instrument equipped not certified. There is no regulatory requirement for an AI for night flight and I‘ve flown quite a few light helis without. Cannot recall if the R44s amongst them had AIs or not.

Not sure about glass panel and extras fixing the basic problem tho. Unless Robinson have put a stick trim into later Ravens, it just doesn‘t seem a safe choice for night operations.

[Torquetalk]

Originally Posted by Turbo Encabulator

LOL.

Tell me you're British without telling me you're British.

Darn it, ya got me. Want to buy a readable chart?

Going from a sectional to a terminal is gag: Maybe I can make out more with this smaller scale chart. Nope. It just covers a smaller area

[wrench1]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Yes as you say, very limited oversight from the FAA with only Advisory Circulars (not mandatory or regulatory) to determine if the operation is PAO (Public Aircraft Ops) or not. https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/fi...ac_00.1-1b.pdf

Public Use aircraft is a function of US statute and not the FARs or FAA. The AC you posted references that law. So in reality there is zero oversight by the FAA. One doesn't even need a pilots certificate to operate Public aircraft except in specific controlled air space per Part 91. However, most PAO entities do follow the basics when it comes to general ops and maintenance but it is voluntary and not regulatory. Outside of public owned aircraft, there are a number of private operators who have mixed operations: Part 91, Part 135, PAO. The AC was developed to assist in those operations and better define PAO since it is not a function of the FAA.

[[email protected]]

Thanks wrench 1, it doesn't seem quite the level of oversight, regulation and monitoring that we might expect of a Govt service in this country but, horses for courses and all that.

[wrench1]

Prelim report out. Interesting failure sequence.

The main rotor transmission, mast, and main rotor blades came to rest in a wooded area about 250 feet east of the main wreckage.

BTR PD Preliminary Report
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[MLHeliwrench]

250 feet would indicate a in flight separation i would think? The lack of flight following or basic on scene / off scene / back at base reporting is astounding.

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My money is on IIMC followed by uncontrolled attitude leading to rotor strike on the cockpit and subsequent in-flight departure of the transmission. Horrendous.

Yes, the lack of reporting and flight following is shameful.