Helicopter Safety | Mechanical Failure

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Mechanical Failure

Details+/-

Includes..

We are currently writing up a short synopsis of this subject, check back here soon.....

Videos+/-

An AS350 suffers an hydraulic failure.
Accident Report here.

An RAF Wessex Suffers Tail Rotor Failure and then collides with the surface Llyn Padarn, a lake in North Wales.

Enstrom has a tail rotor failure.
From the video it looks like a stuck left pedal.

Israeli CH-53 Tail Seperation

S-58 Suffers a tail rotor drive failure.

S-61 Appears to have a Tail Rotor Problem Landing on a Ship

Eurosafety International AS350 Hydraulic Check Demo.

Publications+/-

Tail Rotor Failures

Ray Prouty article from Rotor and Wing on Tail Rotor Failures.

NTSB Special Investigation Report, R22 Loss of Main Rotor Control Accidents

Hydraulic System cited in loss of AS350

Flight Safety Foundation article on Hydraulic Failure and its effects on the loss of an AS350 in Canada.

Cluster Inspection Austrailia

Hughes 300 (H269) Cluster Inspection Airwothiness Bulletin

UK CAA AIC on Servo Transparency

UK CAA AIC on Servo Transparency. As a result of Colin McRae's well publicised crash the AAIB have recommended that all pilots of helicopters with hydrualically assisted flying controls bre reminded of the danger of Servo Transparency, Reversibility or Jack Stall (all names for the same phenomenon).

CAA Paper 2003/01 Helicopter Tail Rotor Failures

An incredibly detailed look at Tail Rotor Failures across a broad spectrum of helicopter types.

The prevention of future tail rotor failures by various methods is examined, and suggestions for how to deal with tail rotor failures are made.

Links To Accident Reports In Study+/-

Registration	Type	Date	Fatal
G-REDL	AS332	01 Apr 2009	Fatal
Bond Offshore Helicopters, Super Puma AS332L2 crashed off Peterhead, Aberdeen.
G-TAMA	H269	04 Feb 2008
While parked with engine running a loud bang was heard and a/c began to pitch, roll and shake violently. Damage to blades and dampers. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-CHCF	AS332	20 Nov 2007
Nr2 engine freewheel failed during simulated nr1 engine failure. A/c dropped to runway from 20-30ft. No damage or injuries reported. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-PUMI	AS332	13 Oct 2006
Take off rejected due to severe vibration following loud bang. Main rotor head spindle fractured. No injury to 13 POB. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-DNHI	A109	09 Oct 2006
Tail rotor failure, followed by gearbox failure. Helicopter on fire. Extensive damage. No injuries to 1 POB. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-CGRI	A109	07 Apr 2006
Agusta A109S Grand, G-CGRI
G-WLLY	B206	21 Dec 2005	Fatal
Vertical stabiliser detached in flight, causing tail rotor and associated gearbox to separate. Two POB fatal. AAIB Field investigation.
G-CBPT	R22	26 Aug 2005
Loss of power following suspected drive belt failure. Aircraft autorotated onto sea and sank. No injury to 2 POB. AAIB Field investigation.
G-BBHE	F28	28 Jun 2005
Horizontal stabilizer spar detached in flight and struck the tail rotor. Autorotation made into field. Substantial damage. No injuries to two POB. Irish authority investigation.
G-DERB	R22	15 Nov 2004
R22 Blade Fracture in flight
G-GAZL	Gazelle	04 Nov 2004
Gazelle HT Mk 2, G-GAZL
G-IVEN	R44	02 Nov 2004
Hydraulic Failure, Improper Installation of Components
G-FFRI	AS355	19 Jul 2004
Nr2 engine ran down in flight due to failure of flexible coupling. AAIB Field investigation.
G-HIMJ	A109	14 Mar 2004
Heavy landing due to tail rotor driveshaft failure. Substantial damage. No injury to 2 POB. AAIB Field investigation.
G-BYKF	F28	06 Jan 2004
Enstrom F-28F Falcon, G-BYKF
G-XCEL	AS355	02 Dec 2003	Fatal
Aircraft crashed during air test. Three POB fatal. Aircraft destroyed. AAIB Field investigation.
G-BXXW	F28	06 Aug 2003
UK Reportable Accident: Autorotative landing due to in-flight failure of main rotor gear box rear bearing. Substantial damage. No injuries to 3 POB. AAIB Field investigation.
G-KAZZ	R44	09 Jul 2003
Robinson R44 Clipper, G-KAZZ
G-ODNH	H269	07 May 2003
Autorotative landing carried out due to severe vibration. Tail rotor teeter pivot bolt failed. AAIB Field investigation.
G-LEDA	R22	27 Apr 2003
UK Reportable Accident: Aircraft crashed during approach to land. Aircraft destroyed. Minor injuries to 2 POB. AAIB Field investigation.
G-JSAR	AS332	22 Feb 2003
Eurocopter AS332-L2 Super Puma, G-JSAR
G-BJVX	S76	16 Jul 2002	Fatal
The aircraft crashed into the sea and was destroyed following the failure of a main rotor blade. 11 POB fatal. AAIB Formal investigation.
G-VFSI	R22	13 Jul 2002	Fatal
The aircraft broke up in-flight and crashed in a field adjacent to the A46 near Warwick racecourse. 2 POB fatal. AAIB Field investigation.
G-IORG	R22	14 May 2002
Severe vibration during flight. Main rotor blade found cracked at root. AAIB Field investigation.
G-ZAPS	H269	08 Mar 2000	Fatal
Aircraft crashed following in-flight break up. 3 POB fatal. AAIB Formal investigation.
G-RNLD	A109	07 Feb 2000
Blade Tip Cap Detached in flight.
G-MLTY	AS365	27 Nov 1999
AS365N2, G-MLTY
G-OGAZ	AS341	16 May 1999
Aerospatiale SA341G Gazelle 1, G-OGAZ
G-USTA	A109	27 Mar 1999
Tail rotor blade failed, causing out of balance forces which led to loss of tail rotor gearbox assembly. Substantial damage. No injury to 2 POB.
G-BITR	S76	22 Mar 1999
Sikorsky S76A, G-BITR
G-TTHC	R22	09 Jan 1999
Burning smell in cockpit. Engine & rotor rpm increased. Run-on landing. Upper sheave bearing failed.
G-DLDL	R22	28 Nov 1998
Robinson R22 Beta, G-DLDL
G-ATBJ	S61	26 Aug 1998
Sikorsky S-61N, G-ATBJ
G-PUMB	AS332	20 Jul 1998
AS332L Super Puma, G-PUMB
G-BOAM	R22	26 May 1998
Robinson R22 BETA, REDHILL, United Kingdom
G-PUMK	AS332	09 Mar 1998
AS332L Super Puma, G-PUMK
G-BUIW	R22	09 Mar 1998	Fatal
A/c crashed near Amport, approx 1nm SE of airfield. 1 fatality.
G-BWMG	AS332	28 Jan 1998
Horizontal stabiliser separated in flight. A/c pitched down 35deg. Mayday. Control regained. Diverted & landed safely. No injury.
G-SHRR	B206	11 Aug 1997	Fatal
A/c crashed whilst engaged in pipeline survey. 2 POB fatal. A/c destroyed.
G-PLMI	AS365	20 Jul 1997
LH horizontal stabiliser separated. A/c landed safely. No injury to 2 POB.
G-CHYL	R22	07 Feb 1997
Upper sheave bearing failed. Forced landing. No injury to 2 POB.
Total Found	41
Total Fatal	8

A Graph of These Accidents By Model+/-

Count Of Model

Fatal Accidents


A109	5
	0
AS332	7
	1
AS341	1
	0
AS355	2
	1
AS365	2
	0
B206	2
	2
F28	3
	0
Gazelle	1
	0
H269	3
	1
R22	10
	2
R44	2
	0
S61	1
	0
S76	2
	1

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Source Data