Helicopter Safety | Visibility

Visit the General Aviation Safety Council Website

Visibility

Details+/-

Includes..

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

Videos+/-

AH1 Crashes after experiencing a 'Brownout' on take off

Bad Weather Mountain Rescue

Publications+/-

S76 Crash Synopsis in Poor Weather, includes CRM issues

Flight safety foundation article on CRM issues in an S76 which crashed at night in IMC shortly after takeoff.

EMS Loft Study on IIMC

Flight safety Foundation article on a LOFT study into Inadvertant IMC in EMS Ops.

TSB Canada Report on VFR flight into adverse weather.

Accidents in which the aircraft was operated under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) into adverse weather conditions occur regularly, claiming a disproportionately high number of fatalities each year. They involve professional pilots, private pilots and business pilots who fly general aviation aircraft and chartered commercial aircraft, including fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. The regularity with which these accidents have occurred, and the seriousness of the continuing loss of life, prompted the Canadian Aviation Safety Board (CASB) to initiate a comprehensive and systematic examination of the issue. In March 1990, when this report was nearing completion, the CASB was replaced by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB), under whose auspices this report is now published. During the last two decades, a number of foreign government agencies have undertaken measures to more fully understand these types of accidents. Recent studies emphasize both the complex decisional nature of continued VFR flight into adverse-weather and the often fatal consequences. This Safety Study is the first comprehensive review of the topic in Canada in recent years, and builds upon these earlier works.

REPORT OF A SAFETY STUDY ON VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER

Canadian TSB REPORT OF A SAFETY STUDY ON VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER.

US Mil Report on spatial disorientation accidents

Spatial disorientation in US Army Helicopter Accidents. An update of the 1987-92 report to include 1993-95.

US Mil Report on spatial disorientation accidents 1987-1992

Spatial disorientation in US Army Helicopter Accidents from 1987-1992.

Spatial Disorientation - Seeing is not believing

FAA spatial disorientation safety brochure.

Spatial disorientation as a factor in aviation accidents and incidents

An overview of spatial disorientation as a factor in aviation accidents and incidents

178 Seconds to Live VFR into IMC

A CASA publication with details of the 178 seconds to live study, Fixed wing based but highly useful.

CAA Paper on Flight in Degraded Visual Conditions

An excellent but technically complex study of flight in reduced visibility.

Several UK accidents are looked at in detail, and virtually every accident in the CAA database that related to poor visibility until the study started gets a mention somewhere.

Almost 200 pages but well worth reading if you get the time.

Links To Accident Reports In Study+/-

Registration	Type	Date	Fatal
G-CBXT	Gazelle	01 Nov 2008	Fatal
Gazelle crashed near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
G-OSSI	R44	03 Aug 2007	Fatal
Helicopter reported overdue by ARCC Kinloss. Wreckage found on following day. Four POB fatal. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-BYPA	AS355	01 May 2007	Fatal
Helicopter disappeared from radar screens after making a sharp turn. Wreckage found on following day. A/c destroyed. Four POB fatal. Subject to AAIB Field investigation.
G-BLUN	AS365	27 Dec 2006	Fatal
Helicopter seen to descend into sea close to offshore platform. Seven POB fatal. Subject to AAIB Formal investigation.
G-OPAL	R22	07 Apr 2006
Aircraft crashed after skid struck the ground during transition into circuit. Substantial damage. Two POB, one minor injury. AAIB AARF investigation.
G-BXLI	B206	22 Jan 2005	Fatal
Helicopter crashed in poor weather and was destroyed. Four POB fatal injuries. AAIB Field investigation.
G-PWER	A109	03 Mar 2004	Fatal
Aircraft entered left turn and crashed into woodland on approach. Aircraft caught fire on impact and was destroyed. 2 POB fatal. AAIB Field investigation.
G-OUEL	R44	30 Jul 2003	Fatal
After encountering low cloud, the aircraft entered a rapid descent and the main rotor struck the tailboom. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed by fire. 1 POB fatal. AAIB Field investigation.
G-BTFY	B206	17 Jan 2003	Fatal
Aircraft crashed shortly after take off and was destroyed in post impact fire. 2 POB fatal. AAIB Field investigation.
G-SSSE	S76	12 Dec 2002
Sikorsky S76C, G-SSSE
G-BMAL	S76	22 Oct 2002
Sikorsky S76A (Modified), G-BMAL
G-SPAU	EC135	17 Feb 2002
Aircraft entered thick cloud and crashed after inadvertent autopilot disconnection. Aircraft destroyed. 3 POB - 1 serious and 2 minor injuries. AAIB Field investigation.
G-PDGN	AS365	21 Jan 2002
Aerospatiale SA365N Dauphin, G-PDGN
G-TGRS	R22	18 Nov 2001
Skid struck ground on landing. Helicopter rolled over and was destroyed. Minor injuries to 2 POB. AAIB AARF investigation.
G-OROZ	AS350	21 Jan 2001	Fatal
Aircraft crashed and was destroyed following a loss of control in flight. 5 POB - 3 fatal and 2 serious injuries. AAIB Field investigation.
G-LGRM	B206	11 Sep 2000
Crashed on a hillside. Aircraft destroyed. Minor injuries to 2 POB.
G-TLME	R44	01 Feb 2000	Fatal
A/c crashed on open moorland in poor weather (low cloud & mist). A/c destroyed. 3 POB fatal.
G-OPNI	B206	05 Apr 1999
Following inadvertent flight into IMC, pilot became disorientated & flew a/c into sea. A/c destroyed. Both occupants rescued.
G-WMCN	R44	24 Nov 1998
A/c crashed following inadvertent flight into cloud. Substantial damage. 3 POB, 1 minor & 2 serious injuries.
G-EMAU	AS355	09 Oct 1998	Fatal
A/c crashed into woodland shortly after take off. A/c destroyed. 3 POB, 1 fatality & 2 serious injuries.
G-POWE	R44	19 Apr 1998	Fatal
A/c crashed in copse in poor weather. Fire after impact. 4 fatalities.
G-OROM	AS355	28 Jan 1998	Fatal
A/c crashed on rising ground & caught fire. 1 POB fatal.
G-WFRD	B206L	15 Nov 1997
Landed heavily during precautionary landing due to deteriorating weather conditions. Subst damage. 2 serious & 3 minor injuries.
G-BAKS	B206	14 Nov 1997	Fatal
A/c crashed on hillside in poor weather at night. A/c destroyed. Sole occupant killed.
G-FLYR	B206	13 Jul 1997	Fatal
During precautionary landing, due reduced visibility, a/c contacted wire fence & rolled onto its side. 6 POB - 1 fatality.
G-OIGS	F28	03 May 1997
Pilot became disorientated after entering cloud/haze. A/c landed heavily & rolled onto its right side. No injuries.
Total Found	26
Total Fatal	15

A Graph of These Accidents By Model+/-

Count Of Model

Fatal Accidents


A109	1
	1
AS350	1
	1
AS355	3
	3
AS365	2
	1
B206	6
	4
B206L	1
	0
EC135	1
	0
F28	1
	0
Gazelle	1
	1
R22	2
	0
R44	5
	4
S76	2
	0

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Source Data