ihst - 12 classic helicopter accident pitfalls

12 Classic Accident Pitfalls

Nick Mayhew -

Mike Phillips -

Objectives

• Identify 12 classic accident pitfalls.

• Define what is dangerous.

• Give real examples.

• How do we do it safely?

#1 Classic Pitfall

Responding to peer pressure.

G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013

#1 Classic Pitfall

Responding to Peer Pressure.

#1 Classic Pitfall

Responding to peer pressure.

G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 201

Responding to Peer Pressure

This is poor decision making based upon emotional responses to peers rather than evaluating a

situation objectively.

16 January 2013

Central London En route for passenger pick up

G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013

#2 Classic Pitfall

Mental Expectancy.

Mental Expectancy

The inability to recognize and cope with changes in a situation different than that anticipated or planned. Visual illusions and similar aural sounds

occurring at the “wrong” time often lead to such miscues.

#1 Classic Pitfall

Responding to peer pressure. Map

G-CRST, A109, Central London 16 January 2013

10 December 1993

Sightseeing Flight 14 NM SE of airport Flagstaff, AZ

#3 Classic Pitfall

Get-there-it-is.

Get-There-It-Is

This “disease,” common among pilots, clouds the vision and impairs judgment

by causing a fixation on the original goal or destination combined with a total disregard for any alternative

courses of action.

21 June 1985

Ship to Shore Resupply Mission Near Tayport, UK

#4 Classic Pitfall

Duck Under Syndrome.

Duck Under Syndrome

The tendency to “sneak a peek” by descending below minimums during an approach. Based on a belief that there is always a built in “fudge factor” that

can be used or an unwillingness to admit defeat and shoot a missed

approach.

27 September 2008

HEMS Patient Transfer 3.2 NM North of Andrews AFB

#5 Classic Pitfall

Scud Running.

Scud Running

Pushing the capabilities of the pilot and the aircraft to the limits

by trying to maintain visual contact with the terrain while

trying to avoid physical contact with it.

26 December 2011

The aircraft departed Mayo Clinic on a medical transport mission and impacted terrain 17 minutes later.

#6 Classic Pitfall

Continuing VFR into IMC.

Continuing VFR Into IMC

The all-to-often result of the practice of scud running when this becomes the

only alternative to flying into the ground. It is even more dangerous if

the pilot is not instrument qualified or is unwilling to believe what the instruments are indicating.

27 July 2013

Planned Route of Flight

Passenger Drop Off Flight Noxen, PA

#7 Classic Pitfall

Getting Behind The Aircraft.

Getting Behind The Aircraft

Allowing events or the situation to control your actions rather than the other way around. This is

characterized by a constant state of surprise at what happens next.

#8 Classic Pitfall

Loss of Positional/Situational Awareness.

Loss of Positional/Situational Awareness

Another case of “getting behind the aircraft” which results in not knowing

where you are, and an inability to recognize deteriorating circumstances and/or the misjudgment of the rate of

deterioration.

28 May 2012

Platform ST67B Gulf of Mexico Passenger Pickup

#9 Classic Pitfall

Operating Without Sufficient Fuel Reserves.

Operating Without Sufficient Fuel Reserves

Ignoring minimum fuel reserve requirements under either Visual Flight rules or Instrument Flight Rules. This is

generally the result overconfidence, a lack of flight planning, or deliberately

ignoring the regulations.

6 August 2011

Mosby, MO HEMS Patient Transfer

Planned Route Of Flight

#10 Classic Pitfall

Descent Below Minimum Enroute Altitude.

Descent Below Minimum Enroute Altitude

The duck-under syndrome (mentioned earlier) manifesting itself during the en route portion

of an Instrument Flight Rules operation.

22 April 1994

Planned Track

Actual Track

HEMS Patient Transfer Bluefield WV

#11 Classic Pitfall

Flying Outside the Envelope.

Flying Outside the Envelope

Unjustified reliance on the (usually mistaken) belief that the aircraft’s high

performance capabilities meet the demands imposed by the pilot’s (usually overestimated) high performance flying

skills.

4 May 2000

Blanding, UT Seismic Survey

#12 Classic Pitfall

Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks, Pre-Flights, Etc.

Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks, Pre-Flights, Etc.

Unjustified reliance on the pilot’s (usually overestimated) short and

long term memory of regular flying skills, of repetitive and

familiar routes, etc.

9 June 2009

Search and Rescue Mission near Santa Fe, NM

12 Classic Pitfalls - Summary

• Responding to peer pressure.

• Mental expectancy.

• Get-there-it is.

• Duck Under Syndrome.

• Scud Running.

• Continuing VFR into IMC.

• Getting Behind The Aircraft.

• Loss of Positional/Situational Awareness.

• Operating Without Sufficient Fuel Reserves

• Descent Below Minimums En Route.

• Flying Outside The Envelope.

• Neglect of Flt Planning, Checks, Pre Flights etc.

Questions and Discussion