Paul Sadler
AuthorFAA certifies Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
June 9, 2017 6 commentBell Helicopter announced on June 8 its 505 Jet Ranger X has been certified by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). FAA certification comes six months after the five-seat light single helicopter obtained Transport Canada certification in December 2016, at which point the manufacturer indicated that US certification was imminent. This content is available exclusively to Australian
Read moreFinal AW609 accident report released
May 16, 2017 0 commentItaly’s National Agency for Flight Safety (ANSV) has released its final report into the October 30 2015 fatal crash of Leonardo Helicopters’ AW609 prototype, identifying that severe latero-directional oscillations during a high-speed dive caused the tiltrotor prototype N609AG to breakup in-flight. The 55-page report said the tiltrotor’s excessive yaw angle forced its proprotors to strike
Read moreATSB releases final R44 forced landing report
April 28, 2017 2 commentThe Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has published its final report into the safe forced landing of Robinson R44 VH-SJK, which was swallowed up by thick scrub at Sydney’s Royal National Park at Bundeena 16km south of Sydney Airport on December 17 last year. Having departed Sydney Airport for a private flight with a family
Read moreH145 receives a power boost
April 26, 2017 0 commentAn upgrade to the Airbus Helicopters H145’s Safran Arriel 1E2 engines will improve the light-twin helicopter’s one engine inoperative (OEI) hover performance giving pilots extra torque in the unlikely event of a single engine failure. The upgrade, certified by the European Airworthiness Safety Agency (EASA) in March, will give H145 pilots around a 13 per
Read moreIrish Coast Guard S-92 preliminary accident report released
April 17, 2017 0 commentIreland’s Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) has used recovered cockpit voice and flight recorder data to determine an Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92 flew into terrain while making an approach to refuel when it fatally crashed on March 14. The AAIU’s preliminary report, released on April 13, said in the final seconds of its controlled flight
Read moreIrish Coast Guard S-92 accident investigation continues
March 27, 2017 0 commentThe investigation into the fatal March 14 crash of an Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92A, EI-ICR, continues after the helicopter crashed at Black Rock Island, about 17km off the coast of Mayo on Ireland’s west coast, in the very early hours of the morning killing all four crew members on board. Operated by CHC Helicopter
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