Accident Investigation, Helicopter Safety, Winter/Challenging Ops
Unnoticed deposits of ice near an engine air inlet caused the AS350 to lose power after takeoff.
Temperatures were well below freezing when the EagleMed Eurocopter AS350 B2 crashed into an Oklahoma City retirement home parking lot during a Feb. 22, 2013, repositioning flight and exploded in flames, killing the pilot of the emergency medical services flight and the flight nurse and seriously injuring the paramedic.
The AS350 exceeded hydraulic system limits, banked hard and struck a mountain ridge.
The Bell 407 pilot lacked recent night experience with his helicopter’s advanced avionics.
Helicopter operators must understand “the limitations and risks” of using night vision goggles (NVGs), especially in situations involving reflections or external light sources, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said…
