The AS350 exceeded hydraulic system limits, banked hard and struck a mountain ridge.
Flying over mountains in the southwestern United States, the Airbus Helicopters AS350 B3 dipped as low as 30 ft above ground level with fluctuating groundspeeds as high as 148 kt before abruptly entering a hard right bank and striking the ground.
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…
Fatal crashes were far more likely for HEMS pilots with only a few years on the job, a new study says.
