The Bell 407 pilot lacked recent night experience with his helicopter’s advanced avionics.
A glass cockpit Bell 407 — flown by an 11,415-hour pilot who had limited experience with the 407’s advanced instrument display system and little recent night flying time — crashed near McFarland, California, U.S., during an attempted course reversal after encountering reduced visibility, the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) says.1
The AS350 exceeded hydraulic system limits, banked hard and struck a mountain ridge.
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.
