The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has recommended that the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) assesses the benefits of helicopters operating under night visual flight rules (NVFR) being equipped with a standby attitude indicator and an autopilot or stability augmentation system.
This is a result of the ATSB's ongoing investigation into the October 2003 crash of a CHC Helicopters' Bell 407 operating a medical rescue mission at night. The helicopter crashed into the sea off Mackay, Queensland, killing all three crew.
Following the accident, CASA is reviewing its NVFRs, while the Helicopter Association of Australasia has initiated a safety campaign (Flight International, 4-10 May).
The ATSB says there are no regulatory requirements for a non-instrument flight rules (IFR)-equipped helicopter operating under NVFR to have a standby attitude indicator with an independent power source. As a result, single-pilot VFR helicopters do not have the same level of system redundancy as IFR machines, and there is no autopilot or stability augmentation system requirement, which would help pilots cope with high workloads during an NVFR flight.
The ATSB says the CHC helicopter hit the water at substantial speed in a nose-down attitude, with the engine operating. Weather had been forecast as isolated thunderstorms, scattered showers and areas of smoke, with visibility in some areas at 2,000m (6,560ft). The crew was appropriately licensed, trained and qualified.
The ATSB is investigating actual weather limitations, organisational issues, requirements for flight under NVFR, equipment and pilot licence requirements.
EMMA KELLY / PERTH
Source: Flight International
