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Australian Bureau of Air Safety Report 1993

Robinson Helicopters

Review of the Australian BASI database

1 January 1983 - 11 October 1993

From this review the following acts of poor decision making resulted in the destruction of 3 aircraft and substantial damage to 9 others

	Destroyed. The pilot having landed to check the drive belts left his aircraft, engine running, unattended. Whilst at the toilet the engine increased power, the helicopter became airborne and crashed
	Substantial damage. After 100% RRPM check the student pilot wound the throttle in the wrong direction causing over speed. The instructor was not in the aircraft

Substantial damage. An unrestricted box on the spare seat fell and jammed the dual cyclic on the approach to land. The pilot was unable to maneuver to avoid cattle crate stand. The Tail Rotor hit the crate steel rails. The helicopter landed heavily on skids

Substantial damage. The tail rotor controls became jammed by a spent cartridge case lodged in hole at base of the tail rotor pedal. The aircraft was inadequately prepared for operations, no rubber protection boot, and no cartridge catcher on the rifle.

Substantial damage. The Pilot landed and threw pliers from the helicopter to a stockman. The pliers were deflected by the pilots sleeve up into the path of the main rotor.

	Substantial damage. Improperly secured baggage shifted during flight causing minor control interference. The pilot attempted to fix the problem when untimely turbulence caused further interference which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and a heavy landing with damage
	Substantial damage. The pilot left the helicopter with engine/rotors running at ground idle. While unattended the aircraft became airborne and rolled onto its side
	Substantial damage. The pilot made a precautionary landing near the edge of a flat rocky outcrop due to misfiring engine. Whilst the pilot was inspecting the engine the helicopter slid backwards off the rock due to rearward C of G with the pilot no longer in the cockpit
	Substantial damage. The pilot selected a grassed area instead of an available cleared site to land due to concerns for dust damage to the tail rotor. The grass caught fire from the hot exhaust and the helicopter was consumed by fire
	Substantial damage. Helicopter was at idle with no persons on board when it lifted off the ground and rolled onto its side. Unrestrained collective lever increased engine output as it lifted off
	Substantial damage. Aircraft left unattended with engine running due commercial pressures on the pilot from his employer. Aircraft took off and subsequently impacted the ground
	Destroyed. The pilot was aware that there was little fuel remaining in the tank but elected to continue mustering cattle before last light. The Helicopter ran out of fuel in flight
	Destroyed. The pilot landed on a public road and air taxied to a nearby service station to refuel. Both main rotor blades struck wooded support posts on the service station driveway awning
	5 of the occurrences reported where helicopters were operating in remote areas with NOSAR and No ELT

Robinson ‘drivers’ are not singularly errant when it comes into questionable decision making which result in loss of expensive aircraft, as the following tale shows:-

The pilot of a Kawasaki KH4 was ferrying to reposition his aircraft at low level with both doors off.

He was carrying oil, fuel in a drum, dirty oil rags, flares and loose ammunition behind his seat. Enjoying the warm Northern Territory winter sun, he smoked a cigarette during the flight, tossing the butt out the open door when finished.

The elements, being what they are, blew it right back into the helicopter and ignited the oily rags. The pilot, sensing that the smoke emanating from behind him was not normal, managed to put the helicopter down and run for cover before the ammunition and flares started going off.

From the safety of a large rock he watched as the helicopter was consumed by fire - Destroyed!!

A pilot with the best training in the world, sitting in the seat of a machine which has been designed, built and maintained to the highest standards cannot guarantee the safety of his operation unless he also exercises common sense.

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Safe flying