Flight Safety Information October 10, 2012 - No. 204 In This Issue AOPA Air Safety Institute Releases Nall Report US Pilots to Be Retried for Brazil Airline Crash 2 killed in helicopter crash in northeastern Pa Qantas planes nearly collide over Darwin Man arrested in Los Angeles airport after smoke grenade found in luggage PRISM Certification Support Sikorsky Delivers First Two of 16 S-92® Helicopters to Bond Aviation Group Mishap grounds Air India aircraft China Eastern, GE Sued on 2004 Airplane Crash Nominations for the new "Moral Courage Safety Award" AOPA Air Safety Institute Releases Nall Report AOPA Air Safety Institute's 22nd Joseph T. Nall Report, General Aviation Accidents in 2010, is hot off the presses and it shows a promising trend in some areas of general aviation safety. Despite a slight increase in the number of GA operations, the number of accidents dropped in 2010 as compared with 2009. All segments of aviation saw increases in operations. Commercial helicopter operations increased by 21 percent and at the same time there were 22 percent fewer accidents. Non-commercial fixed-wing operations saw a slight 3-percent increase along with a slight decrease in the number of accidents. But with 6.30 accidents and 1.16 fatal accidents per 100,000 flight hours, the accident rate for these types of operations remained comparable with what the report has found in the past 10 years. In an opening statement of the report, the AOPA Foundation said: "One thing that just doesn't seem to change annually is the excess risk that some pilots are willing to take on for personal flights. They accounted for almost 80 percent of all fixed-wing accidents but barely 40 percent of the corresponding flight time." There was, however, notable improvement in the amateur-built and experimental light- sport category. The fatal accident rate for this category of aircraft dropped an impressive 28 percent, while the total accident rate decreased by 9 percent. While this is encouraging news, there appears to be room for more improvement. The NTSB published a safety study earlier this year called The Safety of Experimental Amateur- Built Aircraft, which stated that while experimental amateur-built aircraft represented less than 10 percent of the U.S. general aviation fleet, this segment accounted for 15 percent of the total and 21 percent of the fatal accidents in 2011. You may have noticed that ASI decided to rename the Nall Report to remove any ambiguity associated with the years covered in the report. Previously, the report would be named based on the year after the accident database it covered and the year before the report was released. For example, the 2010 Nall Report covered accidents from 2009 and was released in 2011. The new name, 22nd Joseph T. Nall Report, General Aviation Accidents in 2010, removes any ambiguities. http://www.flyingmag.com/news/aopa-air-safety-institute-releases-nall-report Back to Top US Pilots to Be Retried for Brazil Airline Crash SAO PAULO October 9, 2012 (AP) Two American pilots of a business jet will be retried for their role in a 2006 airline crash that killed 154 people on an airliner in Brazil, the federal prosecutor's office said Tuesday. Pilots Joseph Lepore of Bay Shore, New York, and Jan Paladino of Westhampton Beach, New York, will be retried in absentia Monday, a statement released by the prosecutor's office said. The two were allowed to leave Brazil two months after the crash, but were convicted last year and sentenced to 52 months in prison. The sentence was commuted to community service in the United States. The retrial was ordered after prosecutors appealed the sentence and asked that it be increased to 69 months in prison, without the possibility of it being replaced by community service. "The sentence should be increased because despite being professionals the defendants kept the aircraft's anti-collision system turned off for almost one hour, thus causing the accident," the statement quotes prosecutor Osnir Belice as saying. The two pilots have insisted anti-collision system and transponder on the business jet they were flying were never turned off. They deny any wrongdoing. The Embraer Legacy 600 executive jet collided with a Boeing 737 operated by Gol Lineas Aereas Intelligentes SA. The smaller plane, owned by Ronkonkoma, New York-based ExcelAire Service Inc., landed safely while the larger jet crashed into the jungle, killing all aboard. It was Brazil's worst air disaster until a jet ran off a runway less than a year later in Sao Paulo and burst into flames, killing 199 people. Lepore and Paladino faced charges in Brazil of negligence and endangering air traffic safety for allegedly flying at the wrong altitude and failing to turn on the aircraft's anti- collision system. The judge convicted them of impeding the safe navigation of an airplane. Theo Dias, a Brazilian lawyer for the American pilots, has appealed last year's sentence. Back to Top 2 killed in helicopter crash in northeastern Pa. TOBYHANNA, Pa. (AP) -- Authorities say a helicopter (Bell 407) has crashed in northeastern Pennsylvania, killing two people and injuring one. Investigators believe the chopper went down around 8 p.m. Tuesday in Coolbaugh Township, about 90 miles north of Philadelphia. The wreckage was located in woods off Interstate 380 around 2 a.m. Wednesday. Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen tells the Pocono Record of Stroudsburg ( http://bit.ly/OSDQNV) that two people onboard were confirmed dead at the scene. Allen says a fourth person, who was a backseat passenger, is injured. The extent of the injuries wasn't immediately known. Identities of the victims have not been released. Authorities say they don't know where the helicopter took off from, but that they will be working with the Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the crash. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/10/4897773/2-killed-in-helicopter- crash-in.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Qantas planes nearly collide over Darwin (AAP) AN investigation is under way and a Defence air traffic controller is being suspended after two Qantas aircraft came within seconds of colliding over Darwin last week. The two planes packed with passengers, one heading to Melbourne and one arriving from Alice Springs came within 250 metres of each other on Tuesday last week, the NT News reports. The Department of Defence, which controls air traffic at Darwin Airport, told AAP that an initial investigation indicated an operator inadvertently directed an arriving and a departing aircraft on a path that would have taken them through the same height. "The aircraft safety systems identified the potential conflict and the air traffic controller immediately issued new instructions to separate the aircraft," it said in a statement. Defence said the air traffic controller concerned has been temporarily suspended, pending the results of an investigation. The NT News reports a traffic collision avoidance system on board the plane from Alice Springs warned the other plane was just 247 metres below. But one of the pilots said "it must have got a lot closer than that," the newspaper said. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating. A Qantas spokeswoman said while the investigation was ongoing she would not comment. "Safety is our number one priority," she said. Back to Top Man arrested in Los Angeles airport after smoke grenade found in luggage LOS ANGELES (AP) - A man dressed in a bulletproof vest and flame-retardant pants was arrested by federal officials at Los Angeles International Airport after a smoke grenade, gas mask, leg irons and weapons were discovered in his luggage, authorities said Tuesday. Boston-bound Yongda Huang Harris, 28, was arrested Friday on suspicion of transporting hazardous materials on a flight from Japan, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said. Harris is a U.S. citizen whose permanent residence is in Boston and recently started living and working in Japan, officials said. Harris' initial court appearance, scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed to Friday. He has been charged with one count of transporting hazardous materials, an offense that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. Federal authorities provided no details about why Harris might have been carrying the items. An investigation is ongoing. Harris drew suspicion when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the airport noticed he was wearing the bulletproof vest and flame-retardant pants under his trenchcoat. That triggered a formal investigation by Homeland Security special agents. In a search of Harris' checked luggage, numerous suspicious items were uncovered, including knives, body bags, a hatchet, a collapsible baton, a biohazard suit, a full-face respirator, billy clubs, a respirator, handcuffs, leg irons and a device to repel dogs, authorities said. The smoke grenade was subsequently X-rayed by the Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad. Officers said the device fell into a category that is prohibited on board passenger aircraft by the United Nations. "Depending on the conditions when it is ignited, the smoke grenade, made by Commando Manufacturers, could potentially fill the cabin of a commercial airplane with smoke or cause a fire," federal officials said in a news release. Many of the other items in Harris' luggage -- including the hatchet and knives -- wouldn't violate posted Transportation Security Administration guidelines for what is permissible in checked luggage. However, customs officers Kenny Frick and Brandon Parker believed in their initial investigation that the lead-filled, leather-coated billy clubs and a collapsible baton may be prohibited by California law, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court. Attempts to reach Harris' family in Boston and his associates were unsuccessful. Back to Top Back to Top Sikorsky Delivers First Two of 16 S-92® Helicopters to Bond Aviation Group COATESVILLE, Pa., Oct. 8, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. has delivered the first two S-92® baseline helicopters to Bond Aviation Group, the first of 16 to be delivered under the largest one-time acquisition of S-92 aircraft ever received by Sikorsky, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX). Bond Aviation Group, a subsidiary company of the World Helicopter Group, a global leader in providing mission-critical services through a fleet of more than 350 helicopters, signed the contract with Sikorsky earlier this year. Sikorsky will customize the helicopters for offshore oil operations. "Our Group is committed to safety as the utmost priority for our customers, and the S- 92 helicopter represents the latest technology in terms of design and safety," said Richard Mintern, Chief Executive Officer of Bond Aviation Group. "This, combined with its payload, speed and range capabilities, makes the S-92 an ideal choice for the oil & gas and search & rescue missions, and thus an excellent choice for Bond and for our customers. I am also very proud to announce that these first two aircraft will be operated by our new business in Norway, Norsk Helikopter Service." Ed Beyer, Vice President of Sikorsky Global Helicopters, said: "Bond Aviation Group is a premier helicopter services provider and Sikorsky is proud to see the S-92 helicopter join the Bond Aviation fleet on the merits of its performance as a safe, robust and reliable aircraft. The S-92 helicopter is enjoying a healthy backlog well into 2016, as operators of offshore oil operations continue to rely on its proven platform. The aircraft also is seeing significant opportunities in the search & rescue and utility missions." The S-92 helicopter is one of the largest in its heavy offshore class. Its cabin can easily carry 19 passengers and their luggage. Since entering service in September 2004, the S- 92 fleet has grown to more than 150 aircraft. Helicopter transport companies serving the offshore oil and gas industry operate approximately 66 percent of the fleet, and currently account for 90 percent of the fleet's total flight hours, which are on a pace to reach 500,000 hours in early 2013. World Helicopter S-92 aircraft will feature equipment and systems necessary for operations in the North Sea in accordance with the European Aviation Safety Agency's requirements. These include five flotation devices, two auto-deployable life rafts, satellite flight following communications, and a main rotor blade ice protection system. Currently, helicopter operators based in five North Sea countries are flying 49 S-92 aircraft configured for offshore transport and search and rescue missions. Bond Aviation Group and Norsk Helikopter Service are part the World Helicopter Group, the largest global independent emergency and mission critical helicopter operator providing air ambulance helicopter services, police and marine support to offshore wind farms and lighthouses as well as mission critical Oil & Gas crew change and search and rescue services in the North Sea to blue chip oil companies. Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., based in Stratford, Conn., is a world leader in helicopter design, manufacture, and service. United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Conn., provides a broad range of high technology products and support services to the aerospace and building systems industries. Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/08/4891695/sikorsky-delivers-first- two-of.html#storylink=cpy Back to Top Mishap grounds Air India aircraft Air India's Jeddah-bound Boeing 747 aircraft was grounded at the Chennai airport on Monday. This was after the tow-bar of a trolley pierced the outer cowling of the engine, while the aircraft was being towed from a remote parking bay. Airport Director H.S. Suresh said that around 8 a.m., the aircraft was towed from the parking bay 30 to the contact bay. The tow tractor driver dragging the aircraft had failed to notice the trolley tow-bar kept in a 90 degree elevation near bay 31. The tow-bar hit the outer cowling of the first engine located on the left side of the aircraft and pierced it. A senior Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said trolleys, belonging to a private ground handling agency, were not supposed to be left near the bay 31. Whenever trolleys were detached from a tractor, the drivers used to put the tow bar on the ground. But, in this case the driver casually left the tow bar in a standing position, resulting in the accident. The trolleys were brought to attend to a Sri Lankan airways flight expected sometime later in the morning. Lack of discipline It is the lack of discipline among ground handling agencies and failure on the part of AAI to strictly monitor the movement of trolleys and other vehicles in the operational area that leads to accidents of this kind, according to the official. The presence of too many ground handling agencies at the airport is also cited as reason for accidents resulting in serious damage to aircraft. Fourth such incident This is the fourth incident in the last three months in the airport in which the aircraft has been seriously damaged, the official pointed out. Four hundred passengers were set to fly in the grounded Air India flight, exclusively meant for the Haj pilgrimage. When contacted, Air India officials said a preliminary enquiry has been ordered into the accident. The Director General of Civil Aviation will conduct a separate enquiry into the accident, airport sources said. The national carrier had brought in another Boeing 747 aircraft from Mumbai to take the stranded passengers to Jeddah, the Air India sources added. D. Sudhakara Reddy, National President, Air Passengers Association of India, said he received calls from some of the passengers of this flight. He expressed shock that an important part of the aircraft engine was damaged due to the negligence on the part of the technical team towing the aircraft . http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/mishap-grounds-air-india- aircraft/article3978948.ece Back to Top China Eastern, GE Sued on 2004 Airplane Crash, Beijing News Says Relatives of people killed in a 2004 plane crash sued China Eastern Airlines Corp., its parent, Bombardier Inc. (BBD/B) and General Electric Co. (GE) for 132 million yuan ($21 million), Beijing News said, citing the families' lawyer. The group is also seeking a detailed crash report, public apologies and a monument at the accident site, lawyer Hao Junbo said, according to the newspaper. Hearings began yesterday in the Beijing Second Intermediate People's Court, the report said. The case centers on a November 2004 crash in which a Bombardier CRJ-200 plane operated by China Eastern plunged into a frozen lake in the northern city of Baotou, shortly after takeoff, killing 55. The plane crash was the nation's deadliest since 2002, according to the Aviation Safety Network website. China Eastern and engine-maker GE declined to comment. Bombardier didn't immediately reply to e-mails from Bloomberg News. The case was accepted by the court in 2009, the newspaper said. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-10/china-eastern-ge-sued-on-2004-airplane- crash-beijing-news-says.html Back to Top Nominations for the new "Moral Courage Safety Award" Calling All Helicopter/Rotorcraft Operators We need your Nominations for the new "Moral Courage Safety Award" What is the Moral Courage Award? It's a new award aimed at recognizing individuals and organizations that make operational decisions based on sound safety risk management principles. Who is eligible for the award? Helicopter crew members, maintenance personnel, managers, and their organizations. All helicopter operators are eligible for the award. How do I nominate an individual or organization for the award? Draft a short narrative describing the activities of the individual, crew, or organization. Your narrative should include the circumstances, the specific decision that was made, critical factors of the decision, and conclude with the outcome in terms of operational safety. Email it to: d.smith@dot.gov What is the cutoff date for nominations? Nominations must be submitted no later than 30 days before the annual Heli-Expo Exposition. What inspired the award? The true story of an EMS pilot who told of his decision to abort a critical neonatal transport after encountering unforecast bad weather. It was a very tough call; he had to weigh the safety of the crew with the life of a patient. In the end he aborted the transport knowing it was the right decision for the safety of everyone. His organization supported the decision and even went so far as to recognize him for making that tough call. Sometimes choosing the safest course of action can cost time or money, but in the long run it saves time, money, reputation, and possibly lives. It takes moral courage to do the right thing. We believe there are many individuals and organizations making these tough calls every day. We want to recognize them for their contribution to promoting a positive safety culture in the rotorcraft community. When and where will the award be presented? Selectees will receive the award at the annual Heli-Expo Exposition. The selection committee will inform awardees of the exact date and time. Awardees presence is requested but not required to receive the award. The Moral Courage Award provides a huge opportunity to promote and foster a positive safety culture by recognizing individuals and organizations who demonstrate commitment and action that encourage a positive safety culture. Please direct all inquiries, comments, or suggestions to: Mr. D Smith, Senior Air safety Investigator, d.smith@dot.gov, 405.694.1644-Cellular, 405.954.2913-Desk Curt Lewis