2023 Events

The information given below for 2023 is for transparency with regard to the accident statistics in the report. The ICAO Annex 13 definition of an accident has been the nominal benchmark for definition of events. Where available, the investigating agency’s assessment has been used. Brief decriptions are given only to help outline the event and in no way attempt to summarise all the relevant factors. Accidents are almost always complex events with many factors and as such the accident report, where available, should be treated as the definitive description of the event and its causal factors. In some cases a CICTT occurrence code is attached based on available information and where no further detail is expected. The CICTT definitions for flight phase are used.

These tables summarise the data as understood at the point of release of the report (April 2024). HeliOffshore members can find more information about the events included in this report in the Accident and Event Database in the member’s Space.

Fatal Accidents (Western OEMs)

    Date
    Type
    Registration
    Location
    Country
    Phase
    Severity
    CICTT categories
    Onboard
    Injuries
    Fatalities
  


    21 Jun 2023
    B412
    XA-EHI
    Campeche Bay
    Mexico
    -
    Accident
    -
    -
    2
    0
    2
  

    The helicopter crashed into the Bay of Campeche about 11nm off Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. The accident happened in daylight (0643L). The helicopter was operating a flight from Ciudad del Carmen to the Akal Chaly oil platform.
  

    07 Sep 2023
    B212
    A6-ALD
    ARAS Rig
    United Arab Emirates
    -
    Accident
    -
    -
    2
    0
    2
  

    The aircraft was operating a non-revenue training flight for night operations. After three successful landings on the platform, the aircraft took off from the deck and one minute later was reported to have crashed into the water approximately 600m from the platform.
  

Date	Type	Registration	Location	Country	Phase	Severity	CICTT categories	Onboard	Injuries	Fatalities
21 Jun 2023	B412	XA-EHI	Campeche Bay	Mexico	-	Accident	-	-	2	0	2
The helicopter crashed into the Bay of Campeche about 11nm off Ciudad del Carmen, Mexico. The accident happened in daylight (0643L). The helicopter was operating a flight from Ciudad del Carmen to the Akal Chaly oil platform.
07 Sep 2023	B212	A6-ALD	ARAS Rig	United Arab Emirates	-	Accident	-	-	2	0	2
The aircraft was operating a non-revenue training flight for night operations. After three successful landings on the platform, the aircraft took off from the deck and one minute later was reported to have crashed into the water approximately 600m from the platform.

Non-fatal Accidents (Western OEMs)

  
    Date
    Type
    Registration
    Location
    Country
    Phase
    Severity
    CICTT categories
    Onboard
    Injuries
    Fatalities
  
    23 May 2023
    B407
    N451PH
    Abbeville, LA
    USA
    LDG
    Accident
    LOC-I
    ARC
    2
    0
    0
  
    The check pilot and the pilot receiving instruction were performing initial new hire training for the commercial operator. The pilot previously performed three practice 180° autorotations, terminating with a power recovery. The pilot then performed a practice, straight-in, full down autorotation to touchdown on the sod area parallel to the runway. During the touchdown, the two pilots heard a “loud bang.” The helicopter came to rest upright on the sod area and both pilots were able to egress from the helicopter without further incident. 
      A postflight inspection revealed that the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, severing the tail rotor driveshaft. The main rotor blades, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system sustained substantial damage. 
 
 The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that 
        would have precluded normal operation. According to another helicopter manufacturer, main rotor blowback occurs when the forward portion of the helicopter’s main rotor disk is displaced upward, while the rear portion of the main rotor disk is displaced downward. If the resulting blowback is excessive, the main rotor blades may impact the tail boom. A review of the accident helicopter rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) found no information listed to provide awareness to pilots about the main rotor blowback condition.
      
 The NTSB has completed an investigation and published a Final Report.

Date	Type	Registration	Location	Country	Phase	Severity	CICTT categories	Onboard	Injuries	Fatalities
23 May 2023	B407	N451PH	Abbeville, LA	USA	LDG	Accident	LOC-I	ARC	2	0	0
The check pilot and the pilot receiving instruction were performing initial new hire training for the commercial operator. The pilot previously performed three practice 180° autorotations, terminating with a power recovery. The pilot then performed a practice, straight-in, full down autorotation to touchdown on the sod area parallel to the runway. During the touchdown, the two pilots heard a “loud bang.” The helicopter came to rest upright on the sod area and both pilots were able to egress from the helicopter without further incident. A postflight inspection revealed that the main rotor blades struck the tail boom, severing the tail rotor driveshaft. The main rotor blades, the tail boom, and the tail rotor system sustained substantial damage. The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. According to another helicopter manufacturer, main rotor blowback occurs when the forward portion of the helicopter’s main rotor disk is displaced upward, while the rear portion of the main rotor disk is displaced downward. If the resulting blowback is excessive, the main rotor blades may impact the tail boom. A review of the accident helicopter rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) found no information listed to provide awareness to pilots about the main rotor blowback condition. The NTSB has completed an investigation and published a Final Report.

Serious Incidents (Western OEMs - not exhaustive)

  
    Date
    Type
    Registration
    Location
    Country
    Phase
    Severity
    CICTT categories
    Onboard
    Injuries
    Fatalities
  
    17 Feb 2023
    H175
    G-MCSH
    Elgin Platform, North Sea
    UK
    -
    Serious Incident
    -
    -
    0
    0
    0
  
    The aircraft had shut down on the platform due to a technical fault, but a problem with the rotor brake meant the rotor blades continued to rotate slowly, preventing the application of the rotor blade tie downs.  The platform was in the path of Storm Otto, with associated high winds resulting in four of the five main rotor blades breaking off the aircraft.  No one was injured. 
 
 The AAIB is  investigating.