NTSB Safety Alert SA-031 - Safety Through Helicopter Simulators

Safety Through Helicopter Simulators

Use of simulators can prepare helicopter pilots for emergencies

and prevent accidents

The problem

 Improperly performed emergency procedures have led to numerous helicopter accidents .

 Although pilots practice emergency procedures during flight training , safety

considerations (such as deteriorating weather conditions , helicopter limitations, and

autorotation performance characteristics ) restrict what scenarios can be performed in a

helicopter.

 During flight training, it is difficult to recreate the element of surprise and the realistic,

complex scenarios that pilots may experience during an emergency. Without simulato rs,

viable lesson components may be limited.

Related accidents

The NTSB has investigated numerous helicopter accidents in which training in approved

simulators could have provided pilots with additional knowledge and skills to handle in-flight

emergencies and avoid maneuvering errors . Although the accidents below all involve

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) , this safety alert promotes simulator training in all

helicopters .

 A pilot failed to successfully enter an autorotation in a Eurocopter AS350 B2 following a

loss of engine power as a result of fuel exhaustion , resulting in four fatalities . The pilot’s

autorotation training was not representative of an actual engine failure at cruise airspeed.

(CEN11FA599)

 The pilot of a Eurocopter AS 350B2 lost situation awareness at night , resulting in a

collision with the ground and three fatalities . The pilot was using night vision goggles

(NVGs). Although he had received NVG training on nights with high moon illumination

and in populated areas, he did not have NVG simulator training for the dark night

conditions present in the remote area at the time of the accident. (CEN10FA113 )

 The pilot of a Eurocopter AS350B2 experienced spatial disorientation and lost control of

the helicopter in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) , resulting in a collision with

terrain and three fatalities . The pilot had previously flown helicopters in IMC but did not

have a current instrument rating at the time of the accident . (ERA09FA537 )

What can operators and pilots do?

Through s imulator training , operators can provide pilots a valuable tool to ensure proficiency in

emergency procedures , including autorotations , use of NVGs , recognition of degraded visual

conditions , and recovery from unusual attitudes . Consistent, standardized simulator training will

SA-031 February 2014 , revised December 2015

help prepare pilots for the unexpected and will decrease the risk of an accident. Simulators can

be a helpful tool for operators to provide pilot training on the following:

 Autorotations during any phase of flight , which reinforces the immediate responses

required during a ctual emergencies .

 Scenario -based training tailored to the mission , including NVG missions in low -light

situations and site-specific training that considers obstacles and terrain.

 Degraded visual conditions , safe decision -making skills , and inadvertent IMC encounters .

By practicing potential emergencies , pilots will be better equipped to handle emergen cy

situations .

Interested in more information?

The reports for the accidents referenced in this safety alert are accessible by NTSB accident

number from the NTSB’s Aviation Accident Data base & Synopses web page at

www.ntsb.gov/aviationquery/index.aspx. Each accident’s public docket is accessible from the

NTSB’s Docket Management System web page at http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms/.

Regarding helicopte r simulators , the European Aviation Safety Agency’s (EASA) training leaflet,

“Advantages of Simulators (FSTDs) in Helicopter Flight Training ,” provides an overview of

simulators and how to use them in training and can be accessed from

http://easa.europa.eu/essi/ . Bell Helicopter’s publication Heliprops contains an article , “Flight

Training Simulation: The Flight Safety Multiplier ” (vol. 21, no. 4, 2010) , discussing the value of

simulator use in training and can be accessed from www.bellhelicopter.com.

More information about situations that can be trained in simulators can be found at the following

websites :

 Regarding autorotations, t he Federal Aviation Administration’s (F AA) safety publication,

“Planning Autorotations ,” discusses autorotations and how to avoid acciden ts while

training the mane uver and can be accessed from www.faasafety.gov . The International

Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) released a training fact sheet , “Energy in Autorotations ,”

highlighting the various energies available during the different phases of autorotations ,

which can be accessed from www.ihst.org .

 Regarding visual conditions, t he Flight Safety Foundation’s article , “EMS Helicopter

LOFT Study Sh ows Experience Influences Pilot Performance During Inadvertent Flight

into IMC ” (vol. 22, no. 1, Jan. -Feb. 1996) , describes how training can help pilots when

encountering IMC and can be accessed from http://flightsafety.org/archives -and-

resources/publications/helicopter -safety . IHST has also released a training fact sheet ,

“Visibility ,” which can be accessed from www.ihst.org. EASA has produced a video ,

“Degraded Visual Environment and Loss of Control ,” highlighting recognition of degraded

visual environments , which can be accessed from http://easa.europa.eu/essi/ .

A September 24, 2009 , NTSB safety recommendation letter provides Safety R ecommendations

A-09-87 and -88 to the FAA regarding helicopter simulator training and can be accessed from

http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety -recs/_layouts/ntsb.recsearch/RecTabs.aspx .

This NTS B safety alert and others can be accessed from the NTSB’s Safety Alerts web page at

http:/ /www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety -alerts/Pages/default.aspx .