Tsb Aviation Investigation Report A12W0031

[Skidz]

LOSS OF CONTROL AND COLLISION WITH TERRAIN
KANANASKIS MOUNTAIN HELICOPTERS LTD.
BELL 206B JETRANGER (HELICOPTER) C-GLQI
LODER PEAK, ALBERTA 0.4 NM NW
30 MARCH 2012

 

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2012/a12w0031/a12w0031.asp

 

[Twin Helix]

Of note, the pilot overstated his total time, PIC time and Time on type. TSB found it in his logbooks, why didn't the company? Why didn't the insurer (why didn't they know about the previous rollover accident?)? In this case, the hours weren't massively overstated (100 hours claiming 500, for example) but still an example of something which likely occurs with too much frequency among low-time pilots who are desparate to get on the controls in a meaningful way.

 

Also "the company had not confirmed the pilot’s previous mountain-flying training or experience. But in view of the pilot’s reported flying experience and time, the company did not require formal mountain training."

 

So basically, a guy lied about his total time, they believed him and so they waived a mountain course, there was a mountain accident involving the same pilot.

 

How hard is it to check references, confirm logbooks and call guys/girls out if they don't seem credible? A little due diligence saves lives, machines and money.

[407driver]

Not good

[Guest Parker]

It's a shame there are not more opportunities for low timers on the flats...

 

P.

[Helilog56]

It is the sole responsibility of the employer to ensure that the pilots resume as presented is accurate...and it really is not hard to do.

 

[Freefall]

He still had far more experience than some of the guys flying tours in those mountains.

 

I do not condone putting false hours in the logbook but was it really a factor in this accident? He flew 2.5 hours of training and had a .5 hour pcc. It was during those 3 hours that the company should have determined if he was fit to fly their helicopter for their type of work. He passed a pilot competence check that is the bottom line.

 

A .5 hour pcc is pretty bloody short imo. Maybe its so short because its the only part of the training the owner had to pay for himself? or maybe the pilot even had to pay for that too.

 

When you are forcing a (low) time pilot to pay for his own training within your company obviously people are going to cut corners as much as possible because it is not something most people in that situation can afford. I'm sure the pilot would have loved to do more mountain training.

 

I can't imagine what it must be like to be one of 12 pilots fighting for scraps working in that place...I consider myself very fortunate not to have experienced it.

 

I feel terrible for the friends and family who will read that report. I don't believe it points to the real root cause of that accident.

[Skidz]

He still had far more experience than some of the guys flying tours in those mountains.

 

I do not condone putting false hours in the logbook but was it really a factor in this accident? He flew 2.5 hours of training and had a .5 hour pcc. It was during those 3 hours that the company should have determined if he was fit to fly their helicopter for their type of work. He passed a pilot competence check that is the bottom line.

 

A .5 hour pcc is pretty bloody short imo. Maybe its so short because its the only part of the training the owner had to pay for himself? or maybe the pilot even had to pay for that too.

 

When you are forcing a (low) time pilot to pay for his own training within your company obviously people are going to cut corners as much as possible because it is not something most people in that situation can afford. I'm sure the pilot would have loved to do more mountain training.

 

I can't imagine what it must be like to be one of 12 pilots fighting for scraps working in that place...I consider myself very fortunate not to have experienced it.

 

I feel terrible for the friends and family who will read that report. I don't believe it points to the real root cause of that accident.

 

I think the fact that TC revoked their PCC status and PPC'd all of their pilots speaks volumes in itself...

[Bizzo]

"The Transport Canada (TC) post-accident process inspection (PI) of the company in May 2012 revealed deficiencies in pilot training, which existed at the time of the last program validation inspection (PVI) and were active on the day of the accident. This finding resulted in TC inspectors revoking PCC authority and conducting pilot proficiency checks (PPCs) on all company pilots. If adequate surveillance is not maintained by TC , there is an increased risk for operator safety deficiencies to go unidentified."

 

What SMS didn't catch that? It's a shame that TC has been reduced to such an ineffective organization, only getting involved once things have taken place. Would this accident have happened if someone other than the company involved taken an interest in ensuring a "standard"? Guess we'll never know.

[Bell-powered]

Of note, the pilot overstated his total time, PIC time and Time on type. TSB found it in his logbooks, why didn't the company? Why didn't the insurer (why didn't they know about the previous rollover accident?)? In this case, the hours weren't massively overstated (100 hours claiming 500, for example) but still an example of something which likely occurs with too much frequency among low-time pilots who are desparate to get on the controls in a meaningful way.

 

Also "the company had not confirmed the pilot’s previous mountain-flying training or experience. But in view of the pilot’s reported flying experience and time, the company did not require formal mountain training."

 

So basically, a guy lied about his total time, they believed him and so they waived a mountain course, there was a mountain accident involving the same pilot.

 

How hard is it to check references, confirm logbooks and call guys/girls out if they don't seem credible? A little due diligence saves lives, machines and money.

Totally agree, I once heard of a pilot from lets say outside Canada, who had an accident and after the company in question was asked if they checked his hours with previous employers, and the company responded "But he is from XX" ... like an international call is so hard these days..

So sad to see this happen, but quite surprising it doesn't happen more often.

These guys makes it way harder for the people that actually are honest low timers.. Its a mentality that should be dealt with way better in this industry, rather than focusing on some things that they are now...

BP

[minab]

This other one was not that long ago

 

Power Loss
Kananaskis Mountain Helicopters Ltd.
Bell 206B Helicopter C-GFQZ
Cline River Heliport (CCR5), Alberta
12 August 2007

 

http://www.tsb.gc.ca/eng/rapports-reports/aviation/2007/a07w0150/a07w0150.asp

 

both of them showing company dysfunctions ...