An FAA review of helicopter incidents and accidents over the past five years has identified several accidents in which loss of control (LOC) was encountered immediately after liftoff while light on the skids/gear, or from other issues caused by missed checklist items. With those operational issues in mind, the agency recently issued a safety alert to helicopter operators about not only the use of checklists but also as a reminder to perform stabilized hover checks prior to takeoff.
FAA Issues Safety Alert for Helicopter Preflight Operations
Key Takeaways:
- The FAA identified a trend of helicopter loss of control (LOC) accidents occurring immediately after liftoff or due to overlooked checklist items.
- As a result, the FAA issued a safety alert (SAFO 16016) reminding helicopter operators to diligently use checklists and perform stabilized hover checks before takeoff.
- Industry experts underscore that these pre-takeoff hover checks are crucial for helicopters to detect operational issues, such as an engine not set to "fly," which could otherwise lead to accidents.
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