The safety of flights is one of the major concerns in the civil aviation sphere. The increased attention to the given issue is explained by the fact that the emergence of accidents leads to significant risks to passengers and the crew. The threat comes from the high altitude and the problems of safe landing, high amounts of fuel that might lead to fire and explosion, and the impossibility of leaving the damaged plane or helicopter because of numerous constraints. In such a way, it is critical to introduce procedures that might help to reduce the risks of accidents and guarantee that passengers and crew will enjoy a safe flight.
The March 11, 2018 accident which happened to Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2, N350LH proves the critical importance of safety issues. The crash occurred because of the lost engine power during the cruise flight (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). The pilot decided to perform an autorotative descent and ditching on the East River in New York (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). As a result, the five passengers drowned, while the pilot survived; the helicopter was severely damaged (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). The investigation shows several significant causes for the emergence of this accident. One of the bags might have hit the emergency fuel shutoff button, leading to the loss of power and a fatal crash. The passengers’ deaths were caused by the harness/tether system impacting their ability to leave the helicopter (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). Moreover, the emergency flotation system design, maintenance, and certification issues were among the possible causes. It shows the flaws in the current approach to guaranteeing safety.
The case shows several flaws in resource and safety management. First, the investigation identified the lack of guidance on addressing passengers’ intoxication and helping them during accidents (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). It promoted the increased risk and the death of five individuals. Moreover, the inappropriate review and approval process for the supplemental passenger restraint system can be outlined (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). The problems with leaving the helicopter during the crash increased the level of threat coming from landing on the river and increased the amount of time necessary for evacuating and reaching a safe place (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). These flaws became critical for the accident and resulted in passengers’ deaths and traumas.
At the same time, some positive examples of resource management should be mentioned. First, regardless of the situation’s difficulty, the pilot followed the protocols and accepted the correct decision of autorotative descent and landing on the river (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). It indicates the effective human resource management and training provided to the crew and captains. Moreover, Liberty Helicopters tried to guarantee additional safety to passengers by introducing new protective systems, such as a new harness/tether system (National Transportation Safety Board, 2019). However, the lack of attention to certification and informing the crew and personnel about the work of such systems promoted undesired outcomes.
Altogether, the case shows that the safety of any flight depends on effective resource management and approaches to risk management. The Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2, N350LH crash and passengers’ deaths can be considered the result of the lack of attention to the work of harness system and guidelines on how to leave the drowning helicopter. Although the pilot selected the correct measures and actions to minimize damage after the loss of power in the engine, the passengers were not able to reach safe places and drowned. The case can be used to improve resource management and avoid the repetition of similar accidents in the future.
Reference
National Transportation Safety Board. (2019). Aircraft accident report. Inadvertent activation of the fuel shutoff lever and subsequent ditching Liberty Helicopters Inc., operating a FlyNYON doors-off flight Airbus Helicopters AS350 B2, N350LH New York, New York March 11, 2018. Web.