Analysis of Weather-Related Helicopter Accidents and Incidents in the United States

Ramee, Coline; Speirs, Andrew; Payan, Alexia P.; Mavris, Dimitri N.

doi:10.2514/6.2021-2954

Cited by 6 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(13 reference statements)

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“…Доведено, що більшість авіакатастроф відбуваються саме через посадку на непідготовлений аеродром [1]. Дуже небезпечними умовами вважається піщана поверхня, через те, що гвинтом вертольоту підіймається пильна завіса та рівень видимості майже дорівнює нулю.…”

Section: вступunclassified

Оптимізація Алгоритму Формування Рельєфу Поверхні Бортовим Вертолітним Радаром

Zhyla

Inkarbaieva²

2022

aktt

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The main advantages of helicopters include the ability to reduce altitude and flight speed, hover in the air, unscheduled landings, and low sensitivity to weather conditions. These advantages over the aircraft allow the use of helicopters for civilian and military purposes. Simultaneously, the problem of landing the helicopter on an unequipped area with unknown terrain in bad weather conditions, in low visibility, at night, and in smoky areas remains unsolved. This research optimizes the algorithm of terrain formation from a helicopter. To achieve this goal, the radio wave range is used, which allows to operate the system regardless of external conditions and lighting. The geometry of the problem assumes that the distance to each point of the surface is measured by the pulse method. In the bow of the helicopter, there are two antennas, which due to the spatial diversity form two patterns that overlap some areas of the underlying surface. The summary and differential channels are formed from the antenna outputs. During the formation of the input data, mathematical models of the probing signal and the received observations are given, considering the influence of the atmosphere on the propagation of waves and the internal noise of the system. A theoretical study of the optimal algorithm for forming the surface relief by on-board helicopter radar was performed within the method of maximum likelihood. The obtained analytical expressions help calculate the angular position of the pulse volume, which can then be used in the formation of the surface of the area to be landed. Because of the analysis, a structural scheme of the onboard sum-difference system of measurement of range and the angular position of the scattered radar pulses is proposed. The block diagram clarifies the principle of operation of the optimal algorithm and implements the construction of relief. In accordance with the developed algorithm, a simulation was performed, which resulted in angular positions in degrees. The obtained initial data prove the efficiency of the presented on-board radar for the formation of the underlying surface.

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Section: вступunclassified

Оптимізація Алгоритму Формування Рельєфу Поверхні Бортовим Вертолітним Радаром

Zhyla

Inkarbaieva²

2022

aktt

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“…Widening the scope to all helicopter operations, weather was involved in 17% of all helicopter events (accidents and incidents) and 28% of fatal helicopter accidents between 2008 and 2018 [10]. This observation motivated a study on the existence of technological, training, skill or ability gaps related to weather for helicopter operations.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This observation motivated a study on the existence of technological, training, skill or ability gaps related to weather for helicopter operations. Although a statistical analysis based on safety investigations similar to the one presented in [10] is useful to understand causal factors and accident types linked to weather, it is more difficult to identify human factors issues and decision-making chains that might have led to the accident. It also fails to capture strategies developed by pilots to avoid getting into a weather incident and the associated workload and cognitive demand.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An analysis of the NTSB accident database showed that the most common type of fatal accidents caused by weather is Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IIMC) [10]. In the survey, 97% of pilots reported that they had received IIMC training: 90% of them received training within the past year and 69% of them received training within the last 6 months.…”

Section: Training For Weather-related Emergencymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the survey, 97% of pilots reported that they had received IIMC training: 90% of them received training within the past year and 69% of them received training within the last 6 months. This shows that a large majority of professional pilots are educated and trained for those conditions regularly, yet IIMC still remains the most common type of fatal accidents caused by weather [10]. An analysis of NTSB accident reports showed that fatal IIMC accidents often involved trained pilots.…”

Section: Training For Weather-related Emergencymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Impact of Adverse Weather on Commercial Helicopter Pilot Decision-Making and Standard Operating Procedures

Speirs

Ramee

Payan

et al. 2021

Aiaa Aviation 2021 Forum

Self Cite

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Helicopter pilots face unique challenges with regard to adverse weather when compared to fixed-wing pilots. Rotorcraft typically operate at lower altitudes in off-field areas that are not always well covered by weather reporting stations. Although recent technological advances have increased the amount of weather data that pilots can access in the cockpit, weather remains a factor in 28% of fatal helicopter accidents. In this work, commercial helicopter pilots were surveyed and interviewed to better understand how they gather and process weather information, what the perceived limitations of current weather tools are, and how their decision-making process is affected by the information they gather and/or receive. Pilots were found to use a wide variety of weather sources for their initial go or no-go decision during the preflight phase, but use fewer weather sources in the cockpit while in-flight. Pilots highlighted the sparsity and sometimes inaccuracy of the weather information available to them in their prototypical operational domain. To compensate, they are forced to rely on local and experiential weather knowledge to supplement weather reports while still working to mitigate other external pressures. Based on the literature and on results from this work, recommendations are made to address the weather-related gaps faced by the rotorcraft community. This includes the installation of additional weather reporting stations outside of airports and densely populated areas, the further promotion of the HEMS tool to helicopter pilots in all industries, the development of weather tools capable of visualizing light precipitation such as fog, and the development of in-flight graphical displays that can help reduce the cognitive workload of interpreting weather information.

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Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond

Tong

Baklanov

Barker

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Risks associated with dust hazards are often underappreciated, a gap between the knowledge pool and public awareness that can be costly for impacted communities. This study reviews the emission sources and chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of airborne soil particles (dust) and their effects on human and environmental health and safety in the Pan-American region. American dust originates from both local sources (western United States, northern Mexico, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina) and long-range transport from Africa and Asia. Dust properties, as well as the trends and interactions with criteria air pollutants, are summarized. Human exposure to dust is associated with adverse health effects, including asthma, allergies, fungal infections, and premature death. In the Americas, a well-documented and striking effect of soil dust is its association with Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley fever, an infection caused by inhalation of soil-dwelling fungi unique to this region. Besides human health, dust affects environmental health through nutrients that increase phytoplankton biomass, contaminants that diminish water supply and affect food (crops/ fruits/vegetables and ready-to-eat meat), spread crop and marine pathogens, cause Valley fever among domestic and wild animals, transport heavy metals, radionuclides and microplastics, and reduce solar and wind power generation. Dust is also a safety hazard to road transportation and aviation, in the southwestern US where blowing dust is one of the deadliest weather hazards. To mitigate the harmful effects, coordinated regional and international efforts are needed to enhance dust observations and prediction capabilities, soil conservation measures, and Valley fever and other disease surveillance.Plain Language Summary Soil particles suspended in the air, commonly known as dust, impose substantial risks to many sectors of society, including human health, environmental health, transportation safety and the general economy. This work focuses on the dust effects in the Pan-American region, where the knowledge is rather fragmented, but impacts are costly.

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Analysis of Weather-Related Helicopter Accidents and Incidents in the United States

Cited by 6 publications

References 9 publications

Оптимізація Алгоритму Формування Рельєфу Поверхні Бортовим Вертолітним Радаром

Оптимізація Алгоритму Формування Рельєфу Поверхні Бортовим Вертолітним Радаром

Impact of Adverse Weather on Commercial Helicopter Pilot Decision-Making and Standard Operating Procedures

Health and Safety Effects of Airborne Soil Dust in the Americas and Beyond

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