HAI Course
Course Description
Objectives
Who Should Attend
Course Outline
Course Duration
Helicopter Accident Investigation
The course examines helicopter rotor systems, controls, performance variables, flight hazards and material characteristics involved in helicopter operations and accidents. Although Aircraft Accident Investigation is not a prerequisite, it is assumed that the attendee has either completed AAI or has some experience in aircraft accident investigation.
Objectives: To provide concepts, practical techniques and methodologies essential to rotary wing aircraft accident investigation.
Who Should Attend: Persons associated in rotary wing accident investigation including manufacturers, operators, associations, insurers, law enforcement, military and government agencies.
- Investigation
- Role of the Investigator
- Investigation Skills
- Assessing Indicators of Accidents
- Investigative Process
- Data Collection
- Report Development and Analysis
- Investigative Tools
- Risk and the Operating Environment
- Pre-Investigative Planning
- Operational Procedures
- Responsiveness
- Support Sources
- Equipment for Investigation
- Technical Information
- On-Site Helicopter Accident Investigation
- Initial on-site Actions
- Jurisdiction
- Importance of Arriving Early
- Accident Scene Identification
- Fluid Sample Analysis
- Inventory of Aircraft Wreckage
- Diagrams; Plan, Profile, Polar, Base Line, Witness, Impact Angle
- Photography
- External Sources for Photography
- Types of Photography (Digital/Film, Video)
- Aspects: Overhead, Flight path, Witness and Instrument
- Reconstruction
- Impact Force Determination
- Rotor System Examination
- Fire Investigation; Source and Temperature
- Powerplant Investigation; Turbine and Reciprocating
- Composite Materials and Considerations
- Instrument Examination
- Support Service Investigation
- Off-Site Investigation
- Maintenance Record(s) Evaluation
- Operational Investigation; Training, Operations, Policies, Pilot Records
- Witness Interview
- Other Human Factors
- Pathological Support
- Crashworthiness
- Meteorological Investigation
- Communications
- Air Traffic Control
- RADAR Data
- Case Study
- Role of the Investigator
- Helicopter Fundamentals and Material Factors
- Material Failure Analysis
- Rotor System Characteristics
- Hover and Low Speed Operations
- Downwind Operations
- Forward Flight Operations
- Mast Bumping
- Height/Velocity Variables
- Dynamic Stall
- Compressibility Effects
- Autorotation Variables
- Dynamic Rollover
- Ground Resonance
- Air Resonance
- Rotor Divergence
- Tail Rotor/Anti-Torque performance Variables
- Energy Attenuation Systems
- Various Exemplar Examinations-Films Exercises Related to Operational Factors
- Risk and Consequence
- External Influence on Helicopter Pilots
- Improper Performance Planning
- Component Failure
- Improper Design
- Improper Maintenance
- Physiological/Psychological Factors
- Hover and Downwind Operations