The commercial pilot flying an Airbus AS350B2 failed to detect a descent during a turn back to a fuel base in Antarctica, causing the helicopter to crash into an ice shelf on Dec. 1, 2013, according to an Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) final report issued last week. The pilot lost control while attempting to exit poor weather conditions en route to Davis Base, Antarctica. The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and the helicopter was destroyed.
According to the ATSB, the pilot encountered reduced visibility that made distinction between the surface and the horizon nearly impossible. After initiating the right turn, the pilot “probably became spatially disoriented,” the Safety Bureau said. “Factors contributing to the disorientation included a loss of visual cues as a result of the change in weather conditions, and a breakdown of the pilot’s scan of his flight instruments, resulting in collision with terrain.”
After the accident, the operator introduced new helicopters equipped with autopilots and other workload-reducing equipment. It also added simulator training on the use of the autopilot and radar altimeter, to be administered by an experienced Antarctic pilot, as well as a course in situational awareness.
In addition, the operator prescribed improved minimum radar-altimeter settings, as well as practical guidance on autopilot usage in low visibility. The updated training also focused on the decision-making process required to avoid encountering inadvertent whiteout conditions.