aviation accidents

Probable cause: The passenger’s improper decision to hold her cell phone outside the helicopter, which resulted in it departing the helicopter and striking the tail rotor.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid the airplane on the runway while landing and the pilot receiving instruction’s and flight instructor’s failure to properly scan the approach before pulling onto the runway during takeoff.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to attain a sufficient climb rate during initial climb in high-density altitude conditions with the airplane near its forward center of gravity and maximum gross weight limits, which resulted in an impact with trees.

Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack following a loss of the left engine power shortly after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery. Contributing to the accident was the loss of left engine power due most likely to a fuel system issue that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power.

Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to remove the gust lock before flight, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to rotate and a subsequent runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow the preflight checklist.

Probable cause: The pilot’s improper decision to fly with an air cast boot on his foot, which led him to rely on the passenger to apply brakes and rudder, which was performed improperly and led to a loss of directional control.