Articles for tag University of North Dakota Aerospace
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Oct
02
2023
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Posted by Admin
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Every year there are reports of fatal accidents where the pilot became spatially disoriented and crashed due to flying into inadvertent instrument meteorological conditions. According to the US Helicopter Safety Team, since the year 2000, there have been over 130 fatal accidents due to flying into visually degraded environments. These incidents occur regardless of pilot experience and are often the result of insufficient planning, decision-making, and inadequate training for the unexpected.
On 26 January 2020, an experienced helicopter pilot crashed into the mountains of Southern California. This tragedy claimed the lives of nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter. The National Transportation Safety Board found that pilot error was the primary cause of the crash. The pilot flew into low-level clouds, became spatially disoriented, and collided with a nearby hillside while attempting to navigate in a visually degraded environment, despite having over 8,000 flight hours, including more than 1,000 hours in the Sikorsky S-76. This pilot also served as a company check airman and chief pilot for the company. Even the most experienced and qualified pilots are not immune to the dangers of spatial disorientation. The helicopter industry and the University of North Dakota (UND) are searching for solutions that could help prevent tragedies like this.
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Environmental Tectonics Corp.
UND
University of North Dakota Aerospace