Risk Management Magazine

Unlike most close-call stories, my accident was documented as human failure. Trust me, the words human failure hurt when seen on an accident report.

The nose continued to weathervane to the right in search of the wind, and the aircraft began a turning descent toward the treetops. My ability to interpret symbology then began to deteriorate as I focused intently on not overtorquing the aircraft.

After 15 years flying the UH-60M, I was back in the cockpit as a UH-60L instructor. Most of my state’s 60M aircraft were deployed forward, and more instructors were needed in the 60L to handle a sizable number of new aviators returning from flight school. I received some refresher training in the 60L, consisting of day, instrument and night vision goggles (NVG) flights, and was signed off to conduct instruction.