Lombardo covers business aviation maintenance-related issues. He is also a writer and on-air reporter for AINtv. He has over 3000 articles published and is the author of several books on aircraft systems for pilots and on the topic of flight simulation.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in education from the University of Illinois, has taught aviation for over 35 years in industry and as a university professor and academic dean at three different universities. He is also a frequent seminar and after-dinner motivational speaker.&nbsp;
Lombardo holds an A&amp;P Certificate, ATP, CFI and Ground Instructor ratings. He was a corporate pilot and was a research pilot and flight instructor at the University of Illinois. An FAA Safety Counselor for over 25 years, he was one of the original 13 Counselors appointed to the FAA’s Airworthiness Safety Program for maintenance technicians.&nbsp;

Contributor

David A. Lombardo

BELL 407, HIGH ISLAND 443, GULF OF MEXICO, FEB. 22, 2003–At approximately 9:45 a.m. CST N740PH’s main rotor blades struck and killed a passenger during a hot refueling operation on offshore platform High Island 443 (HI 443) in the Gulf of Mexico. The ATP-rated pilot and a second passenger were not injured. The helicopter was registered to and operated by Petroleum Helicopters Inc. of Lafayette, La. VMC prevailed at the platform, where the flight had landed for an intermediate fuel stop with a destination of offshore platform West Cameron 407 (WC 407) in the Gulf of Mexico. 
The pilot, in an interview conducted by an FAA inspector, reported that after the helicopter landed he asked if the passengers were trained to refuel the helicopter with the engine and rotors operating. The passengers reported that they had completed that type of operation before. During the refueling operation, a wind gust started to push the helicopter across the platform and the pilot initiated engine shutdown and applied the main rotor-blade brake. The helicopter continued to slide and came to rest approximately one foot from the edge of the platform, at which time the pilot noticed that the main rotor blades had struck the passenger.

News about significant aircraft accidents and information from accident reports.

Preliminary Report: Main rotors strike passenger

BELL 407, HIGH ISLAND 443, GULF OF MEXICO, FEB.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Gordon Gilbert

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Matt Thurber

Aircraft touched down on the runway then departed onto a grassy area

Passenger Lands King Air C90 after Pilot Medical Issue

Mark Huber

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Black Hawk had landed on a private airstrip that was also a snowmobile trail

Snowmobiler Who Collided with Army Helo Awarded $3.3M

All five passengers drowned after autorotation into NYC's East River

Jury Awards $116M in Doors-off Helitour Crash

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

More In Accidents

Year-to-date Bizav Accidents Decline

Fatal accidents were down year over year from 12 to 10

Passenger Lands King Air C90 after Pilot Medical Issue

Aircraft touched down on the runway then departed onto a grassy area

Snowmobiler Who Collided with Army Helo Awarded $3.3M

Black Hawk had landed on a private airstrip that was also a snowmobile trail

Jury Awards $116M in Doors-off Helitour Crash

All five passengers drowned after autorotation into NYC's East River

NTSB: Poor Pilot Training, Monitoring Led to Fatal C90 Accident

Pilot also violated company's sterile cockpit rules

Business Aircraft Accident Reports: October 2024

Preliminary and final accident reports, October 2024

No Solid Clues Why Citation Didn’t Climb before Crash

Witness said the engines didn't sound normal on takeoff

Flap Setting May Have Been Missed in Runway Excursion

Aircraft sustained damage but the two pilots onboard were not injured in mishap at Colorado airport

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN