Air Disasters Season 19 Episode 1 Deadly Descent

The episode titled "Deadly Descent" is the first of the 19th season of the show Air Disasters. This episode recounts the events of a fatal helicopter crash in the mountains of Norway.

The episode begins by introducing the helicopter, a Eurocopter EC225, and the crew on board. The helicopter was flying from an offshore oil rig to the city of Bergen, Norway when it suddenly crashed in the mountains. There were 13 people on board, all of whom perished.

The investigation into the crash was highly complex and it took many months to determine the cause. The main focus of the investigation was on the helicopter's main rotor gearbox. The gearbox is a crucial component of the helicopter and it is responsible for transferring power from the engine to the rotor blades. If the gearbox fails, the rotor blades can stop turning, causing the helicopter to crash.

The investigators discovered that the crash was caused by a catastrophic failure of the main rotor gearbox. However, this was not the end of the story. The investigators wanted to know why the gearbox failed. They soon discovered that the root cause of the failure was a manufacturing defect in the gearbox's main shaft. The defect had gone undetected during the manufacturing process and it caused the shaft to fracture, leading to the catastrophic failure.

The episode goes on to detail the rigorous testing that the investigation team conducted in order to confirm their findings. They conducted a series of tests on other Eurocopter EC225s and were able to replicate the catastrophic failure by intentionally creating the same manufacturing defect in the main shaft.

The episode also sheds light on the role that human factors played in the crash. The crew of the helicopter was highly experienced and they had followed all of the required procedures. However, they did not have access to crucial information about the manufacturing defect in the main shaft. The investigation team determined that this information should have been shared with the operators of the Eurocopter EC225s, but it was not.

The episode concludes by highlighting the changes that were made in response to the crash. Eurocopter implemented a series of changes to their manufacturing process to ensure that the defect could never happen again. Additionally, the aviation industry changed the way that they share information about aviation accidents in order to prevent similar accidents in the future.

"Deadly Descent" is a captivating episode that gives viewers an in-depth look into the complex investigation process behind aviation accidents. The episode emphasizes the importance of attention to detail in manufacturing and the crucial role that information sharing plays in preventing accidents. It is a must-watch for aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in the world of aviation safety.