I was sick to my stomach after I read that report.
Having spent hundreds of hours, low level over the water in dark conditions (before goggles were even a thing for MH crews), with a dodgy radalt and an analog coupler (Sea King), I hesitate even think about the amount of close calls I had and didn’t even know it.
Likewise. I've spent countless hours in the Griffon over water at night. The fact that we do it with no 4th axis automation (not even a force trim) scares the crap out of me. This accident was a huge eye opener for me (given who was in the crew and where it happened) and I approach maritime flying much differently now - especially in training.
It goes to show that a huge amount of flying hours are not necessarily a defence against a momentary lapse in judgement, inattention or distraction. It is very sobering.
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