Airbag light has started blinking in my 2006 Nissan. Should I take it to any mechanic, or do I need a specialist of some kind? 

When our previous car had airbag problems the dealer had a mechanic that did their electrical cases. With our car the startup test showed a poor connection to the passenger seat airbag. They made several attempts at cleaning terminal block contacts before replacing the terminal block under the seat. This test can also fail if your battery is on its last legs. Your usual garage will either have someone or recommend an auto electrician.

Thanks for the thorough response. 

cddt:

 

Airbag light has started blinking in my 2006 Nissan. Should I take it to any mechanic, or do I need a specialist of some kind? 

 

A flashing airbag light indicates something is seriously wrong with your module, which requires an immediate fix. Driving with this indication is unsafe as it can cause an accidental airbag explosion.

I'd be going back to Nissan and seeing if it's covered by a recall in the first instance.

I am not knowledgeable about aviation matters but I don’t understand why helicopters crash in bad weather. I imagine if I was a pilot and I couldn’t see where I was going, I would just hover and slowly descend to the ground. Even if the terrain was rough, surely a crash-landing is better than just a crash?
 

Wind blows them around and the pilot has to use the controls to counter the forces in all directions and axis.

They are not like a quadcopter with a gyro that does that all for you, and those don't survive even moderate weather and landing.

Rikkitic:

 

I am not knowledgeable about aviation matters but I don’t understand why helicopters crash in bad weather. I imagine if I was a pilot and I couldn’t see where I was going, I would just hover and slowly descend to the ground. Even if the terrain was rough, surely a crash-landing is better than just a crash?
 

 

In helicopters it is very difficult to fly or hover (nigh on impossible without master skills) without visual reference to ground (i.e. using the artificial horizon instrument). Even experienced IFR helicopter pilots struggle with this if they don't have stabilisation - i.e. an autopilot with hover capability. Such a capability is usually only found in larger, advanced and very expensive multi engine IFR helicopters.

What generally happens when flown into such conditions is the aircraft enters an unstable flight attitude, usually spiraling downwards. The RNZAF Iroquois accident was an example - and that helicopter would have been flown by an IFR certified pilot too. The Erceg crash another example but with a non IFR rated pulot and aircraft.

But you are correct in one regard - helicopter pilots should see the poor visibility before they fly into it and have the option to land in a paddock. Fixed wing aircraft not so much.

networkn:

 

cddt:

 

Airbag light has started blinking in my 2006 Nissan. Should I take it to any mechanic, or do I need a specialist of some kind? 

 

 

A flashing airbag light indicates something is seriously wrong with your module, which requires an immediate fix. Driving with this indication is unsafe as it can cause an accidental airbag explosion.

 

 

 

I'd be going back to Nissan and seeing if it's covered by a recall in the first instance.

 

 

 

Unlikely to cause an accidental explosion, but it also means its unlikely to cause a purposeful explosion (as in air bags working in a crash)

Likely a broken clock spring or corroded plug. Is it flashing a code at all, as in 2 fast one slow or anything, or just flashing?

Anyway a mechanic or auto electrician should be able to diagnose pretty easily. 

Rikkitic:

 

I am not knowledgeable about aviation matters but I don’t understand why helicopters crash in bad weather. I imagine if I was a pilot and I couldn’t see where I was going, I would just hover and slowly descend to the ground. Even if the terrain was rough, surely a crash-landing is better than just a crash?
 

There is an old saying in aviation about using superior airmanship to avoid getting into a situation that requires superior piloting skills.

networkn:

 

A flashing airbag light indicates something is seriously wrong with your module, which requires an immediate fix. Driving with this indication is unsafe as it can cause an accidental airbag explosion.

 

I'd be going back to Nissan and seeing if it's covered by a recall in the first instance.

 

It is a used import, so unfortunately is not covered by Nissan NZ's recall search tool. 

I have used the Nissan Japan search tool (https://www.nissan.co.jp/RECALL/airbag_en.html) to look up the Japanese VIN and no recalls are found. I also cross-checked manually the airbag recall notices (https://www.nissan.co.jp/RECALL/airbag_en.html) and where the model of the car appears, the manufacturing date does not match. 

So doesn't look like it's a recall. 

lxsw20:

 

Unlikely to cause an accidental explosion, but it also means its unlikely to cause a purposeful explosion (as in air bags working in a crash)

 

Likely a broken clock spring or corroded plug. Is it flashing a code at all, as in 2 fast one slow or anything, or just flashing?

 

Anyway a mechanic or auto electrician should be able to diagnose pretty easily. 

 

Thanks. No code in the flashing, just slow flashes all the same speed. 

johno1234: The RNZAF Iroquois accident was an example - and that helicopter would have been flown by an IFR certified pilot too. The Erceg crash another example but with a non IFR rated pulot and aircraft.

 

But you are correct in one regard - helicopter pilots should see the poor visibility before they fly into it and have the option to land in a paddock. Fixed wing aircraft not so much.

Dingbatt:

 

Rikkitic:

 

I am not knowledgeable about aviation matters but I don’t understand why helicopters crash in bad weather. I imagine if I was a pilot and I couldn’t see where I was going, I would just hover and slowly descend to the ground. Even if the terrain was rough, surely a crash-landing is better than just a crash?
 

I assume your question has been prompted by the recent crash that killed the President of Iran. In that particular case the helicopter was a Bell 212, essentially a slightly later version of the Iroquois helicopters that the RNZAF used. It differs by having 2 turbo shaft engines powering it rather than the one that our (now retired) “Hueys” have. While it is all just speculation at the moment, the helicopter was at least 45 years old and is likely to have rudimentary instrumentation and no autopilot. It is essentially a helicopter that should be flown ‘visually’ (i.e. looking out the window). There may have been an element of get-there-itis which made the crew press on in deteriorating meteorological conditions and, as was pointed out above by richms, may well have been beyond the performance capability of the machine at altitude, in mountainous terrain.

 

There is an old saying in aviation about using superior airmanship to avoid getting into a situation that requires superior piloting skills.

 

45 years old is fine - but 45 years old and restricted from spare parts because of international sanctions - not so OK.

Rikkitic: I am not knowledgeable about aviation matters but I don’t understand why helicopters crash in bad weather. I imagine if I was a pilot and I couldn’t see where I was going, I would just hover and slowly descend to the ground. Even if the terrain was rough, surely a crash-landing is better than just a crash?

Google get-there-itis or get-home-itis.  This is a big thing in aviation, and very difficult even for experienced pilots to resist.

Even more so when the leader of a semi-totalitarian state is your passenger.

networkn:

 

cddt:

 

Airbag light has started blinking in my 2006 Nissan. Should I take it to any mechanic, or do I need a specialist of some kind? 

 

 

A flashing airbag light indicates something is seriously wrong with your module, which requires an immediate fix. Driving with this indication is unsafe as it can cause an accidental airbag explosion.

 

 

 

I'd be going back to Nissan and seeing if it's covered by a recall in the first instance.

 

 

 

bit dramatic dont you think

Could be a simple fix, a sensor not working or something in the steering wheel. 

Generally the system turns itself off and wont deploy the air bags if it has an issue which is unlikely to cause an explosion.