2 replies to this topic

[Jonay]

This hits home a lot more than any other accident I've reported on here, as it's linked very closely with our comminuties around here.

http://news.stv.tv/n...rash-recovered/

The operators around here (Bond, CHC Scotia + Bristows) are now under immense pressure to ditch (no pun intended) the Super Puma types.

This was an AS332 L2 varient, which has now been grounded until at least Wednesday, but the other type the EC225 was only just last week declared fit to fly again after a spate of incidents over the last few years.


*-21 November 2006 â€" A Eurocopter AS332 L2 search and rescue helicopter ditched in the North Sea. The aircraft was equipped with two automatic inflatable life rafts, but both failed to inflate. The Dutch Safety Board afterwards issued a warning.

*-18 February 2009 - While on approach to the ETAP oil production platform located 132 nm east of Aberdeen at night, observers on the platform witnessed the helicopter appear to strike the surface of the sea, resulting in the loss of the aircraft.

*-1 April 2009 â€" A Bond Offshore Helicopters AS332L2 with 16 people on board crashed into the North Sea 13 miles (21 km) off Crimond on the Aberdeenshire coast; there were no survivors.^[49] The AAIB's initial report found that the crash was caused by a "catastrophic failure" in the aircraft's main rotor gearbox epicyclic module

*-10 May 2012 - The crew of the helicopter carried out a controlled ditching following indications of a failure of the main gearbox (MGB) lubrication system and, subsequently, a warning indicating failure of the emergency lubrication system. (EC225)

*-22 October 2012 â€" A Super Puma performs an emergency landing immediately following a gearbox lubrication warning indicator. (EC225)

[MikeySM]

Saw this on the news earlier. RIP to those involved

I have quite a few friends who fly out from Dyce to the rigs quite regularly. Not a nice thing to hear.

[shamupilot]

Prayers for all