Firm News

Catastrophic Failure Caused Super Puma Copter Crash

Posted on Apr 14, 2009

Catastrophic failure of the main rotor gearbox of the Super Puma Helicopter was the cause for that crashed into the North Sea off the coast of Scotland earlier this month. The gearbox failure caused the blades to separate from the aircraft and slice off the tail, according to the Air Accidents Investigations Branch (AAIB) of the British Government.

The rotor blades detached from the helicopter and then struck the tail, cutting the tail and the pylon from the main fuselage. These findings were contained in the AAIB's interim report which is similar to the NTSB's preliminary reports, according to cnn.com.

The fatal helicopter crash killed all 16 aboard. It was located about 11 miles off the coast and was on it's way from a gas platform named, the Miller platform to Aberdeen, Scotland. The weather was reported as mostly clear skys and light winds at the time of the copter crashed.

The pilots made a mayday call 12 seconds after the co-pilot had radioed his arrival time to the controller. The radio controller tried to immediately to respond to the distressed call, but was unable to make contact, according to the cockpit voice (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR).

The radar information available shows the personnel transport helicopter heading towards the coast at about 2,000 feet, then climbing to 2,200 feet before making a aggressive right turn before rapidly descending.

A witness on a supply ship which was nearby stated, "Immediately after impact, he saw the four main rotor blades, still connected at their hub, strike the water," the report says. "Around this time, he also heard two bangs close together.

The AAIB has issued a safety recommendation urging operators to run further checks and enhance monitoring of the gearbox on all AS332L2 Super Puma helicopters.

The helicopter's operator was Bond Offshore Helicopters.

If a family member or other loved one has been the victim of an aviation disaster you need an experienced aviation attorney. Please call or click to speak directly with B. Keith Williams.

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