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Post by richardtaylor on Feb 19, 2009 18:58:57 GMT
It ditched about 1840hrs yesterday, approaching the Marnock platform in the BP-operated ETAP complex.
18 people aboard, thankfully all picked up with only 3 walking wounded after the crew executed a perfect controlled landing to the water. (I refuse to use the word "ditch" as that suggests it was not controllable).
The three were taken by RAF Rescue 137 Seaking to Aberdeen ARI, but all were discharged. The rest arrived on baord a supply boat this morning at the harbour.
Enquiries are underway as to why a relatively new EC225 had to ditch, but reports suggested that the RAF noted a missing tail boom - whether that was before or after the ditching is obviously not known at this stage.
The heli stayed upright until today, when it turned turtle. In fact Bond are deflating its floatation devices & allowing it to sink to the bottom, on the basis that it will make it easier to "rescue" as opposed to trying to lift it off the surface from the inverted position. But it's the end of it's flying career.
Also helped that despite a 3m swell, the conditions were for the N.Sea pretty benign.
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Post by Humberside on Feb 19, 2009 22:14:40 GMT
At least everyone has come out alive and without major injury
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Post by richardtaylor on Feb 20, 2009 19:01:32 GMT
Well, seems to be some air of mystery about what happened here. Some whispers that perhaps it wasn't a straightforward ditch & perhaps the aircraft "misjudged" its approach to the Galaxy 1 rig that it was heading to, in poor viz.
Also I am still not sure why, with the heli landing upright on the sea, which was relatively calm, why it lost its tail boom.
One of the suggestions is that the crew may have hit the rig, then landed in the sea.
I hope it's nothing like that of course, but no-one is saying very much.
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Post by richardtaylor on Feb 21, 2009 7:50:57 GMT
I know the heli pilots are reluctant (they say!!) to speculate on causes, but one of the oilmen aboard now quoted as saying they "hit something in the fog". Tailbooms just don't tend to "fall off" helis. Tailrotors (or their components/attachments) sadly maybe, but not the whole boom.
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Post by richardtaylor on Feb 23, 2009 7:01:04 GMT
Wreckage on its way to Farnborough.
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Post by richardtaylor on Feb 23, 2009 19:07:54 GMT
Tailboom found, on way back to Aberdeen.
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clk
Member
Posts: 7 
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Post by clk on Apr 1, 2009 14:47:52 GMT
Another Bond one in the sea at 14.00. today. No word yet on outcome.
EDIT: Local paper now reporting 10 dead, 6 missing but nothing on news channels?
Dreadful news if confirmed.
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Post by Humberside on Apr 1, 2009 15:19:52 GMT
Sky are broadcasting it in between the G20 coverage. They are currently saying that eight bodies recovered, eight people being searched for
However many casualties there are, condolences to the families of all the dead
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Post by richardtaylor on Apr 1, 2009 17:29:39 GMT
I'm afraid this time the news isn't so lucky. Unbelievable to read this, a 3rd ditching, a 2nd fatal & the 2nd Bond machine lost. My condolensces to all that were aboard. Terrible news. It was a 332L2 involved.
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Post by richardtaylor on Apr 3, 2009 17:48:33 GMT
Search continues for the wreckage, & the remaining 8 deceased. 15 of the 16 names released, 8 came from my area. A high price indeed. The crew issued a Mayday but couldn't even specify the nature of their problem before silence ensued. Catastrophic.
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Post by richardtaylor on Apr 5, 2009 16:12:34 GMT
Wreckage & black box located - 7 of the 8 deceased also found, including it is believed the 2 pilots.
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Post by Humberside on Apr 5, 2009 19:14:19 GMT
At least most of the families can get back the bodies and put them to rest
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Post by richardtaylor on Apr 10, 2009 20:13:41 GMT
All 16 were positively indentified.
The prelim report just out from the AAIB, but chilling reading.
It talks of:
* catastrophic failure of the main gear box assembly
* main rotor as a result detatching from the aircraft
* the rotor then striking the heli, slicing through the tailboom, the tailrotor therefore also becoming detatched
* a secondary failure of right engine casing
No wonder it hit the water hard - no chance for anyone aboard.
Next Q for the final report - WHAT caused the MGB malfunction & the subsequent detatchment of the main rotor?
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Post by richardtaylor on Apr 18, 2009 7:20:13 GMT
All Super Puma L2 & EC225 have been grounded this weekend for urgent checks of the gearbox, following an EASA directive that they must be checked within a week.
No coincidence that they are being checked over the weekend, where there are less flights traditionally.
Memorial service was held last Wed - Duke/Duchess of Rothesay, PM Gordon Brown & FM Alex Salmond in attendance.
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Post by richardtaylor on May 13, 2009 7:52:50 GMT
Bond are to start flying again for BP from this Mon - also believe they are to replace the two a/c lost.
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