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| Crashed helicopter gearbox failed | Crashed helicopter gearbox failed |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| An initial report into the North Sea helicopter crash which killed 16 people has found that the aircraft suffered a "catastrophic failure". | An initial report into the North Sea helicopter crash which killed 16 people has found that the aircraft suffered a "catastrophic failure". |
| The report said the failure occurred in the main gearbox, resulting in what it described as "detachment of the main rotor assembly". | The report said the failure occurred in the main gearbox, resulting in what it described as "detachment of the main rotor assembly". |
| The report also urgently recommended that "additional inspections" be carried out on other Super Pumas. | The report also urgently recommended that "additional inspections" be carried out on other Super Pumas. |
| The report added that the gearbox failure is not yet understood. | |
| In the report, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said: "Examination of the wreckage indicates that the accident occurred following a catastrophic failure of the main rotor gearbox. | |
| "This resulted in the detachment of the main rotor head from the helicopter and was rapidly followed by main rotor blade strikes on the pylon and tail boom, which became severed from the fuselage. | |
| "It is apparent that there was also a rupture in the right-hand engine casing." | |
| It added that the investigation revealed that the gearbox had suffered a "major failure", which was not yet fully understood. | |
| A memorial service for those who died is to be held on Wednesday in Aberdeen. | A memorial service for those who died is to be held on Wednesday in Aberdeen. |
| It will be attended by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. | It will be attended by the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay. |
| The service will be held in Aberdeen's St Nicholas' Kirk and conducted by the Rev Andrew Jolly, chaplain to the North Sea oil and gas industry. | The service will be held in Aberdeen's St Nicholas' Kirk and conducted by the Rev Andrew Jolly, chaplain to the North Sea oil and gas industry. |
| The 14 passengers and two crew were returning from BP's Miller platform when the helicopter crashed in the sea, 11 miles north-east of Peterhead on April 1. | |
| The bodies of the victims have all been recovered and identified. | |
| Half of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia. |