This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7994305.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Crashed helicopter gearbox failed | Crashed helicopter gearbox failed |
| (10 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 Air Accidents Investigation Branch report said the failure occurred in the main gearbox, resulting in "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 the reason for the gearbox failure is not yet understood. | |
| The AAIB report continued: "Examination of the wreckage indicates that the accident occurred following a catastrophic failure of the main rotor gearbox. | |
| Immediately after impact he saw the four main rotor blades, still connected at their hub, strike the water. Around this time, he also heard two bangs, close together AAIB report, quoting crash eyewitness | Immediately after impact he saw the four main rotor blades, still connected at their hub, strike the water. Around this time, he also heard two bangs, close together AAIB report, quoting crash eyewitness |
| "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. | "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 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. | It added that the investigation revealed that the gearbox had suffered a "major failure", which was not yet fully understood. |
| A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We welcome this initial report and look forward to the findings of the full investigation, as it is vital that the cause of the crash is established so lessons can be learned and these types of tragedies can be avoided in the future. | A Scottish Government spokesman said: "We welcome this initial report and look forward to the findings of the full investigation, as it is vital that the cause of the crash is established so lessons can be learned and these types of tragedies can be avoided in the future. |
| "It's thanks to the commitment and hard work of the emergency services that the bodies, helicopter and black box were recovered, assisting the pace of the investigation. | "It's thanks to the commitment and hard work of the emergency services that the bodies, helicopter and black box were recovered, assisting the pace of the investigation. |
| "Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of the sixteen men who lost their lives through this tragic accident." | "Our thoughts continue to be with the family and friends of the sixteen men who lost their lives through this tragic accident." |
| The AAIB report went on to recommend that the helicopter's manufacturer, Eurocopter, should carry out "additional inspections and enhanced monitoring" on its AS332L2 models of Super Puma helicopters, to ensure the airworthiness of the gearboxes. | The AAIB report went on to recommend that the helicopter's manufacturer, Eurocopter, should carry out "additional inspections and enhanced monitoring" on its AS332L2 models of Super Puma helicopters, to ensure the airworthiness of the gearboxes. |
| It also recommended that the European Aviation Safety Agency evaluates these checks and, when satisfied, makes them compulsory. | It also recommended that the European Aviation Safety Agency evaluates these checks and, when satisfied, makes them compulsory. |
| In addition, investigators advised that Eurocopter improves its gearbox monitoring and warning systems on its AS332L2 helicopters. | In addition, investigators advised that Eurocopter improves its gearbox monitoring and warning systems on its AS332L2 helicopters. |
| Eyewitness account | Eyewitness account |
| Investigators said the black box flight recorder found that, after take-off at 1303 BST, the crew had been engaged in "routine cockpit activities" and there were no problems. | Investigators said the black box flight recorder found that, after take-off at 1303 BST, the crew had been engaged in "routine cockpit activities" and there were no problems. |
| At 1354 BST the co-pilot made a routine call to say the estimated time of arrival at Aberdeen Airport was 1414 BST. | At 1354 BST the co-pilot made a routine call to say the estimated time of arrival at Aberdeen Airport was 1414 BST. |
| Twelve seconds after this, one of the pilots issued a mayday call, which was picked up by air traffic controllers. | Twelve seconds after this, one of the pilots issued a mayday call, which was picked up by air traffic controllers. |
| Air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to contact the crew, before asking the crew of another helicopter in the area to examine an area based on the Super Puma's last radar position. | Air traffic controllers tried unsuccessfully to contact the crew, before asking the crew of another helicopter in the area to examine an area based on the Super Puma's last radar position. |
| The report said radar information showed the helicopter flying inbound towards Aberdeen at 2,000ft, climbing momentarily to 2,200ft, then turning right and "descending rapidly". | The report said radar information showed the helicopter flying inbound towards Aberdeen at 2,000ft, climbing momentarily to 2,200ft, then turning right and "descending rapidly". |
| An eyewitness working on a supply vessel near the crash site heard the helicopter and saw it come down before it hit the sea. | An eyewitness working on a supply vessel near the crash site heard the helicopter and saw it come down before it hit the sea. |
| The report states: "Immediately after impact he saw the four main rotor blades, still connected at their hub, strike the water. | The report states: "Immediately after impact he saw the four main rotor blades, still connected at their hub, strike the water. |
| "Around this time, he also heard two bangs, close together. | "Around this time, he also heard two bangs, close together. |
| "He immediately raised the alarm and the ship turned towards the accident site, which by now was marked by a rising column of grey then black smoke." | "He immediately raised the alarm and the ship turned towards the accident site, which by now was marked by a rising column of grey then black smoke." |
| Before setting off from Aberdeen, the report stated that the helicopter was serviceable, except for a "deferred defect", affecting part of its ice detection system. | Before setting off from Aberdeen, the report stated that the helicopter was serviceable, except for a "deferred defect", affecting part of its ice detection system. |
| The daily in-flight checks had been completed and were found to be satisfactory. | The daily in-flight checks had been completed and were found to be satisfactory. |
| The helicopter landed on the Miller platform, was refuelled, with the rotors running, and 14 passengers boarded. | The helicopter landed on the Miller platform, was refuelled, with the rotors running, and 14 passengers boarded. |
| Weather conditions were said to be mild, with light south to south-easterly winds and good visibility with generally clear skies. | Weather conditions were said to be mild, with light south to south-easterly winds and good visibility with generally clear skies. |
| Flying conditions were reported as smooth and the sea was calm. | Flying conditions were reported as smooth and the sea was calm. |
| The AAIB was notified of the crash within minutes and a team of inspectors, including engineers, pilots and flight recorder specialists travelled to Aberdeen that evening. | The AAIB was notified of the crash within minutes and a team of inspectors, including engineers, pilots and flight recorder specialists travelled to Aberdeen that evening. |
| The wreckage was later recovered from the seabed and transported to the AAIB headquarters at Farnborough in Hampshire. | The wreckage was later recovered from the seabed and transported to the AAIB headquarters at Farnborough in Hampshire. |
| It included the black box flight recorder, the fuselage with the engines and rotor gearbox attached, the separated rotor head with the main rotor blades still attached, and the separated tail. | It included the black box flight recorder, the fuselage with the engines and rotor gearbox attached, the separated rotor head with the main rotor blades still attached, and the separated tail. |
| The flight recorder was found to contain 24 hours of flight data and one hour of cockpit voice recording, which stopped just before the first mayday was issued. | The flight recorder was found to contain 24 hours of flight data and one hour of cockpit voice recording, which stopped just before the first mayday was issued. |
| Prince Charles will attend a memorial service in Aberdeen | Prince Charles will attend a memorial service in Aberdeen |
| 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 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. | 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. | Half of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia. |