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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Helicopter gearbox checks ordered | Helicopter gearbox checks ordered |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Accident investigators trying to determine why a helicopter crashed in the North Sea killing 16 people have issued urgent new safety instructions. | Accident investigators trying to determine why a helicopter crashed in the North Sea killing 16 people have issued urgent new safety instructions. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said all Super Puma gearboxes must be inspected to ensure internal components are airworthy. | |
| Eurocopter, the manufacturer must do this as "a matter of urgency". | Eurocopter, the manufacturer must do this as "a matter of urgency". |
| The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said operators have one week to carry out the checks. | The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said operators have one week to carry out the checks. |
| We assume that due to the urgency, operators in the UK will carry out these checks with immediate effect Daniel HoltgenEuropean Aviation Safety Agency | We assume that due to the urgency, operators in the UK will carry out these checks with immediate effect Daniel HoltgenEuropean Aviation Safety Agency |
| EASA issued a statement to the BBC which said: "We will be following the recommendation of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch by issuing an emergency air worthiness directive with immediate effect. | EASA issued a statement to the BBC which said: "We will be following the recommendation of the Air Accidents Investigation Branch by issuing an emergency air worthiness directive with immediate effect. |
| "The directive falls short of an immediate 'grounding' of the helicopter type as operators will be given until next Friday at the latest to make the necessary checks." | "The directive falls short of an immediate 'grounding' of the helicopter type as operators will be given until next Friday at the latest to make the necessary checks." |
| But a spokesman for EASA, Daniel Holtgen clarified that this was likely to lead to the UK fleet being grounded. | But a spokesman for EASA, Daniel Holtgen clarified that this was likely to lead to the UK fleet being grounded. |
| Mr Holtgen said: "We assume that due to the urgency, operators in the UK will carry out these checks with immediate effect." | Mr Holtgen said: "We assume that due to the urgency, operators in the UK will carry out these checks with immediate effect." |
| EASA has responsibility for aviation safety in 31 European countries and its orders are mandatory in those states. | EASA has responsibility for aviation safety in 31 European countries and its orders are mandatory in those states. |
| The AAIB gearbox inspection ruling followed an interim report published last week into the 1 April crash. | The AAIB gearbox inspection ruling followed an interim report published last week into the 1 April crash. |
| The first report by the AAIB said the gearbox suffered a "catastrophic failure", which caused the rotor blades to detach from the aircraft and smash into the fuselage, severing its tail. | The first report by the AAIB said the gearbox suffered a "catastrophic failure", which caused the rotor blades to detach from the aircraft and smash into the fuselage, severing its tail. |
| Task force | Task force |
| An industry task force is meeting in Aberdeen to discuss lessons to be learned from the crash. | An industry task force is meeting in Aberdeen to discuss lessons to be learned from the crash. |
| The Helicopter Accident Issues Task Group is made up of senior industry managers, including those whose companies employed the men who died. | The Helicopter Accident Issues Task Group is made up of senior industry managers, including those whose companies employed the men who died. |
| It will meet at least once a month for the foreseeable future, and said it was determined to ensure that any lessons are shared across the industry as quickly as possible. | It will meet at least once a month for the foreseeable future, and said it was determined to ensure that any lessons are shared across the industry as quickly as possible. |
| Earlier, investigators said it was proving difficult to establish what caused the gearbox on the helicopter to fail. | Earlier, investigators said it was proving difficult to establish what caused the gearbox on the helicopter to fail. |
| SUPER PUMA EC225 Five-bladed helicopter used by more than 1,000 civil operators and 37 militaries around the worldCapacity: Up to 24 passengersCrew: 2 or 3Max. speed: 174 mphRange: 519 miles | SUPER PUMA EC225 Five-bladed helicopter used by more than 1,000 civil operators and 37 militaries around the worldCapacity: Up to 24 passengersCrew: 2 or 3Max. speed: 174 mphRange: 519 miles |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said metal debris was carried through the gearbox, causing it to burst apart. | The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said metal debris was carried through the gearbox, causing it to burst apart. |
| But it said the extent of that secondary damage could mask the initial cause of the tragedy. | But it said the extent of that secondary damage could mask the initial cause of the tragedy. |
| An initial report into the crash which was released last Friday said the helicopter's main rotor gearbox had suffered a "catastrophic failure". | An initial report into the crash which was released last Friday said the helicopter's main rotor gearbox had suffered a "catastrophic failure". |
| In a statement, the investigation branch said detailed examination of the wreckage had continued this week. | In a statement, the investigation branch said detailed examination of the wreckage had continued this week. |
| It said: "The sequence of failure is now better understood but further work is required to determine the initiating event. | It said: "The sequence of failure is now better understood but further work is required to determine the initiating event. |
| "This painstaking work continues as the final failure of the gearbox involved the transport of metal debris through the meshing gears and bearings, absorbing energy from the engines and the rotor assembly, leading to the gearbox bursting. | "This painstaking work continues as the final failure of the gearbox involved the transport of metal debris through the meshing gears and bearings, absorbing energy from the engines and the rotor assembly, leading to the gearbox bursting. |
| "This has resulted in a large amount of secondary damage to all gearbox components potentially masking the initial failure." | "This has resulted in a large amount of secondary damage to all gearbox components potentially masking the initial failure." |
| Fourteen oil workers and two pilots died when the Super Puma came down off the Aberdeenshire coast two weeks ago. | Fourteen oil workers and two pilots died when the Super Puma came down off the Aberdeenshire coast two weeks ago. |
| Those who died were remembered at a special service in Aberdeen on Wednesday which was attended by Prince Charles, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. | Those who died were remembered at a special service in Aberdeen on Wednesday which was attended by Prince Charles, Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond. |
| The first funerals of the victims of the crash are due to be held next week. | The first funerals of the victims of the crash are due to be held next week. |