Statoil helicopter crash report identifies action plan

Sept. 26, 2016
Statoil has completed its investigation into the Turøy helicopter accident in western Norway on April 29.

Offshore staff

STAVANGER, Norway – Statoil has completed its investigation into the Turøy helicopter accident in western Norway on April 29.

This was the most serious helicopter accident on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since 1997, with 13 fatalities. The helicopter was en route fromGullfaks B in the North Sea to Flesland, near Bergen.

The investigation team’s mandate was to review aspects of importance to safety associated with the company’s helicopter operations on the NCS. Among the conclusions were that Statoil’s emergency response was good, from mobilization on the morning of the incident to demobilization on the morning of May 2 were good.

However, efforts to view the connection between factors (technical and commercial aspects) that may affect safety associated with helicopter transportation need to be improved. Based on this, Statoil needs to draw up a clearer aviation safety strategy and associated plan.

The company’s organization of helicopter safety efforts appear complicated, the review added, with many players and varying understanding of the individual’s role in this work. The team therefore recommended an internal review to ensure simplification and clearer description of roles.

Other recommendations were that Statoil should consider actions to facilitate better interaction and information sharing between the helicopter operators and the helicopter manufacturers; recruit new personnel capable of maintaining skills and capacity in Statoil’s flight safety department; organize more emergency response exercises with preferred external collaboration partners to ensure good interaction and coordination; and automatically adjust the personnel logistics system (DaWinci) to the roles in the emergency response organization.

09/26/2016

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