No technical cause identified for Shetland helicopter crash

Offshore staff

LONDON – Britain’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has updated its investigation into the Super Puma L2 helicopter ditching offshore Sumburgh Head on Aug. 23.

This led to the death of four passengers travelling from the semisubmersible drilling rigBorgsten Dolphin.

According to the bulletin, “to date, the wreckage examination and analysis of the recorded data have not found any evidence of a technical fault that could have been causal to the accident although some work remains to be completed.

“The on-going AAIB investigation will focus on theoperational aspects of the flight; specifically on the effectiveness of pilot monitoring of instruments during approach, operational procedures, and the training of flight crews.”

The report adds “the main rotor shaft was intact, as was the main rotor gearbox. The main rotor gearbox was inspected internally via access panels; no evidence of any pre-impact damage was found. The engines also showed no evidence of pre-impact damage.”

10/21/2013