The fatal crash of a Eurocopter AS332 L2 Super Puma operated by CHC Helicopter off the coast of Shetland Island has renewed concerns over the reliability of Super Puma helicopters, with an industry safety group recommending the temporary suspension of flights by all models in the Super Puma series.
The crash occurred at 6:20 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 23, approximately two nautical miles west of the Sumburgh Airport in the UK. Four oil workers returning from North Sea oil-and-gas rigs died in the accident; the pilot, co-pilot and remaining 12 passengers were rescued from the water.
Although investigators are on scene, few technical details have emerged regarding the cause of the accident. As a precautionary measure, Step Change in Safety’s Helicopter Safety Steering Group, an industry work group for the UK oil-and-gas industry, on Saturday recommended temporary suspension of all helicopters in the Super Puma series: not only the L2 model that was involved in the accident, but also L, L1 and EC225 variants.
“There are significant technical differences between these variants; however, until more is understood on cause of the accident, this cautious approach is appropriate,” the group stated.
Offshore operators largely complied with that recommendation, with CHC on Sunday suspending all of its Super Puma flights (with the exception of life-saving search-and-rescue and medevac missions). Consistent with the Helicopter Safety Steering Group’s request, it said it would not fly AS332Ls/L1s/L2s and EC225s in the UK until further notice, although it planned to resume non-L2 Super Puma flights outside the UK on Monday.
“We believe that engineering and operating differences associated with AS332L/L1 and EC225 aircraft warrant continuing flights with those aircraft,” CHC said in a statement.
The Sumburgh crash comes only weeks after offshore operators including CHC began returning EC225 helicopters to service. That variant was barred from over-water operations in October 2012 after two EC225s ditched in the North Sea following gear shaft failures. Eurocopter subsequently identified the root cause of the failures, and in July regulatory authorities approved safety measures designed to prevent the problem’s recurrence.
In its own statement, Eurocopter said that limited technical information is available regarding the cause of the Sumburgh accident, but that Eurocopter’s experts are in Aberdeen working closely with the investigation authorities.
To view video of the response to the crash, visit the RNLI video website by clicking here.
Update: the Helicopter Safety Steering Group on Aug. 29 recommended that Super Pumas be returned to service. For details, click here.
