Ghana helicopter crash

[camilogrillo]

Anyone has any Idea of what kind of activity is there in Ghana, and what happended here?

I used to work at the rig where this Helicopter was going while it was on Nigeria.

4 dead, 1 missing after Ghana helicopter crash - AP News 5/9/2014 6:29 AM (http://townhall.com/news/world/2014/05/09/4-dead-1-missing-after-ghana-helicopter-crash-n1835837)

[AS332L1]

It has been said that it was an AS365N?

[Upland Goose]

I remember the first rotary steps into Takoradi. Sad day for the Ghana Oil industry and the burgeoning helicopter trade.

Summary

At least four people died when a Volta River Aviation Ltd. (VRAL) helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of southwestern Ghana May 8. The aircraft took off from Takoradi Airport (TKD) at 1257 GMT and was expected to arrive at Transocean's GSF Jack Ryan drillship 13 minutes later. A search and rescue operation was launched some time after the control tower lost contact with the helicopter at 1303 GMT. Eight people were aboard, including six oil workers and two crew members. A nearby supply vessel reportedly rescued three people; a fourth remains missing.

The exact location of the crash is unclear, since various sources have provided different information about the helicopter's intended destination. Some reports have said that the incident occurred in the West Cape Three Points Block - the site of the prolific Jubilee Field - but this information is probably inaccurate. The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority has stated that the aircraft was en route to the GSF Jack Ryan, meaning that the crash most likely occurred about 18 km (11 miles) south of Takoradi. The drillship was about 38 km (24 miles) south of the city at the time of the accident.

The nationalities of the deceased have not been disclosed, but local reports claim that they include Lukoil workers. The Russian firm is currently preparing to conduct appraisal and completion work in the Cape Three Points Deep Water (CTPDW) block south of where the accident occurred. The Ghana Armed Forces, Tullow Oil, NHV Aviation, and PHI participated in the search and rescue effort. The model and age of the downed aircraft has not been released, but VRAL - a subsidiary of International Aircraft Services (IAS) - uses Eurocopter SA 365/AS365 Dauphin 2 helicopters for offshore transport in Ghana. Initial reports suggest that poor weather may have played a role in the crash. UG

[UKpaxman]

Apparently a Black Hawk was the aircraft involved.


Alastair McDonald survived Black Hawk helicopter crash in Ghana | Aberdeen & North | News (http://news.stv.tv/north/274987-alastair-mcdonald-survived-black-hawk-helicopter-crash-in-ghana/)

[vaqueroaero]

I highly doubt it was a Black Hawk. I suspect a journalist has their facts totally wrong.

[terminus mos]

Sikorsky never sold Blackhawks to Ghana so I suspect it poetic license at best and incompetence at worst.

[Phone Wind]

The helicopter was a 365N. The Nigerian pilot worked in Nigeria flying Dauphins (as well as other types) for many years before going to Ghana.

Report from the Nigerian newspaper Daily Trust, reports that 4 people, 3 Ghanaian and 1 British survived the crash and 1 is still missing. The 2 crew and 1 Ghanaian passenger are confirmed dead.

Accra, Ghana — A Nigerian and two other people have been confirmed dead after a helicopter they were in crashed into the deep waters at West Cape Three Points off the coast of Ghana.

The Ghana-registered chopper, which was conveying eight people, including two crew members and six oil workers, crashed into the sea near one of the oil rigs, 20 nautical miles off Takoradi, Western Region on Thursday evening.

The crew, including the pilot and co-pilot, a French national and a Nigerian, perished in the crash. A Ghanaian passenger was also confirmed dead.

Four people, three Ghanaians and a Briton, survived the crash, while one person is still missing. The bodies of the dead have been deposited in the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue.

The helicopter, operated by the Volta River Aviation and on contract to Russian oil giant Lukoil, was on routine crew shuttle mission transporting contractor personnel from the airport in Takoradi to the Jack Ryan UDW drillship chartered by Lukoil to conduct exploration activities offshore Ghana, a statement from the oil company said.

The incident has been confirmed by the Air Traffic Services of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority and the Ghana Air Force. The public relations officer of Two Garrison Command of the Ghana Air Force, Captain Linda Oboh, also indicated that a rescue team was searching for the missing person.