TTO, Thanks for the snaps...nearly one year late but better then never....LOL thanks mate. Gotta run....bell is about to ring on the 5 round between Nick and Helicoparator, when i left Helicop was bashing our beloved RIPS so we hope Nick gives him a slight upper cut in the next round.....back to my seat
Mikila1A - you've had to wait exactly a year for these but here are photos from the ditching of Bell 214ST G-BKFN in the North Sea in May 1986. The collective sleeve bearing stack retaining nut became unscrewed as a result of the fracture of the locking tangs. The collective became a useless floppy lever with engine torque at 20% regardless of collective position. The ditching was carried out on cyclic alone. Apologies for the poor quality of the photos.
This helicopter remained in service until the summer of this year and recently left Aberdeen by road, bound for the USA.
Glad to see they were able rescue it.
