Squirrel helicopter crash in Bergen, Norway May 2017

[goosl]

Norwegian news reporting a helicopter has crashed in the ocean in the city center of Bergen while attempting to land on a luxury yacht. All three occupants are accounted for and rushed to hospital.

Reported to be a AS350 with registration G-HKCN arriving from UK earlier today.

norwegian news:

Helikopter krasjet i sjøen i Bergen - Bergen - VG

[RotorTom]

G-HKCN
Picture of it under water in the papers.
Helikopter styrtet i sjøen i Sandviken - Bergens Tidende

[TowerDog]

Rumors says a lose tarp or a blanket got sucked into the rotor.
Guess that would do it.
The chopper flew from Shetland to Bergen, added fuel, then flew out to the boat.

[EDMJ]

Is it only me who is struggling to see where the helicopter was actually going to land on the yacht? Is that upper, rear deck on the really a helicopter landing platform? Looks awfully small.

[OvertHawk]

Bad form to link someone's name with an accident if you don't know it's true!!!!

[skadi]

Originally Posted by EDMJ

Is it only me who is struggling to see where the helicopter was actually going to land on the yacht? Is that upper, rear deck on the really a helicopter landing platform? Looks awfully small.

The upper deck is designed as landing pad, foldable railings and flagpole...

https://bt.mnocdn.no/images/eb5591bb...op&q=80&w=2048

skadi

[roundwego]

Single engine over the North Sea. That's brave. I wonder what survival gear they had. I assume it must have been non CAT.

[Skilgannon]

BACARELLA (MMSI: 319893000) Ship Photos | AIS Marine Traffic

[TowerDog]

Originally Posted by skadi

The upper deck is designed as landing pad, foldable railings and flagpole...

https://bt.mnocdn.no/images/eb5591bb...op&q=80&w=2048

skadi

Have heard it called a Touch and Go Pad when it is not an "approved pad" as per shipping class rules.

The 3 onboard are alive because a rescue boat happened to be within 800 meters of the accident. The pilot and pax were out of the water and given first aid within 2 minutes, then shortly thereafter in ambulances at the nearby port of Bergen then the hospital.
Timing is everything, so is luck..

[stilldellin]

The crew seen here kitting out with their survival suits before leaving Sumburgh. AS.350 G-HKCN IMG_2204 by Ronnie Robertson, on Flickr

[jimcarler]

Looks like the landing pad on that boat is barely big enough anyway. Sudden gust of wind and both chopper and yacht could need serious repairs.

[EDMJ]

Originally Posted by Skilgannon

BACARELLA (MMSI: 319893000) Ship Photos | AIS Marine Traffic

Thanks for clarifying this; looks like tight fit though

[Skilgannon]

Someone has been busy. The link I shared earlier showed a clear archive picture of the heli landed on the deck. Now every image of the heli in situ has disappeared from the internet!

[Nubian]

Originally Posted by Skilgannon

Someone has been busy. The link I shared earlier showed a clear archive picture of the heli landed on the deck. Now every image of the heli in situ has disappeared from the internet!

From your link (still there), 2 pictures of a helicopter on the deck, both include a sun-sail on the front upper deck.......

Reports about a flying tarp earlier on the thread....

[belly tank]

And id bet the boat (yacht) didn't hang around too long after the accident for fear of implication and media lenses, everyman for themselves

[G-SASY]

Good to see prudent wearing of immersion suits and fitted emergency floats on the helicopter. In the press photos these appear to have been deployed.
I pray the three chaps are okay.
There but for the grace of God...

[malabo]

Landing area looked ok for a typical helicopter yacht, no concern there. Nothing wrong with the flight to Bergen, the right personal gear and the helicopter had pop out floats (which inflated), probably a raft. I wouldn't expect suits and jackets to be worn for the hop from Bergen airport to the harbor. Unfortunate incident, but I can't see any fault with the helicopter side of the operation - yacht captain is responsible for the helipad condition and preparation to receive a helicopter.

[Fareastdriver]

Unprofessionally or unmanned helidecks are always a hazard for which a pilot has to look out for. That is a normal hazard in GAT flying. I, one instance in the North Sea, landed on the 36/22 which had been shut down and unmanned for years and as we were about to touch down a fire extinguisher cover unleashed itself and speared upwards with the sole intention of become entangled with my S76 main rotor.

Peripheral vision, honed for years in both military and civil flying enabled me to pick my helicopter up and I bolt off to the side thereby thwarting the cover in its aims. This also, for which I received no recompense whatsoever, saved Philips Petroleum and Bristow Helicopters from embarrassing insurance claims.

Sometimes it cannot be avoided. Don't knock the driver if it does.

[G-SASY]

Live AIS shows MY Bacarella still alongside the wharf in Bergen.
MarineTraffic: Global Ship Tracking Intelligence | AIS Marine Traffic

[exlatccatsa]

13 hours flying, Booker, Oban, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Bergen and then to the ship landing in low sun. Not a great day.