One, missing from this thread was a PHI Sikorsky S-76A++ N22342
http://www.phihelico.com/News%20Rele...20Incident.pdf
NTSB issued a probable cause during the summer that seems to have gone unnoticed here:
http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?e...01X01599&key=1
The helicopter was inadvertently flown into the water while the attention of both crewmembers was diverted to arming the emergency float system and activating the windshield wipers.
Shades of the ERA accident. Again a cheap AVAD could have helped (and yes IF it were an new aircraft and IF it had been shipped with a more expensive EGPWS then that would have helped too but lets not loose sight that this was avoidable with current and mature technology if only people are prepared to learn the lessons from overseas).
The 'rescue' is even more amazing:
The seas were 5 to 6 foot swells when the helicopter sank . Both crew members remained in the vicinity of their impact with the water for another 30 to 40 minutes. The flight crew then elected to swim toward an abandoned platform, which they believed to be approximately 2 miles from their position.
The crewmembers swam for 2.5 hours to reach the abandoned offshore platform. The platform had been abandoned following damage sustained during hurricane Katrina. The crew found water, food, medical supplies and shelter until a helicopter made visual contact and reported their position. Both crewmembers were rescued by a Bell 407 helicopter and taken to a hospital in Houma, Louisiana. The flight crew was reported to be suffering from severe fatigue as a result of the egress from the wreckage and their 2.5 hour swim. The copilot was treated for a puncture wound to his right thigh and remained in the hospital overnight for observation.
Severe fatigue - really?!
Meanwhile another single ditched a week ago off the Texas coast , 3 POB, all recovered.
http://www.faa.gov/data_statistics/a...a/J_1009_N.txt:
