Getting back to the thread subject...
As HC states, the current thinking is that an accident will occur near an installation. The PFEER regulations only cover the area around an installation up to 500m. Oil installation operators have to follow PFEER regs to provide a 'good chance of recovery' in the case of a ditching, getting all the survivors to a 'place of safety' within two hours.
There is nothing in current regulations covering the transit from onshore to an offshore installation. Perhaps this should be addressed! Reading the TSB of Canada report on the Cougar S92 accident in 2009, I feel the following recommendation to be rather pertinent!
4.2.2 Safe Ditching and Successful Evacuation
Overwater helicopter operations transporting passengers to and from offshore oil and gas installations occur with the knowledge that an emergency situation may arise requiring a forced landing or ditching. In such circumstances the first priority must be preservation of life and safety of the passengers and crew.
Most helicopters in use to support the global offshore oil and gas industry, including the S-92A, have an emergency flotation system (EFS) which provides adequate ditching stability in "reasonably probable water conditions" of at least sea state 4 WMO and is intended to keep the helicopter upright while occupants escape to the life rafts.
However, helicopters frequently operate over water where the conditions exceed sea state 4 WMO. For instance, in the waters off Newfoundland, statistics from Environment Canada indicate that sea state 4 is exceeded approximately 50% of the time over the course of the entire year, and 83% of the time between December and February. Sea state 6 WMO, by comparison, is exceeded much less frequently; 3.3% over the year and 8.9% between December and February.
Twin-engine helicopters typically have a high center of gravity because of the weight of the engines and the main rotor gearbox located on the cabin roof. Consequently, there is a strong likelihood that these helicopters will capsize after ditching unless they are equipped with an EFS which is appropriate for the prevailing sea state.
When EFS systems do not operate successfully, twin-engine helicopters invariably turn upside down, leading to complete flooding of the cabin and immersion of all doors and windows. Escape is very difficult because all escape routes are submerged and occupants who do not escape from the cabin within a matter of seconds will drown.
Although some steps have been taken in Newfoundland to ensure EFS capability for sea states beyond sea state 4, helicopter crews and passengers in Canada remain at risk where helicopters are operated over sea states exceeding the capability of the EFS.
Therefore, the Board recommends that
Transport Canada prohibit commercial operation of Category A transport helicopters over water when the sea state will not permit safe ditching and successful evacuation.
A11-03
As the 'demonstrated' limit of the floation equipment of the EC225 is 6m, should commercial offshore flights even be dispatched when the sea state is 6m or more? Discuss!!
bondu