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