PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Bristow S76 Ditched in Nigeria today Feb 3 2016
Old 12th Feb 2016, 03:25
  #127 (permalink)  
gulliBell
 
Join Date: May 2002
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It may have been an interesting discussion in the life raft whilst waiting for rescue. Although rescue is probably not the right word; had there been a rescue might have implications for Target Zero.
There are instances of helicopter pilots running out of fuel and crashing in 8/8 blue sky after flying past a multitude of suitable landing sites, I just don't recall a ditching due to fuel exhaustion happening in a 2-pilot offshore twin-engine helicopter before. I'd be really surprised if that's what happened here because fuel quantity check is an item in every before take-off checklist I've ever seen. And if by some oversight it's missed in the before take-off check, it should be there in the after take-off and/or top-of-climb check lists as well. So if it turned out you discovered you didn't have enough fuel to get to the destination you just wear the embarrassment and head back to the departure point.
Don't want to be seen to be preaching here, just my way of thinking.
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