Searching for Statistics for Offshore Accidents

[peterperfect]

I'm doing some research for a safety project and trying to ascertain numbers of helideck-related accidents or incidents where a fire took hold. I know over the years we've had hot starts, battery thermal runaways, rollover incidents, fuel spills, snagging or landing in the perimeter nets etc, or worse case impact and rolling into the sea with typically awful consequences. Its actual flaming fires to helicopters on the landing area that needed proper extinguishing, say over the past 25 years I am looking for. I've got details of a B212 about 10 years ago in the Persian Gulf that hit the legs on a jack-up as it backed up on take-off and ended up scattered on various level around the production/drilling area with a massive fire, that one unfortunately ended in total loss of life and was extinguished using RFFF sourced from the main rig's portfolio. Many thanks in anticipation of your professional advice. pp.

[gulliBell]

The example you mentioned is the only one I'm aware of (from memory, it occurred at night).

[212man]

There was an S58T (or maybe a Wessex) that had a TR strike on a Forties platform and crashed on the deck of the adjacent Flotel. One pax died in the fire. A SA330J rolled over and burned on a Malaysian deck around 1980. Nothing recent.

[JimL]

This is the Puma SA330, SSG-9M on the Tenama; it crashed and rolled over with the subsequent fire. There were 13 persons on board - 4 minor injuries and no fatalities.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmforum.com-vbulletin/1024x699/temana_crash_1_616ed0dbda358c1157e840cf1b3d3dde9ad567c6.jpg

The accident on the Forties was S58T, G-BCRU and was on approach to the Forties 'C', its tail rotor detached and a forced landing was carried out onto the helideck. The helicopter fell off the helideck and onto the 'Thor' (a crane barge); the helicopter was destroyed by impact and subsequent fire.

There was a MI-17 crash in the late 70s or early 80s; a relevant picture - in a recent publication - shows it burnt out on the helideck.

In the GOM in 1985, a Bell 222, N3194 dropped into pressurised natural gas containing equipment. The released gas subsequently ignited, producing an intense fire. There were 9 persons on board and of these there were 2 fatalities.

In the GOM in 1987, an SA330 skidded on the heliceck and the tail boom hit the platform leg. The helicopter rolled over and exploded killing all occupants.

There are others!

Jim

[industry insider]

Ah yes, the 330J, crash-worthy (not). When was the Tenama crash Jim? I remember it happening but not the year.

[212man]

Ah yes, the 330J, crash-worthy (not). When was the Tenama crash Jim? I remember it happening but not the year.
13 Dec 1985: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=72872

[peterperfect]

Thanks guys for your responses. Very helpful information. pp.

[Miles Gustaph]

The CAE Global compliance and safety manager based at Burgess Hill was the Police accident investigator on the Dubai helicopter crash on the Maersk resilient rig. I'm sure that if you give him a call he will be happy to share with you his photos and data from the event.

Miles