Super Puma down central North Sea Feb 2009
They beat the odds to get everyone out and into rafts on a dark night, my congrats to all. Aircraft stayed upright in 2-3 m waves, so another big plus there.
Lots of talk of the benefit of Jigsaw, but apart from reporting back that the aircraft was floating and didn't have a tailboom, exactly what else did they do? Seems to me the workboat picked everyone up out of the rafts.
So EASA grounds the EC155, nobody wants the 76C++ until they solve the PHI crash, and now the EC225 does its best imitation of a GOM R44. Just what are we safe to fly in?
Lots of talk of the benefit of Jigsaw, but apart from reporting back that the aircraft was floating and didn't have a tailboom, exactly what else did they do? Seems to me the workboat picked everyone up out of the rafts.
So EASA grounds the EC155, nobody wants the 76C++ until they solve the PHI crash, and now the EC225 does its best imitation of a GOM R44. Just what are we safe to fly in?
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Malabo
What tosh you speak. The UNS-1D on the EC155 has a software glitch, the S76 in general, not the S76C++ alone may have a problem with windscreen, and the Puma successfully carried out the mitigating safety procedures for flight in a rotorcraft operating in hostile conditions. Scare-mongerer!
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and now the EC225 does its best imitation of a GOM R44. Just what are we safe to fly in?
And while we wait for the investigation as to why this accident happened, I'm happy to applaud the crew, passengers and rescue team who got through a very testing experience without any loss of life.
Good work fellas.
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Just woke up on the other side of the world and had a shock from the BBC then got on here and feeling much better now.
Well done to all involved! It goes to show that dedicated cover is an expensive toy to pay for until you need it.
Well done to all involved! It goes to show that dedicated cover is an expensive toy to pay for until you need it.
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Well done the rescuers
Well done to all involved, a happy resolution to a potential disaster. I am curious to know though. Why did only 3 get winched? Worsening weather, downwash affecting the dinghy? Both mentioned but what was the reason? So a rescue boat did the rest, how? Was it the notorious Dacon scoop? Would the outcome have been quite as satisfactory if there had been a bigger swell? I don't like too much "what if"ing, but is tonight's great result always repeatable? 
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I believe the three that were airlifted back were in one liferaft, the other fifteen picked up by boat were in another. It will all become clearer in the coming days and weeks.
Does anyone know how the weather conditions where like?
perhaps another lightning strike like in 1995 with the Bristow Puma...?????
perhaps another lightning strike like in 1995 with the Bristow Puma...?????
Last edited by rotorrookie; 19th Feb 2009 at 03:11.
Where's the eye witness that heard the aircraft sputtering as it plunged to earth barely missing that school house ShyT mentioned? If the auto pilot was engaged we must consider tail icing as the cause....right?
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BBC reporting that in the next half-hour they will have an expert on to explain what happened. Wonder who that will be, possibly the usual suspect?
I do hope so. What's the odds on their explanation involving incorrectly set flaps? Or a faulty AHRS/drag damper interface cable causing overheating of the gascolator?
Glad to hear they missed the school though.
I do hope so. What's the odds on their explanation involving incorrectly set flaps? Or a faulty AHRS/drag damper interface cable causing overheating of the gascolator?
Glad to hear they missed the school though.
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Just watching the media. The same skills used as the Hudson River Airbus, apparently...
Good to see the crew are heroes for narrowly avoiding the nearby school full of children playing outside
Good to see the crew are heroes for narrowly avoiding the nearby school full of children playing outside
