North Sea Helicopter ditching 10th May 2012
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Hypnosteve
You may wish to take a few seconds for thought before you post.
There would be two professional EC225 pilots at the front end who do this stuff day in day out. Do you think that they just saw a light and ditched an aircraft with 14 pax into the North Sea?
Tam
There would be two professional EC225 pilots at the front end who do this stuff day in day out. Do you think that they just saw a light and ditched an aircraft with 14 pax into the North Sea?
Tam
I think the question is, 'Is a light, a ditching decision?'
MP - main pump pressure
S/B.P - standby pump pressure
Lights:
Red MGB.P with flashing red WARN - main gearbox pressure
Gauge:
Transmission oil pressure in the red
So with those 4 things, each with a seperate sensor, all triggered, something is up!
Now we have to press the emerg lube buton and have 30 minutes at Vy
If 30 mins is approaching, or if a 5th light MGB EMLUBE (with yet another pair of sensors) illuminates, only then do you ditch.
By that time, there can be no doubt that something is up, so your comment about "a light" shows a certain lack of knowledge of the systems involved.
HC
The 2 people at the front have to make a very quick decision, and their only concern is for the safety of themselves and their passengers.
In todays incident, their decision resulted in what will probably be a written off helicopter (which will be paid for by an insurance company), and no harm to the pax or crew.
IMO, it doesn't matter if the 225 can fly for 5 minutes or 30 minutes with a total MGB oil loss. As it is, they only ended up with wet and possibly shaken up passengers, but another couple of minutes in the air and it could well have been a totally different outcome.
In todays incident, their decision resulted in what will probably be a written off helicopter (which will be paid for by an insurance company), and no harm to the pax or crew.
IMO, it doesn't matter if the 225 can fly for 5 minutes or 30 minutes with a total MGB oil loss. As it is, they only ended up with wet and possibly shaken up passengers, but another couple of minutes in the air and it could well have been a totally different outcome.
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Not even showing as an item on the BBC website now.
BBC News - Footage of North Sea helicopter rescue
BBC News - Flights suspended after North Sea helicopter ditches
Bond Aviation Group has said it is suspending EC225 Super Puma helicopter flights until further notice.
It followed the ditching of one of the aircraft in the North Sea. The company said it ordered the suspension "for safety reasons".
The incident took place about 30 miles east of Aberdeen. All 14 people on board made it into a liferaft.
Nine were picked up and were flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, arriving at about 13:45.
The remaining five were brought to Aberdeen by lifeboat.
An investigation is under way.
ARI accident and emergency consultant James Ferguson said: "I am delighted to say none of them are seriously injured."
He said they were treated for "minor bumps and bruises".
One was kept in for observation as a precaution.
The incident, which happened at about 12:15, has been described as a controlled ditching.
The helicopter was heading from Aberdeen to the Maersk Resilient and Ensco 102 drilling rigs - in the Jasmine field, operated by ConocoPhillips - when an alert was broadcast.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of British Airline Pilots Association, praised the crew, saying it looked like a "terrific piece of airmanship from very skilled pilots".
'Future safety'
Offshore unions called for a helicopter safety group to be urgently reconvened.
A task force was set up in the wake of the 2009 Super Puma tragedy in which 16 men died.
The Unite Union and the RMT are demanding an urgent meeting of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Thankfully it has been confirmed that all on board have been rescued.
"Incidents such as these remain very rare but do serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those offshore workers who are required to use helicopters on a regular basis.
"Once all of those involved have been transferred ashore the priority will be for the appropriate authorities to investigate the causes of this accident and ensure the future safety of flying operations in the North Sea."
The incident response was co-ordinated by Aberdeen Coastguard.
It followed the ditching of one of the aircraft in the North Sea. The company said it ordered the suspension "for safety reasons".
The incident took place about 30 miles east of Aberdeen. All 14 people on board made it into a liferaft.
Nine were picked up and were flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, arriving at about 13:45.
The remaining five were brought to Aberdeen by lifeboat.
An investigation is under way.
ARI accident and emergency consultant James Ferguson said: "I am delighted to say none of them are seriously injured."
He said they were treated for "minor bumps and bruises".
One was kept in for observation as a precaution.
The incident, which happened at about 12:15, has been described as a controlled ditching.
The helicopter was heading from Aberdeen to the Maersk Resilient and Ensco 102 drilling rigs - in the Jasmine field, operated by ConocoPhillips - when an alert was broadcast.
Jim McAuslan, general secretary of British Airline Pilots Association, praised the crew, saying it looked like a "terrific piece of airmanship from very skilled pilots".
'Future safety'
Offshore unions called for a helicopter safety group to be urgently reconvened.
A task force was set up in the wake of the 2009 Super Puma tragedy in which 16 men died.
The Unite Union and the RMT are demanding an urgent meeting of the Helicopter Safety Steering Group.
First Minister Alex Salmond said: "Thankfully it has been confirmed that all on board have been rescued.
"Incidents such as these remain very rare but do serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those offshore workers who are required to use helicopters on a regular basis.
"Once all of those involved have been transferred ashore the priority will be for the appropriate authorities to investigate the causes of this accident and ensure the future safety of flying operations in the North Sea."
The incident response was co-ordinated by Aberdeen Coastguard.
Assuming it's still floating, although they may have not bothered to close the doors.....can it be recovered?
Alternatively like G-JSAR which found its own way to the beach unscathed but full of salt water and sand, it is then impounded by AAIB and not allowed to be hosed down with fresh water, so rapidly corrodes in the hangar due to salt water, pending completion of the investigation, until it is beyond economic repair.
So the answer to your question is "probably not"!
HC
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For all those who have done well.....
Hmm, would I want to get in an aircraft that had spent the night floating in the N Sea? Write it off! Or it will spend the rest of its life with untraceable snags.
Well done to the crew. Its a brave pilot who ditches a machine, but a madman who chooses to push the limits of disressed gearboxes. There must be some worries in Bond, 3 Pumas in 3 years doesn't look good but can the other operators say none of these could happen to them?
In Newfoundland the crew had reason to believe the gearbox might get them back to the beach, just because people say something it doesn't make it true. Just because your FRCs say a gearbox will give you 30mins doesn't make that true either.
I say again, WELL DONE to the crew.
Well done to the crew. Its a brave pilot who ditches a machine, but a madman who chooses to push the limits of disressed gearboxes. There must be some worries in Bond, 3 Pumas in 3 years doesn't look good but can the other operators say none of these could happen to them?
In Newfoundland the crew had reason to believe the gearbox might get them back to the beach, just because people say something it doesn't make it true. Just because your FRCs say a gearbox will give you 30mins doesn't make that true either.
I say again, WELL DONE to the crew.
Of course it will be a write-off. Salt water trashes everything. Recovery is really only useful for investigative purposes. Parts could be used for maintenance training. Maybe the fuselage for HUET and the cockpit for a sim?
Greetings II, British Airways S61 India Delta (I Ditch) survived its first ditching OK - helped by a boat hull; then there was a BCal 214 which returned to the fold after a swim.
Cheers
TeeS
Cheers
TeeS
A Helicopter dumps my butt in the noggin....and then some guy wants to winch me up into another one?
I think I would take the RIB to Platform thank you very much!
Flagging the next Bus to pass by might not the best plan for getting ashore however!
I think I would take the RIB to Platform thank you very much!
Flagging the next Bus to pass by might not the best plan for getting ashore however!
Eight Gun Fighter
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EC225 "Super Puma" $ 18M... undunked
RIB...Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat.... bounce...bounce...bounce...
McBraynes - Does not have a bus stop there.
RIB...Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat.... bounce...bounce...bounce...
McBraynes - Does not have a bus stop there.
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ditching
Can't be an easy decision to ditch, so very well done to the crew for making a decision and carrying it out without any further incidents. Also, i was pleased to see on sky news that Bond management were very supportive of their crews' actions.
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@ MartinCh - Yes mate I was referring to the S-92 ditching, although it wasn't a technical comparison of the aircraft, just a reflection of the previous posters point about taking the decision to ditch and potential outcomes.
Personally my take is that faced with the instrument warnings and gauge indications, and the fact that there are 14 people alive and well today, then it was a great decision on the part of the crew.. to hell with the cost of an aircraft. €19M is small beer compared with compensation if you kill someone. (Not to mention that fact that the PIC will sleep easy in his bed at night knowing he did the right thing - as will 14 other families)
Personally my take is that faced with the instrument warnings and gauge indications, and the fact that there are 14 people alive and well today, then it was a great decision on the part of the crew.. to hell with the cost of an aircraft. €19M is small beer compared with compensation if you kill someone. (Not to mention that fact that the PIC will sleep easy in his bed at night knowing he did the right thing - as will 14 other families)
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ditching
Various warning lights regarding main rotor gearbox oil loss led to a sequence of events, pretty sure the crew were not thinking of Newfoundland or Bond's own catastrophic gearbox failure which led to the loss of all on board.
The Capt is accountable for making a decision, in this case ditching, for the safe operation of the heli & its passengers. This was a safe ditching, all survived, at the moment the crew are professional heroes.
I hope Bond fully support their crew through the pending AAIB investigation.
PS. EC225LP, G-REDW.
The Capt is accountable for making a decision, in this case ditching, for the safe operation of the heli & its passengers. This was a safe ditching, all survived, at the moment the crew are professional heroes.
I hope Bond fully support their crew through the pending AAIB investigation.
PS. EC225LP, G-REDW.
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The crew did a great job and were thoroughly professional. Like all North Sea crews, they work under difficult conditions at times and on this occasion they showed how well trained they are and what a brilliant service they provide their passengers - I hope this is reflected by the press who are only to ready to dam everything and everyone.