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AS332L2 Ditching off Shetland: 23rd August 2013

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AS332L2 Ditching off Shetland: 23rd August 2013

Old 24th Aug 2013, 07:05
  #41 (permalink)  

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BBC Radio 2 newsreader just reported this aircraft as a "Sea Puma".
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 07:11
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passenger interviewed on Radio 4 said sudden loss of power and immediate ditching
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 07:17
  #43 (permalink)  
 
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Does the L2 have any of the same engine/gearbox components as the 225.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 07:29
  #44 (permalink)  
 
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From EC by email

On behalf of Gilles Bruniaux, please find the following information.

Eurocopter has been informed of an AS 332 L2 accident in the North Sea. It occurred on Friday the 23rd of August at about 6.20pm (local time). 18 persons were on board16 passengers and two crew.Search officials have confirmed 15 people have been accounted for and that several people have been hospitalized as a result of the accident. At this stage no more information is available. However it has to be noted that this 332 L2 aircraft was equipped with a Main Gear Box with a carburized vertical shaft, this shaft is not the nitrided shaft involved inthe two EC225 ditchings.
Eurocopter will provide more information on August 24, 2013 at 2pm French time.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 08:31
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Four dead now, this report says:

Evening Express - Article - Four dead after Super Puma helicopter ditches in North Sea
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 08:37
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Names have now been released on Sky news:-

"The four confirmed dead are: Duncan Munro, 46, from Bishop Auckland; Sarah Darnley, 45, from Elgin; Gary McCrossan , 59, from Inverness; and George Allison, 57, from Winchester."

RIP. :-(
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 08:39
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The names of the four dead have been released:

BBC News - Shetland helicopter crash: Four dead named

A sad, sad day. RIP.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 08:49
  #48 (permalink)  
 
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Very sad condolences to the families affected.

I would like to know if North Sea helicopters have telemetry which automatically and continuously feeds technical information to an operators base?
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 08:54
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Time for the oil industry to walk the talk on HSE and permanently ground all Super Puma variants from the North Sea region.
Will you stand by your statement if it turns out to be pilot error?

P1
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:01
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Originally Posted by HeliStudent
I would like to know if North Sea helicopters have telemetry which automatically and continuously feeds technical information to an operators base?
No, they don't.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:04
  #51 (permalink)  
 
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Any news yet on the crew ?.
If, as reported, the wreckage has been towed to shore the AAIB will have everythig they need for a full investigation.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:11
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Originally Posted by MoodyMan
3 ditchings and 2 crashes in less than 5 years. 20 deaths.

Time for the oil industry to walk the talk on HSE and permanently ground all Super Puma variants from the North Sea region.
I should first of all like to know the total number of flying hours for the entire Puma series, versus total number of passengers flown, versus total number of incidents and accidents, versus the total number of lives lost.

Originally Posted by The Ancient Geek
.. the AAIB will have everythig they need for a full investigation.
Assuming that no parts essential to the execution of a successful investigation have gone missing.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:14
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BBC reporting that some of the victims were employed by Total.
2S
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:26
  #54 (permalink)  
 
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Do Super Puma helicopters have active HUMS, can the pilots see on the screens the moment there are any changes going on with the heli?
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 09:29
  #55 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by MoodyMan
Time for the oil industry to walk the talk on HSE and permanently ground all Super Puma variants from the North Sea region.
Could you enlighten us what caused the crash and in how far it was a feature that is common for all Super Puma variants which was responsible for this tragic accident?
No?
Then please let us wait for the accident investigators to find out what caused this and take corrective action once it is clear what needs to be fixed if it was anything mechanical.
Flight safefy is not about 'Feel good', it is about facts.
Let us reserve the 'Just do something' attitude to politicíans....
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 10:03
  #56 (permalink)  
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Henra, I don't disagree, but as far as the pax in the back are concerned, it is about 'feel good'. If they don't want to get in due to the current run of incidents, then that impacts on oilfield ops, that impacts on the contractors & operators, & that impacts the heli operators.

Yes get the facts, but the bears are going to take a LOT of convincing in the months ahead to get back onto a Super Puma, in any of its variants.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 10:04
  #57 (permalink)  
 
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I am all for INFORMED discussion on these "crash threads" but do remember that 4 families received devastating news last night.

We have few facts to go one which are:-

1. The a/c seems to have been on IFR Flight into Sumburgh.
2. The weather was poor possibly near to minimums.
3. For some reason the a/c hit the sea 2mls short.
4. The impact can't have been too harsh or nobody would have survived.
5. The a/c didn't completly disintergrate.

From these "facts" one can speculate but in no way be certain. As an experienced Ex NS pilot I have one or two possibilties but they can only be general at the moment. If the AIB have the CVR, IHUMS etc I am sure they will have an initial theory on what happened.

Whatever the reason my thoughts are with the families.

JD

Last edited by Hummingfrog; 24th Aug 2013 at 11:11.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 10:12
  #58 (permalink)  
 
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but the bears are going to take a LOT of convincing in the months ahead to get back onto a Super Puma, in any of its variants
...Until the next major event on an S92, AW139, S76 etc. The "bears" do have a rather short and parochial memory, and that is why their opinion should not be used to determine flight safety decisions. That said, I think the vast majority are sensible and understand the concept of risk, and are aware of just how much trouble-free flying these aircraft all do.
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Old 24th Aug 2013, 10:13
  #59 (permalink)  
 
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I vote Hummingfrog for Offshore Helicopter Operations Media spokesperson please.

In light of the seriousness of this incident, the tragic loss of life, and the impact it will have on operations not only out of Scotland, but worldwide, possibly on the operator and on EC, then isnt it fair that we wait for the findings of the professionals, before the usual suspects start with their armchair dissection of the accident.

I'm sure we all have our ideas about what happened. But. we werent there.

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Old 24th Aug 2013, 10:21
  #60 (permalink)  
 
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Originally Posted by HeliStudent
Do Super Puma helicopters have active HUMS, can the pilots see on the screens the moment there are any changes going on with the heli?
If you read the accident report into G-JSAR, also an L2, is says the following referring to HUMS:

The system comprises a number of accelerometers and transducers around the engines, airframe and drivetrain. Vibration signals from a number of major components are monitored and recorded. The data accumulated during aircraft operation is transferred, usually on a daily basis, to the operator's ground-based computer system.
Whether this system has subsequently been up-dated to allow for real-time analysis and presentation to the flight crew I do not know.
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