EC225 crash near Bergen, Norway April 2016

[TowerDog]

An eyewitness on the ground looked up just as the rotor was separating and said he saw flames or a fire on top of the helicopter.

[Cloud surfer]

Probably a red herring, but near-collision (50-100m) with a drone at 5,000' south of the airport last week.

Bergensavisen - Drone var 50?100 meter unna Widerĝe-fly

The helicopter was at 3,500 and 150kts when it entered into a rapid descend according to FlightRadar24.

[birmingham]

Image Problem

Originally Posted by johni

Is any pax ever going to get in a 225 again?

Whether this will turn out to be another gearbox issue or something entirely unrelated we simply cannot say yet. What we can predict is that the Super Puma's reputation in the oil business is probably beyond repair

[susier]

According to the FR24 data I saw, a gradual descent began at 09:51 UTC, from 3250ft and at 09:54, at approx 2225ft the speed dropped rapidly from around 140kts to 64kts within a few seconds.


At this point radar data appears to end.


I'm sorry I don't have more detailed data. This is just from ordinary playback/graph thus may be inaccurate.


Link: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...ln-ojf#98ee4bc

[derek_j_spence]

Originally Posted by johni

Is any pax ever going to get in a 225 again?

johni. We have no choice when we are sent offshore. It's a case of get on the chopper or lose your job.

It's quite strange because most offshore guys hate the pumas and prefer the S92s but I have talked with pilots on here before and they find the EC225s better than S92s (i believe because of the flight systems). When we are in Pumas, we are packed in like sardines and have very little room to move, unlike the S92s, which are more like a bus, they just feel a lot safer from a passenger's perspective.

[birmingham]

Originally Posted by derek_j_spence

johni. We have no choice when we are sent offshore. It's a case of get on the chopper or lose your job.

It's quite strange because most offshore guys hate the pumas and prefer the S92s but I have talked with pilots on here before and they find the EC225s better than S92s (i believe because of the flight systems). When we are in Pumas, we are packed in like sardines and have very little room to move, unlike the S92s, which are more like a bus, they just feel a lot safer from a passenger's perspective.

Yes and perspective or perception is critical. With the history of problems Statoil will now worry about putting people back on an aircraft which fairly or otherwise is perceived to be unsafe. It will be much less risky from a PR point of view to simply change the aircraft type they use.

[Unusual Attitude]

According to the FR24 data I saw, a gradual descent began at 09:51 UTC, from 3250ft and at 09:54, at approx 2225ft the speed dropped rapidly from around 140kts to 64kts within a few seconds.


At this point radar data appears to end.


I'm sorry I don't have more detailed data. This is just from ordinary playback/graph thus may be inaccurate.


Link: https://www.flightradar24.com/data/a...ln-ojf#98ee4bc

Looks like a stable descent from 3000'** to 2000'** probably under ATC instruction given the range to the airport. About 1 min after levelling out something catastrophic happens with a 10deg yaw to the right, and rapid loss of altitude and airspeed, given the eye witness reports of the loss of main rotor and the fact it was found 300-500m from the rest of the wreckage the crew wouldn't have stood a chance.

RIP

** =I'm assuming the ALT given on FR24 wont reflect QNH/QFE

[zorab64]

speed dropped rapidly from around 140kts to 64kts within a few seconds.

. . . which, if the blades or XMSN separate at 140kts, would tie in with a rapid reduction in forward flight and a possibly short continuation of transponder/radar returns (depending on electrics lost) as forward speed translates quickly into vertical. It doesn't bear thinking about.

Another sad day - thoughts are with the families.

z

[lvgra]

Grounded by Petrobras on Brazil, too...

[GearDownThreeGreen]

The entire rotor is located in one piece minus one blade it seems. Don't know when that blade has come off.

[TowerDog]

And now grounded by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authorities. (Avinor)

[GearDownThreeGreen]

Originally Posted by TowerDog

And now grounded by the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authorities. (Avinor)

Avinor is not Norwegian CAA... "Luftfartstilsynet" is the CAA

[birmingham]

The Luftfartstilsynet ban applies to the EC225LP and is until further notice.

[Aser]

Sad day
but good and quick reaction by Norway
http://www.luftfartstilsynet.no/inco...f%20operations

[TowerDog]

. Avinor is not Norwegian CAA... "Luftfartstilsynet" is the CAA

You Sir are correct. I mixed 'em up.
My bad.

[Capt. Inop]

Better picture of the main rotor:

[Ground flight]

RIP and condolences to all the families and friends, thoughts also go out to the CHC SAR aircrafts searching the scene, not easy knowing its one of your own

[S76Heavy]

Yikes! That is the whole rotor head come off.. There but for the grace of God..wishing the berieved much strength and courage in dealing with their loss and the aftermath of this crash.

[TorqueOfTheDevil]

Very sad news. RIP fellow Rotorheads and pax.

[dipperm0]

My condoleances to the family and relatives.

This accident reminds me 20 years ago, when an Alouette 2 lost its main rotor while on final. Inquiry reveals that the accident was caused by a human error who used the wrong nut to secure the rotor hub on the rotor mast - The Al 2 and 3 rotor hub to mast attachment were using similar but not identical nut.

D0