Puma ditching Nigeria
 

Apparently a Puma has ditched in Nigeria today, reports says all out OK and the aircraft's afloat.

Nothing further and fingers crossed everyone is OK.

Chopper ditches at Agbami

All 18 personnel on board a helicopter heading to SeaBird Exploration's seismic vessel Kondor Explorer are safe after the aircraft was forced to ditch into the sea earlier today.

Upstream staff Friday, 11 December, 2009, 13:46 GMT

The helicopter made a controlled landing into the sea at a few hundred metres from the Kondor Explorer, currently working on a survey at the Agbami field off Nigeria, at 12:10 CET.

“No persons were injured and all 18 persons from the helicopter were safely picked up from the sea by rescue boats,” the company said in a statement.

There were 16 crew and two pilots on the helicopter.

SeaBird boss Tim Isden said that the company has launched an investigation into the incident, adding the cause is not yet clear.
"Our emergency response team on the Kondor Explorer carried out their duties superbly," he said. "There were no injuries and all 18 men were collected from the water."

The Kondor Explorer is carrying out a 4D seismic survey at Agbami for field operator Chevron.

Published: 11 December 2009 | Last updated: 11 December 2009

Hmmmmmm....a few hundred meters from the destination.....wonder what happened?:uhoh:

Can anyone say who the puma operator was?

Only Bristow has got Super Puma 332 in Nigeria and use them for charter

Bristow is flying two S92 for the Agbami/Chevron contract.

Hopefully everyone is safe, welldone :ok:

Seismic ship. Low deck compared to a rig.
Puma Ditches In Nigeria | VTOLBLOG

Landing or takeoff? Incident or self-inflicted?

And the usual beg for pictures. Sounds like it is sitting on the barge in good shape - wonder how soon it can fly again.

Sounds like it was on arrival.

more pics

Norske skip reddet 18 etter helikopterstyrt| TV 2 Nyhetene

It was recovered by the SIEM Marlin. this is the ROV construction vessel for Chevrons Akbami field.
I haven't heard yet why It went down, will hopefully get more details soon

I've worked 2 weeks last month with Siem Marlin on Agip/Oyo field, very competent and professional crew, (radio man, HLO and deck crew...) :ok:

Everybody is safe :D

A controlled ditch is always better than an uncontrolled landing :D

A controlled landing onto a helideck "a few hundred meters away" would even be better.

Good point Archos - I don't suppose the crew thought of that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I do agree that a controlled landing onto a helideck would make more sense bearing in mind they were so close to it but we don't yet know the circumstances. Whatever the reason the crew did really well & Its nice to know that everyone got out ok. :D

Zaphod,

I would be very much surprised if the crew hadn't thought of landing on
the deck as an option!!

It is quite possible that a deck landing was not a viable option. I don't know about the Puma, but many twin engine helicopters have a minimum single engine speed when operating in Category A. If this is the case, then the deck landing was not a doable event. I have a friend that had to ditch a S76 due to an engine failure, because of the minimum single engine speed.

It is known as sarcasm Beaucoup.

It is known as DSELW - Deliberate Single Engine Landing Weight Rick.

I think you will find that the aircraft was carrying diversion fuel to a land airport. If it ditched due to engine failure, it was because it had already slowed down below a speed/height where a go-around on one engine was possible.

HC

I thought Tigers hovered on one engine at max weight? Or is that some misconception?

Archos ....Archos....I know that name from somewhere....let me think a bit!

Ah yes...."One more....One More....One more....an endless refrain it was one night (actually several) amongst which some bicycles got ridden into a swimming pool by a fellow wearing Tails...and all wound up looking like the Grand Mufti himself!:ok:

MAUW for a Tiger is 18960 lbs. Dont have the graphs to hand but OEI IGE hover weight at sea level 20 degrees is around 16000 lbs.

Puma Ditching
 

The tail rotor looks in good shape for a power on landing. Was it turning at the time??
Did my NDLPs in G-PUMI on 26 Oct 1994.:eek: