S61 G-ATBJ damaged
 

G-ATBJ Sikorsky S-61N C/N 61-269 - Helicopter Database

Great shame to hear that S61 G-ATBJ has apparently had an incident at Marchwood this Feb. The link suggests the aircraft has been written off. Any ppruners have any more info?

Can't answer her recent history, but OhmiGawd! It makes me feel so old to remember Bravo Jules in her BeaCopter days when we were so young.

Is it really forty five years ago already? Damn nearly half a century. A significant fraction of a millennium. Consequently a significant, hopefully small, fraction of the age of a dinosaur.

I really ought to buzz off the winter plumage entirely instead of just tweaking back the Chinaman's hat on my beard trimmer's trim. The plumage makes me look older than I feel when I just shave the periphery. I'm not really that old. Am I?

Bravo Jules. A good 'un.

I remember doing norty stuff, like belting through between the twin crown blocks of a certain Northern platform, at rather close to Vne, with the for'ard part of the disc not very much above the sticky up bits on the tops of the derricks. You can tell that stuff to the whey-faced kids nowadays and they won't believe you. Nor should they, but it's true. We did that thing, at least once, deniably.

Here's tae ya, Bravo Jules! We pulled some pitch in our day!

An NTSB report on the occurence.

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.a...18WA090&akey=1

And an ASN report with the wrong year posted.

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=206283

And also it was the original Hampshire, not New Hampshire:ok:

Olde Hampshire :}

Dear old BJ;

I hope she’s not badly damaged. I flew quite a few hours in her. Like all 61’s she’s a special aircraft. Still my favourite helicopter type, and I haven’t flown one since 1995. Nothing since has matched the 61.

SND

The Helicopter Museum would give 'BJ a good home,with its long North Sea history,but suspect it's worth too much in spare parts?

Agree with you Sir Niall - great machines - hope she's not written off.

First flown Nov 1977 LSI - Borgland Dolphin. Good grief - that's over 40 years ago...

BJ was the first 61 to position to Shetland in May 1971 when Shell started drilling in what was to become the Brent oilfield. 47 years. Good record.

NTSB Identification: CEN18WA090
14 CFR Unknown
Accident occurred Thursday, February 01, 2018 in Marchwood, New Hampshire, United Kingdom
Aircraft: SIKORSKY S61, registration:
Injuries: Unavailable

The foreign authority was the source of this information.

On February 1, 2018, a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter (G-ATBJ, s/n 6126930-439), pitched down and stuck the ground while hovering after takeoff near Marchwood, Hampshire in the United Kingdom. There was two persons on board, who were not injured.

This investigation is under the jurisdiction and control of the government of the United Kingdom. Any further information may be obtained from:

Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB)
Email: [email protected]

The rumour is there was some sort of flight control issue. The AAIB believe there was a flight control issue but are having a hard time replicating it.

Ouch......

However, records show that "full and free" was never really done. Post accident, the operator then issued spcific instructions to do "full and free". A later compliance review revealed:

Can’t run away from the human factor ...

if it's not too late The Helicopter Museum at Weston would really like to acquire this S-61N to restore for static display...can anyone help?

I have heard that the airframe may have been re-assessed as repairable and that the intention may be to rebuild it...
well, I think it was always repairable, but initially considered beyond economic repair...

Some more great reporting by the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-51375260

Apparently they haven't heard of the S61, as it was actually a "civilian Sea King aircraft".

Later in the report it says "The two crew members escaped unhurt, but the helicopter had to be scrapped."

So it is scrapped or not?

have you read the AAIB report (where they would have taken that info)?

“Sikorsky S-61N Sea King, G-ATBJ”

Even the UK CAA FCL dept were adamant the 61 was a Sea King a few years ago, and considered it a single pilot type. Evidenced by them telling us our multi thousand hour 61 pilots needed to do the MCC course before getting an S92 rating!