S61 G-BEID tow into Aberdeen July 1980
 

Have passed a message to Dave P - I'm sure he'll be here in due course or else he'll PM you.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/e0/65...cff133d00a.jpg
Picture by Doug Winton

there is a persistent story that the RNLI were offered a very small sum as a"gift" for this and they were so T'd off they claimed salvage - half the value ...........................

Can anyone supply details of this event ? I cannot find anything on-line, so any info would be appreciated.

S61N
G-BEID
31 July 1980
AAIB Bulletin 14/80
Ditching Loss of gearbox cooling.
High temperature and low pressure.
2 crew, 13 pax.
No capsize - Sea State 3

(The Bulletin Archives on AAIB seem to stop at 1983, which is why you can't find anything on line)

Obsolete oil cooler belts caused S-61N ditching

FAILURE of two obsolete oil cooler fan belts caused the July 31 ditching of a British Airways Helicopters (BAH) Sikorsky S-61N, 24 n.m. ESE of Aberdeen, according to the Accident Investigation Branch of the UK Department of Trade. A cautionary note issued by Sikorsky on June 5 this year warned operators that the original belt was prone to low service time failure and that a newly designed belt was the only one recommended. At the time of the incident the aircraft (G-BEID) was the only BAH S-61N to have the obsolete belts.
G-BEID left the Atlantic II oil rig 150 n.m. ESE of Aberdeen and was cruising at FL45 when the crew noticed the transmission oil temperature rising and a slight fall in pressure.
When the temperature reached 110° clearance to descend on track was obtained from Aberdeen. Emergency services were alerted and a search and rescue equipped RAF Shackleton diverted to intercept the helicopter. The oil temperature continued to rise and the hot oil warning light came on at an indicated 140°C. Emergency gearbox lubrication was selected and the oil pressure rose from 30 to 50 p.s.i., later stabilising at 40 p.s.i. When the oil temperature reached 150°C the captain decided to ditch in accordance with the company's emergency procedures. A power-on landing was made in light wind and a sea swell of three to five feet. Sea fog and low stratus gave
about 1/2 m visibility. An attempt to taxi towards the coast caused an uncomfortable roll, and as the oil temperature continued to rise the rotor was stopped and the sea anchor deployed.
After abandoning the aircraft all 15 persons were rescued from a liferaft by helicopter and lifeboat.

That is a great story
She floats quite nice i must say.
I love that old bird!

Standard BAH ditching weather.

"Honest Ma....it followed me home...can I keep it?".

I'm pretty sure I D itched 3 times in her North sea career.. she was towed back twice and I think she sank on the 3rd attempt

They used to practice water landings on Corby Loch until they installed a lower anti-collision beacon.

Here you go II

https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/3-19...d-13-july-1988

S61-S92 Thanks for the information. Strange that the AAIB Bulletin is not available on-line !
Having been safely towed into ABZ Harbour, how did the aircraft get back to the airfield ? I am unfamilier with the maintenance routine following MGB oil overtemp., however, as I don't recall a gearbox being sent back to Gatwick for this problem I assume the it didn't require replacement

Water landing practice
 

And the pool of Virkie as well as Quendale Bay.. indeed a certain Mr McFarlane still ows me a pint as the wheels weren't down at 20 feet coming back from one such training mission. :-)

If that's Mike you will have a long wait I'm afraid!

Nah! It's was a young Sandy.. and I know where he is.😁. we just can never tie up shifts on my visits south.. we'll both be retired shortly.. I'm sure we'll catch up then.😁