barnstorm2
09-17-2008, 11:30 AM
Helicopter flew 200 miles with damaged rotor blade – report
craft damaged by lightning
By Stephen Christie
Published: 16/09/2008
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/840691?UserKey=
A HELICOPTER which was struck by lightning while ferrying 15 oil workers to Aberdeen flew nearly 200 miles with a “damaged beyond repair” rotor blade, an official investigation has revealed.
According to a report published by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Super Puma chopper was around 190 miles north-east of the Granite City when it entered a “line of showers”.
The report, based on the pilots’ accounts and AAIB inquiries, states: “About 30 seconds after entering the line of showers, both pilots saw a bright flash at the rotor tip in the one o’clock position, accompanied by a ‘bang’ or ‘pop’ sound.”
According to the Civil Aviation Authority website the helicopter is owned by International Aviation Leasing based in Cheltenham. The machine is leased to Bond Offshore Helicopters, based at Kirkhill Business Park in Dyce, Aberdeen.
The drama unfolded at around 1.30pm on February 22 this year when the four-year-old helicopter was cruising at 2,000ft having collected the workers from the Bruce Field in the North Sea.
The report continues: “Although the lightning strike had not caused any noticeable effects on the aircraft’s behaviour, the crew initially decided to head towards the nearest available platform which did not involve returning through the line of showers, in accordance with the checklist requirement to land as soon as possible.”
The pilot, a 39-year-old with nearly 4,000 hours’ flying experience, and the co-pilot, considered diverting to Sumburgh in Shetland or Kirkwall in Orkney.
However, the weather in these areas was said to be “unsuitable”. The pilots then discovered that the nearest platform deemed suitable had “unfavourable” weather conditions and all the other nearby platforms reported winds speeds of 50 knots.
The pilots chose to continue to Aberdeen where an “uneventful landing” was made. No one was injured in the incident which destroyed one of the four rotor blades “beyond repair”.
The report goes on: “Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the main rotor blades. Of the four rotor blades, one was damaged beyond repair limits, while the remaining three were repairable.”
The checklist for the chopper model affected in the accident requires the crew to land as soon as possible following a lightning strike to the craft.
craft damaged by lightning
By Stephen Christie
Published: 16/09/2008
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/840691?UserKey=
A HELICOPTER which was struck by lightning while ferrying 15 oil workers to Aberdeen flew nearly 200 miles with a “damaged beyond repair” rotor blade, an official investigation has revealed.
According to a report published by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB), the Super Puma chopper was around 190 miles north-east of the Granite City when it entered a “line of showers”.
The report, based on the pilots’ accounts and AAIB inquiries, states: “About 30 seconds after entering the line of showers, both pilots saw a bright flash at the rotor tip in the one o’clock position, accompanied by a ‘bang’ or ‘pop’ sound.”
According to the Civil Aviation Authority website the helicopter is owned by International Aviation Leasing based in Cheltenham. The machine is leased to Bond Offshore Helicopters, based at Kirkhill Business Park in Dyce, Aberdeen.
The drama unfolded at around 1.30pm on February 22 this year when the four-year-old helicopter was cruising at 2,000ft having collected the workers from the Bruce Field in the North Sea.
The report continues: “Although the lightning strike had not caused any noticeable effects on the aircraft’s behaviour, the crew initially decided to head towards the nearest available platform which did not involve returning through the line of showers, in accordance with the checklist requirement to land as soon as possible.”
The pilot, a 39-year-old with nearly 4,000 hours’ flying experience, and the co-pilot, considered diverting to Sumburgh in Shetland or Kirkwall in Orkney.
However, the weather in these areas was said to be “unsuitable”. The pilots then discovered that the nearest platform deemed suitable had “unfavourable” weather conditions and all the other nearby platforms reported winds speeds of 50 knots.
The pilots chose to continue to Aberdeen where an “uneventful landing” was made. No one was injured in the incident which destroyed one of the four rotor blades “beyond repair”.
The report goes on: “Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the main rotor blades. Of the four rotor blades, one was damaged beyond repair limits, while the remaining three were repairable.”
The checklist for the chopper model affected in the accident requires the crew to land as soon as possible following a lightning strike to the craft.