Doomed Super Puma Had 2 Failed Flights in Days Leading to Crash
Oil and Gas People has learned that the Super Puma involved in Fridays horrific accident landed twice with warning lights in the 3 days before the fatal crash.
The first incident happened during a crew change flight on the Tuesday the 26th of April. The chopper had to return to base at Flesland after requesting a priority landing 16 minutes into the flight from Bergen to Olsenerg B platform.
The second happened the following day during a test flight which showed a similar warning. That led to component parts being changed the day before the helicopter crashed killing 13.
A spokesperson for CHC Norway said:
“It is correct that the helicopter returned to base on Tuesday 26 April. The pilot had a warning light and returned to Flesland, according to procedure.
“At Flesland the helicopter was inspected, according to procedure, and a part was replaced. Wednesday 27 April the helicopter was taken on a test flight, where the warning lamp reappeared, the helicopter returned to base, changed another component, the next test drive was completed without any warning light.
“On Thursday 28 April, the aircraft completed six commercial flights, uneventfully – i.e. without any indication of problems.
None of the changed parts were physically connected to rotor or gearbox.”
Oil and Gas People has pressed CHC for more information on the warning light and the failed components and we are waiting a response.
