Helicopter Down in Water near Bergen Norway

[cncpc]

Looks like there was a fire and it went down in the water but near to the shoreline.

Between 13 and 19 on board, believed to be carrying workers to or from offshore rigs. Reports are that there are people in the water and survivors.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/a ... way-turoey

[boeingboy]

Witnesses now report an explosion, followed by a weird engine sound and it just fell out of the sky.

13 on board.....no survivors. It was an AS225 Super Puma.

God speed.

[Heliian]

Earlier reports state 11 dead and 2 missing, presumed dead. The super puma has been plagued with main transmission problems in recent years but it's too early to tell what happened here except a high energy crash into the coastline. Eyewitness reports are unreliable at best, then words are also lost in translation.

They have grounded the fleet until further notice.

Absolutely a terrible tragedy.

[boeingboy]

Eyewitness reports are unreliable at best, then words are also lost in translation.

Absolutely. I totally agree, however Flightradar shows it fell out of the sky at 64 feet/sec. Something really bad happened.

[FlyingIsGoodForYou]

This video shows the rotor blades detached from the helicopter body falling down to the ground https://youtu.be/LjBh3PF6-Xk

[Heliian]

That video does confirm that the head separated from the rest of it, absolutely the worst case scenario.

I do know that there were known cases of mast cracking and fracture but had hoped it was addressed by now. This may spell the end of the super puma.

Please do not assume that public flight spotting websites are accurate either, you're not seeing live radar returns, merely extrapolated data.

[cncpc]

UK has grounded Super Puma, as has Norway.

Operated by CHC.

Two maintenance procedures deferred, but no indication that was related to accident.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/a ... way-turoey

[cncpc]

CHC confirms two light events in the days before on this machine, and some parts replacements, then a number of flights with no issues.

Parts were not gearbox or rotor related.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/m ... ning-light

[Heliian]

Airbus Helicopters has released the 225lp back for full service, but still grounded in the u.k. and Norway.

They said that their findings in the last 48 hrs have led them to believe that this is not related to the MRGB incidents from 2012.

Rumblings from inside the industry say that this may spell the end for CHC.

[cncpc]

Airbus Helicopters has released the 225lp back for full service, but still grounded in the u.k. and Norway.

They said that their findings in the last 48 hrs have led them to believe that this is not related to the MRGB incidents from 2012.

Rumblings from inside the industry say that this may spell the end for CHC.

That would be sad. The first Okanagan machine I ever saw was based out of Revelstoke and flown by Fred Baird. 1968. I was a stream sampler and claim staker and my Dad was superintendent building that hanging camp on Mount Copeland with Versatile Mining. Later that year, my life and my crews lives were saved after spending the night at 8000 feet in a wet tent with carbon monoxide poising and hypothermia setting in. Across the valley from Copeland, snow, fog, in great danger of dying from exposure when we hear a helicopter, and its a Bell 47 (turbo I presume) coming up the slope 100 feet off the ground, with John "Tin Legs" Watson at the controls. Took us out, and went back for the other two. Okanagan was once probably the greatest helicopter company in the world. Sure was for me.

[boeingboy]

From AIN:

CAA Norway has revealed the main gearbox of the accident helicopter was replaced on January 17. CHC then had the rotor head replaced on March 27.

Concidering the main rotor seperated from the helo, I think there is a high probability that either there was an error installing the rotor head or something was missed by the manufacturer or overhaul facility for the head.