Super Puma inquiry finds crash ‘could have been prevented’
An inquiry into the deaths of 16 men who died when a Super Puma helicopter crashed in 2009 has concluded that it could have been prevented.
Everyone on board the Bond Super Puma died when it came down in the North sea.
In its examination of the crash the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) found there was a catastrophic failure of the helicopter’s main gearbox.
Timothy Atkinson, senior AAIB operations investigator, told the fatal accident inquiry that the gearbox failure meant that was nothing the crew could do and the crash was not survivable.
In his findings, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle identified three precautions that could have prevented the deaths including the performance of certain maintenance tasks by Bond.
Tom Marshall, lawyer for the families, said he was pleased the sheriff principal had accepted the crash could have been prevented if Bond had followed the maintenance manual.
Helicopter operator Bond, said: “We have always accepted that we made mistakes through honest confusion over telephone calls and emails.
“Lessons needed to be learned, lessons have been learned and lessons continue to be learned. We would like to express again our deep sorrow at the 16 lives lost.”
Eight of the victims were from the north-east of Scotland, seven were from the rest of the UK and one was from Latvia.
Relatives of the victims are calling for a criminal inquiry.
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Super Puma inquiry finds crash ‘could have been prevented’
An inquiry into the deaths of 16 men who died when a Super Puma helicopter crashed in 2009 has concluded that it could have been prevented.
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