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Flight instruments 'not monitored effectively' before Shetland crash Flight instruments 'not monitored effectively' before Shetland crash
(about 2 hours later)
A final report by air accident investigators into a helicopter crash off the coast of Shetland which claimed the lives of four oil workers has found that the craft’s dangerously decreasing airspeed went unnoticed by pilots until it was too late to avoid the accident. A final report by aviation investigators into a helicopter crash off the coast of Shetland, which claimed the lives of four oil workers, has found that the craft’s dangerously decreasing airspeed went unnoticed by pilots until it was too late to avoid the accident.
The report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) states that the helicopter’s flight instruments “were not monitored effectively” by the crew. “This allowed the helicopter to enter a critically low energy state, from which recovery was not possible.”The report by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) states that the helicopter’s flight instruments “were not monitored effectively” by the crew. “This allowed the helicopter to enter a critically low energy state, from which recovery was not possible.”
The Super Puma helicopter plunged into the sea west of Sumburgh airport, Shetland, on 23 August 2013 with 18 people on board. Four passengers died. No mechanical fault was discovered with the helicopter, the AAIB said.The Super Puma helicopter plunged into the sea west of Sumburgh airport, Shetland, on 23 August 2013 with 18 people on board. Four passengers died. No mechanical fault was discovered with the helicopter, the AAIB said.
According to the report, one passenger was unable to escape the submerged craft, one was incapacitated by a head injury, one drowned before reaching the surface and the other died in the life raft from a chronic heart condition.According to the report, one passenger was unable to escape the submerged craft, one was incapacitated by a head injury, one drowned before reaching the surface and the other died in the life raft from a chronic heart condition.
The document, published on Tuesday, goes on to explain: “The decreasing airspeed went unnoticed by the pilots until a very late stage, when the helicopter was in a critically low energy state. The commander’s attempt to recover the situation was unsuccessful and the helicopter struck the surface of the sea. … It rapidly filled with water and rolled inverted, but was kept afloat by the flotation bags which had deployed.” The document, published on Tuesday, goes on to explain: “The decreasing airspeed went unnoticed by the pilots until a very late stage, when the helicopter was in a critically low energy state.
It concludes with a series of 28 recommendations for operators and pilots, many of which have already been implemented. This includes a requirement for pilots who are licensed to fly through bad weather to receive regular training on how to read the flight instruments that are specific to the type of helicopter being operated. “The commander’s attempt to recover the situation was unsuccessful and the helicopter struck the surface of the sea … It rapidly filled with water and rolled inverted, but was kept afloat by the flotation bags which had deployed.”
It concludes with a series of 28 recommendations for operators and pilots, many of which have already been implemented. This includes a requirement for pilots who are licensed to fly in bad weather to receive regular training on how to read the flight instruments that are specific to the type of helicopter being operated.
In February 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority announced a series of measures aimed at improving offshore helicopter safety following an inquiry set up in the wake of the Shetland crash.In February 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority announced a series of measures aimed at improving offshore helicopter safety following an inquiry set up in the wake of the Shetland crash.
Responding to the publication, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said: “The Sumburgh incident was a tragedy for all those involved. Any accident, especially those resulting in loss of life, needs to be examined extremely carefully so that all the lessons can be learnt and similar accidents avoided in the future.Responding to the publication, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said: “The Sumburgh incident was a tragedy for all those involved. Any accident, especially those resulting in loss of life, needs to be examined extremely carefully so that all the lessons can be learnt and similar accidents avoided in the future.
“Many safety improvements have already been made to helicopter operations since this tragic accident, but pilots and safety experts will be examining the report to identify what more can be done to avoid a repeat.”“Many safety improvements have already been made to helicopter operations since this tragic accident, but pilots and safety experts will be examining the report to identify what more can be done to avoid a repeat.”
Tavish Scott, Liberal Democrat MSP for Shetland, said that all those flying to and from the islands “must have complete confidence in the airworthiness of all aircraft and in the training regimes followed by pilots”. Tavish Scott, Liberal Democrat MSP for the Shetland Islands, said that all those flying to and from the islands “must have complete confidence in the airworthiness of all aircraft and in the training regimes followed by pilots”.
Scott added: “Helicopter operators and all other parties must ensure that the recommendations of today’s reports are complied with, in particular in providing training on instrument scan techniques for pilots.” “Helicopter operators and all other parties must ensure that the recommendations of today’s reports are complied with, in particular in providing training on instrument-scan techniques for pilots,” he added.