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Super Puma crash 'could have been prevented' | Super Puma crash 'could have been prevented' |
(35 minutes later) | |
An inquiry into the deaths of 16 men in a 2009 North Sea helicopter crash has concluded that the accident could have been prevented. | An inquiry into the deaths of 16 men in a 2009 North Sea helicopter crash has concluded that the accident could have been prevented. |
All on board died when the Bond Super Puma came down in the North Sea. | All on board died when the Bond Super Puma came down in the North Sea. |
Their relatives are calling for a criminal inquiry into the crash. | |
In his findings, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle identifies precautions which might have avoided the deaths. These included following agreed procedures and communications. | |
Sheriff Pyle acknowledged that the exact cause of the gearbox failure which led to the crash could not be fully determined. | |
But he said an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report was "overcautious" in not identifying spalling - the fracturing of metal - in the gearbox as the probable cause. | |
Audrey Wood, whose son Stuart died, said: "Safety is absolutely paramount, and everything must be done by the book. | |
"We the families feel let down by the system. We just wanted answers." | |
Helicopter operator Bond said: "We have always accepted that we made mistakes through honest confusion over telephone calls and emails. | 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. | "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." | "We would like to express again our deep sorrow at the 16 lives lost." |
A six-week hearing into the crash was held in Aberdeen earlier this year. | A six-week hearing into the crash was held in Aberdeen earlier this year. |
It heard evidence from the helicopter operator Bond Offshore Helicopters and manufacturer Eurocopter, as well as crash investigators. | It heard evidence from the helicopter operator Bond Offshore Helicopters and manufacturer Eurocopter, as well as crash investigators. |
Lawyer Tom Marshall, for the families, said he was pleased the sheriff principal had accepted that the crash could have been prevented if Bond had followed the maintenance manual. | Lawyer Tom Marshall, for the families, said he was pleased the sheriff principal had accepted that the crash could have been prevented if Bond had followed the maintenance manual. |
He said there was a need for a wider public inquiry, and that the families wanted to meet the Lord Advocate to discuss the earlier decision not to pursue criminal prosecutions. | |
'Not survivable' | |
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch pinpointed a catastrophic failure of the gearbox in its examination of the crash. | |
Senior AAIB operations investigator Timothy Atkinson told the fatal accident inquiry that the gearbox failure meant there was nothing the crew could do - and the crash was "not survivable". | |
Eight of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia. | Eight of the victims came from the north east of Scotland, seven from the rest of the UK, and one from Latvia. |
The two crew who died were Capt Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, who worked for Bond Offshore Helicopters. | The two crew who died were Capt Paul Burnham, 31, of Methlick, Aberdeenshire, and co-pilot Richard Menzies, 24, of Droitwich Spa, who worked for Bond Offshore Helicopters. |
The KCA Deutag employees killed were Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; Nolan Goble, 34, of Norwich, and Mihails Zuravskis, 39, of Latvia. | The KCA Deutag employees killed were Brian Barkley, 30, of Aberdeen; Vernon Elrick, 41, of Aberdeen; Leslie Taylor, 41, of Kintore, Aberdeenshire; Nairn Ferrier, 40, of Dundee; Gareth Hughes, 53, of Angus; David Rae, 63, of Dumfries; Raymond Doyle, 57, of Cumbernauld; James John Edwards, 33, of Liverpool; Nolan Goble, 34, of Norwich, and Mihails Zuravskis, 39, of Latvia. |
The other victims were James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd. | The other victims were James Costello, 24, of Aberdeen, who was contracted to Production Services Network (PSN); Alex Dallas, 62, of Aberdeen, who worked for Sparrows Offshore Services; Warren Mitchell, 38, of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, who worked for Weatherford UK; and Stuart Wood, 27, of Aberdeen, who worked for Expro North Sea Ltd. |