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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 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 2009.
Their relatives are calling for a criminal inquiry into the crash.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. In his findings, Sheriff Principal Derek Pyle said the precautions which might have avoided the deaths included following agreed procedures and communications.
He said the operators had considered replacing part of the gearbox just a week before the crash but did not do so because of a failure of communication with the manufacturer.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) pinpointed a catastrophic failure of the gearbox in its examination of the crash.
Sheriff Pyle acknowledged that the exact cause of the gearbox failure which led to the crash could not be fully determined.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. But he said an AAIB report was "overcautious" in not identifying spalling - the fracturing of metal - in the gearbox as the probable cause.
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.
Audrey Wood, whose son Stuart died, said: "Safety is absolutely paramount, and everything must be done by the book.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." "We the families feel let down by the system. We just wanted answers.
"We will never have closure, this will go on and on for us."
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."
Tommy Campbell, from the Unite union, said it was a "travesty of justice" that there had not been a criminal prosecution.
He also called for the decision to be reconsidered, and added: "These failings have cost lives."
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.
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".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.