This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-26529415
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 2 | Version 3 |
---|---|
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 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 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 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 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 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. |
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. |