Helicopter ditches . . .

David · Post by **David** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:26 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-20033833

neil · Post by **neil** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:29 pm

Just spotted that. Hopefully all got out okay. Scotia this time. What's the betting it's another EC225?

neil · Post by **neil** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 4:35 pm

Just found this link reporting all onboard have survived. http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/article1268201.ece

ChrisG · Post by **ChrisG** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 5:09 pm

Another EC225 I'm afraid.

tut · Post by **tut** » Mon Oct 22, 2012 7:22 pm

Just heard this from Jamie, but looks like a controlled ditching and everybody OK.

Should get more details in the next few hours. E-mailed Bristow Ops so they will come back if they get more info.

tut

scottishselise · Post by **scottishselise** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 7:06 am

Gearbox issue suspected again

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:21 pm

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-20076907

David · Post by **David** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 10:35 pm

Rich H wrote:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-n ... d-20076907

From AAIB
http://www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/spe ... g_chcn.cfm

Mikie711 · Post by **Mikie711** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:34 pm

A lucky escape for all involved by the look of things. Another cracked gear ring resulting in loss of gearbox lubrication. The 225 doesn't have the best of records

woody · Post by **woody** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:44 pm

Skimmed it. Looks like they thought they'd a known set of P/Ns & S/Ns? Will be interesting to see what they do with the AD, increase frequency &/or sophistication of the inspections too get them airborne again? What's the typical number of cycles a Heli 'box sees between overhauls? Wonder if there's an overhaul shop somewhere getting ready for an influx....

tut · Post by **tut** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 5:42 am

As a pilot I would certainly be concerned with what has happened.

Two identical failures inside a few months should not occur, I do not know what action was taken after the first incident, but it looks as if a complete redesign of the component is necessary. For the shaft to completely crack next to the welded section twice in a row just points to it happening again.

They have been lucky with the weather so far, and if the pilots had not carried out an immediate ditching the gearbox would have had a catastrophic failure very shortly after. The outcome would be completely different if it happened again on a stormy night in Winter with the aircraft half way between the land and the platform and rescue possibly an hour away, even if it had been possible to deploy the life-rafts and get the passengers in. Our training was carried out in a warm swimming pool.

I could say that it is not my worry, but Luke is on one of those helicopters every two weeks.

tut

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:13 am

Does seem very strange and worrying that 2 apparently unrelated parts fail in such quick succession.

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 11:28 am

foz01 · Post by **foz01** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:04 pm

Anyone know what the part is welded as opposed to one piece?

woody · Post by **woody** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 8:26 pm

foz01 wrote:Anyone know what the part is welded as opposed to one piece?

Why?

Probably due to the design. It'd be quite difficult I'd think to make a complex shaft & bevel gear one piece. I'd guess the gear is possibly electron beam welded to the shaft to give an excellent clean, strong,weld and the weld x-ray'd. Just to be clear, I'm not at all familiar with this shaft, basing the above on experience of other part I assume to bear a similarity.

Tut, it may well not be the design thats the issue. It could be any number of other factors; maintenance, inspections, material spec, material deficiency... Know of something similar recently in the industry where it was the coating on the part causing a shaft fracture. The AAIB & I'd guess EASA as the airframe certifier will be all over it anyway.

Scottish Elises