Air bosses order stricter inspections of Super Puma helicopters
over new safety fears
AIR safety bosses have issued an emergency alert over a potential fault in
Super Puma helicopters after one ditched in the North Sea.
The European Aviation Safety Agency have ordered stricter safety
inspections on the EC225 choppers amid fears about a gear shaft in the main
rotor drive.
The report comes after a Bond copter was forced to put down in the North
Sea off Aberdeen with 14 people on board, sparking a major rescue
operation.
The drama on May 10 happened after pilots saw an oil pressure warning light
come on.
Investigations revealed a gearbox shaft had cracked.
Bond suspended all flights of the EC225 while rigorous checks of the fleet,
manufactured by Eurocopter, were carried out.
An airworthiness report has now stated that there could be a "manufacturing
defect" in the aircraft's bevel gear shaft.
The ditching was the third serious incident involving a Bond aircraft in
the North Sea in three years.
A Bond spokesman said they had immediately put the stricter safety
inspections into force.
He added: "We will be discussing flight scheduling arrangements with
customers to avoid any potential disruption to services."
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