‘Lessons to be learned’ after copter crash

INVESTIGATION: Gearbox safety and monitoring highlighted as main issues

taken by Airbus “could have been more effective”. It said there were “significant lessons to be learned related to gearbox design, safety assessment, fatigue evaluation, condition monitoring, certification and the continued airworthiness” of the helicopters.

AIBN “recommends that Airbus Helicopters revise the design to improve the robustness, reliability and safety of the main gearbox”, the report said. It found no connection between the crew handling of the helicopter and the crash.

Airbus Helicopters expressed its “deep regret” for the accident.

A statement said: “Neither aviation authorities nor industry had ever seen the type of crack in the main gearbox that led to the LN-OJF accident.

“Extensive analysis of the accident has led to the development of a set of safety measures, approved by global aviation authorities, which have allowed the H225 fleet to resume flight operations worldwide.

“However, no H225s are flying in the North Sea today and we understand that there are no immediate requirements for these aircraft in North Sea crew change operations.”

It said that while there were similarities with the 2009 accident, “without key evidence at the time, it was impossible to put in place measures which might have prevented the LN-OJF accident”.