Helicopter still under repair at Hibernia
Weather slowing work to get unit up and running
A week after being grounded on the Hibernia oil platform, a helicopter used for transporting workers to and from shore remains at the offshore installation.
Weather is the hang-up, according to the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (CNLOPB) and the company responsible for the aircraft, Cougar Helicopters.
“Cougar’s engineering team have been aware of the root cause of the technical issue since they arrived on scene,” Candace Moakler, a spokeswoman for Cougar Helicopters, said in an emailed response to questions.
The CNLOPB relayed an early company report that the aircraft was grounded on Feb. 18 after experiencing issues with vibration controls and having an indicator light come on.
Moakler has since said that light indicated detection of ferrous material. The Telegram has requested further explanation.
As reported, shortly after the problem first registered, technicians were sent to inspect the aircraft, travelling by boat due to deteriorating weather. It was determined repairs would be needed and parts were also sent by boat, over the roughly 315 kilometres to the platform.
On other aircraft in the fleet, “Cougar conducts daily inspec- tions as well as nightly maintenance on its entire fleet of aircraft,” Moakler said.
The CNLOPB does not regulate helicopter flights, but does monitor safety on offshore oil industry work areas, including on the platform.
CNLOPB chief safety officer Dan Chicoyne said he has received daily updates from Cougar, and the board is paying attention to the situation — the first case he has experienced here, he said, of a helicopter being out of service offshore for this long.
“The thing that’s holding it up now is the weather, because they have to get up on scaffolding and platforms and things to work on the helicopter, and the winds have been so high out there that they haven’t been able to do that,” he said.
“Our big concern is that nobody is taking any unnecessary risk out there. We know the technicians are properly qualified and that they have the parts that they need. And as soon as weather permits, they’ll change them out and they’ll bring the helicopter back here.”
Chicoyne said the board was concerned about workers not being able to go ahead with trips home as scheduled, but flights have not been held up by the aircraft repair work.
“Hibernia is a big platform, so they can push this one to the side … so other helicopters can still come and go,” he said.