Notable Accidents and Incidents
- 10 May 2012 The crew of the helicopter G-REDW an EC225LP carried out a controlled ditching following indications of a failure of the main gearbox (MGB) lubrication system and, subsequently, a warning indicating failure of the emergency lubrication system. Subsequent investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has identified a 360° circumferential crack in the bevel gear vertical shaft in the main gearbox, in the vicinity of a manufacturing weld, causing disengagement of the drive to both mechanical oil pumps.
- 22 October 2012. G-CHCN an EC225LP of CHC Scotia ditched in the north sea 32 miles south west of Shetland whilst en-route from Aberdeen to the West Phoenix drilling rig. All 19 on board were rescued. A special bulletin issued by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said the main and standby oil pumps were not working. The AAIB bulletin said a 360 degree crack was found on the bevel gear vertical shaft of the helicopter. This crack prevented the oil pump gears from being driven.
Following the 22 October crash, which initial investigation indicated was the result of a gearbox failure, the major North Sea Super Puma operators, CHC Helicopter, Bond Offshore Helicopters and Bristow Helicopters decided to ground all SA 332 and EC225 Super Puma helicopters.
On 25 October 2012 it was announced that the problem was suspected to relate to the main gearbox vertical shaft. The SA 332 L1 and L2 versions of the Super Puma can be refitted with an older design, allowing them to resume flying. On 8th of November 2012 some Super Puma of Bond Offshore Helicopters start to fly again.
Read more about this topic: Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma
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