AN OFFSHORE helicopter model which ditched off Norway killing 13 people, including a Scots oil worker, will not resume operations in the UK despite the European safety watchdog lifting a flight ban.
The Civil Aviation Authority said its ban on all commercial flights of the Super Puma EC225 by UK operators would remain while the Norwegian authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash. The ban also applies to AS332 models.
Iain Stuart, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, was among those who died when an EC225 came down near Bergen on April 29.
Today [fri], the European Aviation Safety Agency (Easa) withdrew a flight ban on the aircraft, saying an “an acceptable level of safety” was now possible provided operators only flew a certain design type found to have “lower stress levels and better reliability”.
A preliminary report by Norwegian accident investigators found the helicopter had been flying normally before a “sudden catastrophic failure developed in one-two seconds”.
The helicopter’s planet gear, which powers the rotors, had ruptured and was found with fatigue and surface degradation.
A CAA spokesman said: "The UK Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that its existing restriction, prohibiting all commercial flying of this type by UK operators, is to remain in place.
“The Super Puma helicopter accident in Norway on Friday 29 April is still under investigation by the Norwegian authorities and we remain in close contact with all offshore helicopter operators to continue to assess the situation.
“We are united in our approach with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority. Both agencies now await further information from the accident investigation before considering any future action.
A spokesman for Airbus Helicopters, said: “We are providing assistance to our customers and working with related stakeholders in order to help them return their aircraft to service at the appropriate time.
“Meanwhile, we maintain our full support to the [Accident Investigation Board Norway] in the frame of the ongoing investigation."
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