Sunday 27 February 2005

UKOOA Response to AAIB Report into Fatal North Sea Helicopter Accident

A copy of the Air Accident Investigation Board (AAIB) report into the S76 helicopter accident on 16 July 2002, in which 11 lives were lost, has been published today. The report largely addresses the aviation technical issues surrounding the main rotor blade failure. It also addresses various operational issues and makes a specific recommendation to the UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) to update the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations Guidelines with regard to radio operator procedures.

The recommendation concerns the need for the radio operator of the departing installation to establish positive contact with the destination installation immediately after the departure of a helicopter and convey the relevant flight details. This does not imply that the current procedures contributed in any way to the accident but responds to a hypothetical question raised in the AAIB Report which asked how much time might have elapsed before anyone appreciated that the helicopter was overdue "if nobody on board the Santa Fe Monarch had seen the accident, and it had occurred before contact was established with her radio operator.

UKOOA fully supports the recommendation 2004-041 in the AAIB report, which reads:

"The UK Offshore Operator Association should amend its guidelines to include a responsibility on offshore installations operators to ensure that, for all flights between manned offshore installations, radio operators of such installations establish positive contact with the destination installation immediately after departure of a helicopter and convey the relevant flight details such as persons on board and estimated time of arrival."

UKOOA has amended its guidelines "The Guidelines for the Management of Offshore Helideck Operations" to take account of this recommendation.  The amended guidelines, Issue 5- February 2005, will be published in March and a request sent out to UKOOA members to ensure that a copy of the guidelines is made available for all installations under their control and that installation procedures are updated to reflect the recommendations.

Notes to Editors

1. The UK Offshore Operators Association (UKOOA) is the representative organisation for oil and gas companies licensed by the UK government to explore for and produce hydrocarbons offshore around the British Isles.  It has 31 members. 
2. To read the formal report issued today by the AAIB, please go to www.aaib.gov.uk/publications/.

 For more information, please call 020 7802 2400.