ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 70857
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| Date: | Wednesday 25 July 1990 |
| Time: | 09:44 LT |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-61N-II |
| Owner/operator: | British International Helicopters |
| Registration: | G-BEWL |
| MSN: | 61769 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1977 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 13 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Brent Spar Offshore Installation, East Shetland Basin, North Sea -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Offshore |
| Departure airport: | Polycastle Floatel (alongside Brent Alpha) |
| Brent Spar Offshore Installation | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The accident occurred whilst the helicopter was manoeuvring to land on the Shell Brent Spar, a permanently moored semi-submersible offshore storage and tanker loading unit. After the helicopter had approached to a hovering position adjacent to the helideck, several witnesses realised that it was positioned dangerously close to a part of the installation’s crane structure. The tail rotor blade tips contacted a handrail surrounding the anemometer mast which was attached
to the crane ‘A’ frame after which the helicopter crashed onto the helideck and almost immediately fell over the side of the deck and into the sea. Seven survivors were rescued from the sea having made their escape from the sinking helicopter.
Six occupants including the crew died. The AAIB report suggests impact injuries (a number of the non-crashworthy seats collapsed) as a probable cause for 4 passengers being unable to escape. Pax lifejackets were worn in a pouch around the waist.
Ten safety recommendations were raised. The aircraft had originated from Sumburgh, Shetland (LSI/EGPB).
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422eab740f0b61346000017/Summary_AAR_2-91_Sikorsky_S-61N__G-BEWL_11-91.pdf
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BEWL
3.
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2009 05:06 | TB | Added |
| 08-Oct-2012 16:45 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2012 11:45 | TB | Updated [Operator, Source, Embed code, Narrative] |
| 22-Dec-2012 14:13 | TB | Updated [Source] |
| 18-Jan-2016 00:17 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Location, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 17-Feb-2016 18:37 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 22-Apr-2016 12:12 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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