You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Saturday 1 October 1977 |
| Time: | 15:18 |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-61N |
| Owner/operator: | Bristow Helicopters |
| Registration: | G-BBHN |
| MSN: | 61714 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Location: | North Sea, 48nm NE of Aberdeen -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Offshore |
| Departure airport: | Venture 2 Oil Platform, North Sea |
| Aberdeen Airport, Dyce (ABZ/EGPD) | |
| Investigating agency: | AIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities |
Substantially damaged 1/10/1977 when ditched into the North Sea, 48 nautical miles north-east of Aberdeen, whilst en route between the Venture 2 Oil Platform and Aberdeen Airport. According to the following extract from the official AAIB report into the accident:
"DITCHING INITIATED DUE TO INCREASINGLY LOUD NOISE FROM ROTOR HEAD, SIMILAR TO LOOSE BLADE TAPE, ACCOMPANIED BY SEVERE VIBRATION. RESTRICTION OF CONTROL WAS FELT IN FORE & AFT MOVEMENT ALTHOUGH ALL COCKPIT INDICATIONS WERE NORMAL. DURING LANDING CONTROL WAS DIFFICULT WITH THRASHING OF CYCLIC STICK.
A LARGE WAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LIFTED THE NOSE UP & TO THE LEFT & THE A/C CAPSIZED WITHIN 30 SECONDS. THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO DEPLOY THE SEA ANCHOR, THE LIFE RAFT COULD NOT BE EXTRACTED FROM THE FLOODED CABIN & NEITHER CREW NOR PAX WERE ADEQUATELY DRESSED FOR SURVIVAL. ALL RESCUED AFTER 53 MINUTES. PROBALE THAT A BLADE POCKET HAD FAILED".
Damage sustained to airframe: Per the AAIB report "Substantial damage followed the capsize" (of the aircraft) "The helicopter was salvaged three days after the accident, repaired and subsequently returned to service". However, a year later on 16/10/1978, the registration G-BBHN was cancelled by the CAA as "sold in Malaysia".
The S-61N became 9M-AWN with Bristow Helicopters (Malaysia) Ltd. In July 2004, it acquired US registry as N160J with Washington Times Aviation. in November 2005, it was re-registered in South Korea as HL9287 with Tongil Air in South Korea. As HL+287 it was written off on 27/2/2010, when it was burnt out after an emergency landing in South Korea
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. AAIB: https://assets.digital.cabinet-office.gov.uk/media/5422fbeb40f0b6134200079f/8-1978_G-BBHN.pdf
2. CAA: https://www.caa.co.uk/docs/HistoricalMaterial/G-BBHN.pdf
3. https://www.helis.com/database/cn/23650/
4. http://www.griffin-helicopters.co.uk/accidentdetails.aspx?accidentkey=14327
5. https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979%20-%200926.html
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 27 February 2010 | HL9287 | Tongil Air | 0 | Siheung-si, Gyeonggi-do |  |
w/o |
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 22-Aug-2014 17:20 | Aerossurance | Added |
| 16-Aug-2015 18:02 | TB | Updated [Location, Source, Damage, ] |
| 21-Oct-2015 20:13 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Time, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation