Date:	Thursday 30 March 2017
Time:	12:16
Type:	Boeing 747-8R7F
Owner/operator:	Cargolux
Registration:	LX-VCF
MSN:	35811/1461
Year of manufacture:	2012
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 3
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	None
Category:	Serious incident
Location:	En route from Houston to Prestwick -   United Kingdom
Phase:	En route
Nature:	Cargo
Departure airport:	Houston-George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TX (IAH/KIAH)
Destination airport:	Glasgow-Prestwick Airport (PIK/EGPK)
Investigating agency:	AAIB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
AAIB investigation to Boeing 747-8R7F, LX-VCF: Escape of fuel from helicopter being transported as cargo, en route from Houston TX (USA) to Prestwick, Glasgow, Scotland on 30 March 2017. The incident was serious enough to warrant an AAIB Investigation, and the following is the summary from the AAIB Report

"Following an uneventful scheduled cargo flight CV7754, it became apparent after landing that a large quantity of fuel had leaked from a Bell 412EP helicopter which was being shipped as cargo on the main deck of the freighter aircraft. The escaped fuel then made its way through the lower deck and spilled onto the airport apron. Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) attended the aircraft to contain the fuel spill and manage the associated risk of fire and explosion.

The investigation determined that the helicopter, which was disassembled and prepared for transportation some months prior to the incident, had not been shipped in accordance with the required provisions for transportation of such vehicles by air. In particular, the helicopter had not been drained of fuel prior to transportation. Approximately 322 litres of fuel escaped from the helicopter during the flight."

One Safety Recommendation is made concerning procedures for the preparation of helicopters for air transportation:

=Safety Recommendation 2018-011=
It is recommended that Bristow US LLC review their procedures relating to the preparation of helicopters for air transportation to ensure that they are defueled

=Damage sustained to airframe=
Per the AAIB Report "Extensive fuel contamination of aircraft interior and wiring"

1. AAIB Report: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5b73e2dbed915d6d132f2707/Boeing_747-8R7F_LX-VCF_07-18.pdf
2. https://skybrary.aero/accidents-and-incidents/b748-prestwick-uk-2017
3. https://planetradio.co.uk/west/local/news/emergency-services-standby-prestwick-airport-fuel-leak-inside-cargo-plane/
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glasgow_Prestwick_Airport

LX-VCF Boeing 747-8R7F Cargolux Airlines International at Manchester Airport (MAN/EGCC) 1 May 2017

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
22-Apr-2019 11:54	harro	Added
17-May-2024 07:09	Dr. John Smith	Updated [Time, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category, ]
17-May-2024 07:10	ASN	Updated [Source, ]