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| Date: | Monday 15 July 2002 |
| Time: | 16:15 LT |
| Type: |  Sikorsky S-61N-II |
| Owner/operator: | Bristow Helicopters opf HM Coastguard |
| Registration: | G-BBHM |
| MSN: | 61713 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1973 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Royal Marines' Barracks, Poole, Dorset -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Ambulance |
| Departure airport: | Portland Airport (EGDP) |
| Portland Airport (EGDP) | |
| Investigating agency: | AAIB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
G-BBHM had been airborne for about 40 minutes on a SAR mission over Poole Harbour when the two rear crew members became aware of an unusual noise. Almost immediately, the pilots saw the ‘NO 2 ENG FIRE WARN’ light illuminate accompanied by the audio alert. The pilots commenced their emergency procedures. However, with the ‘FIRE’ light still illuminated and indications of hydraulic failures from both tactile and warning systems, the commander called for an immediate landing. After touchdown, the pilots shut down No 1 engine and the crew quickly vacated the helicopter.
G-BBHM was destroyed by fire shortly after they were clear. The time between the onset of the original fire warning and touchdown was 82 seconds.
The No 2 engine had suffered rapid deterioration of the No 5 (location) bearing of the free turbine, and severance of Engine Mounting Rear Support Assembly tube by the drive shaft. A severe fire, outside of the engine fire zone, was caused because the released engine oil was ignited either by the mechanical interference, or by contact with the hot engine exhaust duct.
The same failure mode occurred on G-BEID.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
1. https://www.gov.uk/aaib-reports/2-2004-sikorsky-s-61n-g-bbhm-15-july-2002
2. CAA: https://siteapps.caa.co.uk/g-info/rk=BBHM
3. https://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/287207-bristow-photos-7.html#post3498939 photos
4. https://publicapps.caa.co.uk/modalapplication.aspx?catid=1&pagetype=65&appid=11&mode=detail&id=1300 (CAA FACTOR)
Media:
Wreckage of S-61N G-BBHM at Poole 15 July 2002 pic.twitter.com/juKnIYXduZ
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) July 13, 2024
The bearing then broke up, in turn causing the high speed drive shaft to the MGB to bend around its flexible coupling until the coupling severed the support tube between engine and MGB. The heat from that ignited the leaking engine oil... pic.twitter.com/YkyNCybEB9
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) July 13, 2024
As the support tube ran through the fire wall around the engine made it out into MGB bay. As the MGB was made of magnesium?...
— Aerossurance (@Aerossurance) July 13, 2024
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 31-Dec-2009 00:06 | TB | Added |
| 10-Jul-2010 10:02 | TB | Updated [Operator, ] |
| 03-Aug-2014 18:48 | Aerossurance | Updated [Nature, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 17-Aug-2014 18:08 | Aerossurance | Updated [Source, ] |
| 18-Feb-2015 21:02 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Embed code, ] |
| 31-Oct-2015 14:29 | harro | Updated [Embed code, ] |
| 10-May-2016 20:22 | Aerossurance | Updated [Time, Nature, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 22-Jul-2016 14:27 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative, ] |
| 22-Jul-2016 14:28 | Dr.John Smith | Updated [Source, ] |
| 24-Jun-2017 11:03 | Aerossurance | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 25-May-2020 19:59 | Rerenstein | Updated [Photo, ] |
| 13-Jul-2024 16:08 | Aerossurance | Updated [Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Embed code, ] |
| 13-Jul-2024 16:09 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 13-Jul-2024 16:14 | Aerossurance | Updated [Embed code, ] |
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