A leaked investigation report into the helicopter accident that took place off BP’s Etap platform has claimed that the aircraft crashed and was not ditched as previously reported.
The Super Puma helicopter was carrying two crew and 16 passengers when it plunged into the UK’s North Sea 120 miles off Aberdeen’s coastline. Incredibly, no one onboard the aircraft was seriously hurt after what was suspected at the time to be a ditching.
Now evidence has been leaked from the UK’s Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) suggesting the crew crashed the helicopter after getting disorientated on their approach to the offshore platform.
The report states that the EC225 Super Puma helicopter did not malfunction, that weather conditions were suitable for an approach, and that both the crew members could see the two platforms ahead once the approach commenced.
It is believed that once they descended to 300ft they entered heavy fog, which disorientated them. They then became perilously close to the platform, startling the crew and forcing the pilot to raise the nose of the aircraft, which resulted in the helicopter hitting the water. The slow impact is thought to have saved the lives of those onboard.
The AAIB investigation continues.
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