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North Sea Helicopter Crash Investigation ReportA manufacturing anomaly, exacerbated by a lightning strike, were the causes of July's helicopter crash in the North Sea according to an Air Accident Investigations Branch (AAIB) report. The crash on July the 16th killed eleven people, eight of which were oil and gas engineers. The Sikorsky S-76 helicopter, was ferrying workers between Shell installations when it crashed some 28 miles north east of Cromer in Norfolk. Investigation of the wreckage found that one of the main rotor blades had a fracture, not consistent with the crash. Microscopic investigation of the fracture hinted that the rotor had previously suffered intense thermal damage. It has been ascertained that the rotor blade was struck by lightning in 1999, causing the thermal damage. The investigation also found an anomaly in the scarf joint between the two leading edge strips of the rotor. An investigation following the lightning strike failed to detect the thermal damage or the scarf joint anomaly. Sikorsky has agreed with the AIIB findings and has removed from service any main rotor blade identified as having been damaged by lightning. |