August 2013 Super Puma helicopter crash
- Safety Flash
- Published on 13 April 2016
- Generated on 27 December 2024
- IMCA SF 09/16
- 2 minute read
The UK Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has published a report into the fatal accident to Eurocopter AS332 L2 Super Puma, call-sign G-WNSB, on its approach to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands on 23 August 2013.
What happened?
At 17:17 hrs UTC on 23 August 2013, an AS332 L2 Super Puma helicopter with 16 passengers and two crew on board crashed into the sea during an approach to land at Sumburgh Airport. Four of the passengers did not survive. The flight was transporting employees of the UK offshore oil and gas industry back to Aberdeen, and was calling at Sumburgh Airport to refuel.
The AAIB investigation identified the following causal factors in the accident:
- he helicopter’s flight instruments were not monitored effectively during the latter stages of the non-precision instrument approach. This allowed the helicopter to enter a critically low energy state, from which recovery was not possible.
- Visual references had not been acquired by the Minimum Descent Altitude (MDA) and no effective action was taken to level the helicopter, as required by the operator’s procedure for an instrument approach.
The following contributory factors were identified:
- The operator’s standard operating procedure (SOP) for this type of approach was not clearly defined and the pilots had not developed a shared, unambiguous understanding of how the approach was to be flown.
- The operator’s SOP at the time did not optimise the use of the helicopter’s automated systems during a Non-Precision Approach.
- The decision to fly a 3-axes with V/S mode, decelerating approach in marginal weather conditions did not make optimum use of the helicopter’s automated systems and required closer monitoring of the instruments by the crew.
- Despite the poorer than forecast weather conditions at Sumburgh Airport, the commander had not altered his expectation of being able to land from a Non-Precision Approach.
A comprehensive report is availableat gov.uk/aaib-reports/aircraft-accident-report-aar-1-2016-g-wnsb-23-august-2013
IMCA Safety Flashes summarise key safety matters and incidents, allowing lessons to be more easily learnt for the benefit of the entire offshore industry.
The effectiveness of the IMCA Safety Flash system depends on the industry sharing information and so avoiding repeat incidents. Incidents are classified according to IOGP's Life Saving Rules.
All information is anonymised or sanitised, as appropriate, and warnings for graphic content included where possible.
IMCA makes every effort to ensure both the accuracy and reliability of the information shared, but is not be liable for any guidance and/or recommendation and/or statement herein contained.
The information contained in this document does not fulfil or replace any individual's or Member's legal, regulatory or other duties or obligations in respect of their operations. Individuals and Members remain solely responsible for the safe, lawful and proper conduct of their operations.
Share your safety incidents with IMCA online. Sign-up to receive Safety Flashes straight to your email.