The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has said it is to keep in place a ban on use of Super Puma helicopters despite a European move to allow the unit back into service.
The ban on the Airbus Helicopters' Super Puma EC225LP and AS332L2 aircraft followed a crash at Turøy, near Bergen, Norway, on Friday 29 April, which is still under investigation by Norwegian authorities.
The Turøy accident was the most serious helicopter accident on the Norwegian continental shelf (NCS) since 1997. Thirteen people died when the helicopter crashed on its way back from the Gullfaks B facility.
A preliminary investigation report pointed to a fatigue fracture in the aircraft's gear box as the most likely cause of the accident.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has now said it will lift the temporary ban on the aircraft, subject to a number of "very stringest protective measures." This includes eliminating a specific type of 2nd stage main gearbox planet gear involved in a crash in Norway earlier this year and shorter times between replacement of these gear types and daily inspection of detectors which assess the condition of the gears.
Furthermore, all main gearboxes that have suffered from unusual events will be withdrawn from service, said the EASA. Unusual events include external events that might shock the gearbox but without visual evidence of damage.
But, the UK CAA confirmed that its existing restriction, prohibiting all commercial flying of this type of helicopter by UK operators, is to remain in place, similar to the Norwegian CAA.
"We are united in our approach with the Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority," says the UK's CAA. "Both agencies now await further information from the accident investigation before considering any future action.
"The safety of those who travel on offshore helicopter flights is a key priority. That's why in 2014 the Civil Aviation Authority launched a comprehensive review of offshore helicopter flying, resulting in significant changes in safety that were welcomed by everyone involved.
"We will continue to work with the helicopter operators, the offshore industries, international regulators, unions and pilot representatives to enhance offshore safety standards still further."
Helicopter image from Airbus.
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