Oil rig workers killed in helicopter crash

A fatal crash of a helicopter that was transporting workers to a North Sea oil rig, left oil and gas producers needing to prepare for contingency plans. The crash, which occurred on Friday August 23rd, killed four oil rig workers and resulted in all 40 Super Puma helicopters being grounded over safety fears.

In total there are 90 helicopters that are used in the North Sea to transport workers to and from gas and oil rigs, almost half of which are Super Puma models. The UK's Helicopter Safety Steering Group convened a meeting on Saturday August 24th to decide what should be done following the fatal accident.

It was decided that the model of helicopter involved in the accident should be grounded while the investigation into the incident continues. Within four years a total of 20 people have been killed in Super Puma crashes.

The survivors of the most recent crash described the accident, stating that there was no time to brace as the helicopter dropped out of the air. The helicopter was transporting the workers from the Borgsten Dolphin platform to Shetland, when it lost power at 6.20pm and plunged into the sea.

In total 14 workers and two crew members were rescued by the emergency services, some of which had made it onto inflatable life crafts, whilst others were pulled from the water. Unfortunately three men and one woman did not survive the crash.

Currently salvage attempts are being made in an effort to recover the helicopter's black box, in order to ascertain the cause of the crash. Until the black box is recovered from the Puma, the investigation will be relying upon the testimony given by the survivors.

North Sea oil and gas producers may now have to consider alternative methods of transportation for their oil rig workers in an effort to improve safety. With the number of deaths caused by failures of the Super Puma helicopters, it is possible that they will be pulled from the air fleet; a move that many are saying they would agree with.