This article is over 15 years old

It was a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter that crashed off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada on March 12.

17 people died in the accident.

During the investigation, discoveries were made that led Canadian authorities to issue instructions on Friday that all Sikorsky S-92s must immediately replace a piece of machinery.

It also includes the 15 that are used on the Norwegian continental shelf.

A party

– In January, Sikorsky (the helicopter’s manufacturer) issued a service bulletin that said a fastener on a cover that sits around the filter on the gearbox needed to be replaced within 12 months, or during a service visit. The notice now states that this accessory must be replaced immediately, says general manager Tore Villard of CHC Helikopterservice.

The Accident Prevention Commission of Canada has not yet concluded on the cause of the accident, but the pilots had to report a loss of oil pressure in the main gearbox.

– Five of our six Sikorsky S-92s are on the ground until we can replace the supports, specifies Villard.

– When can this happen?

– It takes two to three hours to change the part itself. We are now working hard to find tools, personnel and parts. I can’t estimate when the helicopters will be in the air again, he said.

– What consequences does this have for operators who use CHCs to transport people to and from the continental shelf?

– We will use other types of aircraft instead of the Sikorsky S 92, but it is difficult to say what consequences this will have.

CHC Helikopterservice has a total of 24 helicopters.

Options for operators

Chief information officer Torstein Stangenes at StatoilHydro says the company normally uses nine Sikorsky S-92 machines, but has alternatives:

“Our policy has always been to use several types of helicopters, and we can use both the Super Puma and the EC 225,” explains Stangenes.

He therefore estimates that flights to and from the continental shelf can be carried out as planned on the weekend. At the start of the week, however, there may be delays to and from Bergen.

The company learned Friday evening that the Sikorsky machines had to be grounded.

– One of the helicopters was used on Saturday, but on this aircraft, the equipment has already been changed, says Stangenes, who hopes that the situation will be resolved by next week.

Helicopter changed

– Today we made two flights to Ekofisk, which were supposed to be carried out with Sikorsky S-92s, but which were replaced by Super Puma helicopters. Fortunately, we have no flights on Sunday and we hope that Norsk Helikopter has made the necessary modifications so that the helicopters can be used on Monday. Then we have nine flights to Ekofisk, says Ingvar Solberg, information manager at ConocoPhillips.

From what Aftenbladet.no knows, Norsk Helikopter is currently working hard to replace the necessary parts for the nine Sikorsky S-92 helicopters they use. A few of them should already comply with the new standard.