Ditched North Sea helicopter had engine failure just weeks earlier

Ditched helicopter: The EC225 Super Puma was involved in an earlier incident.©: Neil Willox

A helicopter which was forced to ditch in the North Sea last week was involved in an incident three weeks earlier.

Operator Bond revealed that the same EC225 model suffered a malfunction on its approach to Aberdeen Airport on April 19.

The helicopter landed safely and no one was injured. The aircraft's engine was replaced and it was understood it was able to fly again the next day.

A spokesman for Bond has said the incident was not connected to the gearbox failure that affected the same helicopter on Thursday.

It had been carrying 12 workers to an offshore platform and plunged into the North Sea in what was described as a “controlled ditching”.

It was forced to ditch in rough seas, around 28 miles from Aberdeen. The two crew and passengers were all safely rescued. Two passengers were treated for minor injuries.

Bond has currently suspended flights.

In a statement, Bond said it was continuing to work with the aircraft's manufacturer, Eurocopter, to find a solution that would enable the resumption of flights.

Responding to the earlier incident the company said: "At 14:56 on 19/04/12 the same EC225 helicopter was returning from the BP Harding Field in the North Sea when on final approach to Aberdeen Airport, one of its two engines suffered a malfunction.

"Having made a safe and conventional landing, the aircraft taxied to the terminal where the passengers were disembarked.

"The Turbomeca engine was returned to the manufacturer Turbomeca for an engine strip-down to determine the nature of the problem. The helicopter was returned to service with a replacement engine."

It is understood the engine is still with investigators in France.

It has emerged that air accident investigators found a cracked shaft in the main gearbox of the aircraft that ditched last Thursday.

Manufacturer Eurocopter said initial investigations indicated suspending flying was not necessary, but Bond said the suspension would remain and that their priority was on “safe flying”.

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