Sikorsky Helicopters Grounded after Offshore Maritime Accidents
After a maritime helicopter accident that resulted in the deaths of Canadian offshore workers, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has moved to issue a safety directive, requiring gear box repairs of Sikorsky’s S-92 helicopters.
On March 12th a helicopter crashed off Newfoundland in Canada, killing 17 offshore workers. The crash has been linked to broken titanium studs that connected the gear box to the oil filter system. The FAA directive calls for emergency repairs of gearboxes on all U.S.-registered Sikorsky helicopters. According to the directive, the “unsafe condition” probably exists or is likely to develop on other Sikorsky helicopters. According to a representative of United Technologies Corp., whose Sikorsky unit manufactures the helicopters, the company has already replaced the defective stud in at least 59 of the 91 S-92 helicopters currently in operation.
After the Newfoundland helicopter crash, investigators began to look into whether the stud fractured before the crash or was smashed during the accident. A broken stud can lead to loss of oil pressure, potentially resulting in a gearbox problem and eventually loss of control of the chopper. Investigators have now determined that the titanium studs are indeed prone to fracture. The studs in the Newfoundland accident are believed to have fractured during the flight. In January, Sikorsky issued an alert asking helicopter operators to replace the titanium studs with steel ones.
Earlier this year, a Sikorsky S-76C helicopter carrying offshore workers crashed near Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. The cause of that accident is still under investigation, but according to the National Transportation Safety Board, the crash could have been the result of a collision with a bird.
The Newfoundland crash, meanwhile, has caused several employees working in the offshore oil industry in Newfoundland and Labrador to consider quitting their jobs. The accident has caused many maritime workers there to rethink the nature of their jobs and weigh the perks with the risks. The Sikorsky S-92 that crashed off Newfoundland has a reputation for being a highly advanced aircraft with sophisticated safety systems. The realization that these supposedly, advanced craft have fractured studs ultimately, responsible for the deaths of 12 offshore workers, has unsettled many maritime workers.
Maritime Lawyers
Helicopter operators who ferry offshore workers to and from shore need to make sure their aircraft are free of defects and are safe to use. Accidents like these can be avoided with stringent safety evaluations and check ups. People in the maritime industry, which is dangerous by nature, should not have to worry about making it to work safely on top of worrying about work safety.
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in an offshore helicopter accident, a maritime attorney can help you. Contact a maritime lawyer at Arnold & Itkin LLP for a free evaluation of your claim.
