Chopper crash in norway......

[claw84]

From what I could see this was a massive gearbox failure, and it was always my worst nightmare during the countless chopper trips I made while working on rigs around the World.

Because while in the Marines I was aboard a Commando Carrier ( Bulwark or Albion) waiting in a stick to board a Wes*** chopper when the same thing happened. The pilot was getting up to full revs when the gearbox went.
The blades came out, bounced once on the deck, cut the aircraft marshal in half and disappeared over the side. We were going to board that chopper.

When you have engine failure on these craft at least you have a chance by the aircraft auto rotating, when the gear box goes you have no chance, it dropped 2,000 ft in 10 seconds.

R.I.P to the 13 men including 1 Brit.

[gaz1959]

Sad news Claw jeez words fail me

You were lucky that day buddy

[claw84]

Sad news Claw jeez words fail me

You were lucky that day buddy

As you say Gaz, I was very, very lucky.

[alfinyalcabo]

RIP to all the dead...very sad indeed..

[claw84]

I put this thread up on the Aberdeen site as well it being an oil town and it has already had over 1,200 views.

They are getting a petition together for Super Pumas to be replaced.

[Altobelli]

Really annoys me when things like this keep happening when it could and should have been dealt with long ago with all the doubts about this particular chopper, life is precious regardless of what or who you are but for some folk other things take priority

Terrible avoidable loss, R.I.P.

[claw84]

Really annoys me when things like this keep happening when it could and should have been dealt with long ago with all the doubts about this particular chopper, life is precious regardless of what or who you are but for some folk other things take priority

Terrible avoidable loss, R.I.P.

Quite right Alto, the fact is the French Super Pumas are cheaper than the British Merlins However the Merlins are far superior with Rolls Royce engines doing a speed of nearly 200mph and of now no reported fatalities in the UK. While I have lost count of the dead in the French aircraft.

The UK armed forces don't have a single Puma, and the Merlins are now the Troop carrying aircraft of the Marines with the retirement of the sea kings in march. Using those aircraft keeps 4,000 in work in Yeovil.