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STV News
22-05-2025
- General
- STV News
Helicopter blade which broke off in storm 'almost struck worker'
A worker was almost struck by a broken helicopter rotor blade during a storm in the North Sea. A report by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) found the the Airbus H175 helicopter had landed with six passengers onboard on Elgin-Franklin's PUQ platform, which is more than 100 miles east of Aberdeen, on February 17, 2023, during Storm Otto. The helicopter, which the report described as being 'rocked' during the strong winds, did not take off for its return flight due to a warning light and after speaking with engineers, crew were advised to shut the aircraft down. They applied the brake to stop the rotor from spinning but it 'did not fully stop', resulting in crew attempting to strap the vehicle down amid high winds with the blades still 'turning slowly'. Staff were forced to retreat as wind speeds increased and a blade broke off, nearly striking one worker who was attempting to attach the final strap at the rear of the helicopter. The rotor blade separated from the machine and fell into the sea, while the three remaining blades broke off and landed on the helipad. A ship later took the helicopter back to the mainland. In its external report the AAIB described how the helicopter's rotor brake had failed, meaning the blades continued to slowly rotate after landing which preventing workers from easily strapping it down in the stormy conditions. It was subsequently found that a 'build-up of organic material' in the braking system had caused one of the pads to seize, resulting in the brake being unable to stop the rotor when it was being driven by the wind. The AAIB said it had found 'several operational shortcomings' and faults, and has made six recommendations to improve safety, including improved rotor brake maintenance and changes to wind measurement on rig helipads. The report's recommendations include changes to wind measurement on rig helipads and the inclusion of improved rotor brake maintenance processes in the Airbus EC175 manual. Storm Otto caused power cuts to around 27,000 homes and shut dozens of schools across Scotland and northern England, recording winds as high as 80mph. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Western Telegraph
22-05-2025
- General
- Western Telegraph
Broken helicopter blade ‘narrowly missed' worker on oil rig, report finds
According to an Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report, the Airbus H175 helicopter had just ferried six passengers to the Elgin Oil Platform – about 135 nautical miles east of Aberdeen – and had landed shortly after 8am on February 17, 2023 in winds of up to 60 knots. While the crew were preparing the vehicle for its return flight, a warning alert appeared in the cockpit, and after speaking with engineers the crew were advised to shut the vehicle down. They applied the brake to stop the rotor from spinning but it 'did not fully stop', resulting in the vehicle's commander and two members of the helideck team having to tie the vehicle down in high winds with the blades still 'turning slowly'. With the blades still turning above, one of the blades suddenly lifted near vertical, partially breaking off near the root Air Accident Investigation Branch report The report explained that by about 9.30am, three 'tie-down straps' had been applied and the fourth was about to be attached when one of the turning blades suddenly 'lifted near vertical'. It said: 'With the blades still turning above, one of the blades suddenly lifted near vertical, partially breaking off near the root with the broken portion hanging down and continuing to turn. 'As it did so, it narrowly missed the single deck crew member positioned at the rear of the helicopter, who was trying to attach the final strap to the helicopter. 'The blade then separated and fell into the sea.' At this point the crew decided it was too dangerous and retreated back into the rig's accommodation block, and over the next one hour 40 minutes three of the remaining four blades also broke and were later found on the helideck. The helicopter showed 'multiple impact marks' from where blades had struck it, including cracks and holes in the left pilot seat's window and the loss of the external emergency door handle. The report sets out a number of causes for the incident, as well as making six safety recommendations. The helipad on the platform is situated above the accommodation block (Total Energies E&P UK Limited/AAIB/PA) It notes that at about 6.45am while the helicopter was being towed out of the hangar in Aberdeen, ground staff had noticed the rotor was turning despite the brake being applied. However the engineering staff said they had not been made aware of this so no checks were carried out prior to the aircraft taking off. It was subsequently found that a 'build-up of organic material' in the braking system had caused one of the pads to seize, resulting in the brake being unable to stop the rotor when it was being driven by the wind. The report also comments on the effect of the high winds from Storm Otto, which was passing through the area at the time. It states while measured wind speeds on the helipad were below the 60 knot limit for landing a helicopter, the windward edge of the helipad was 'subject to vertical wind speeds considerably in excess of the limit in force at the time'. This was due, it said, to the 'cliff edge' effect caused by the accommodation block on which the pad had been built, which pushed winds up vertically when they hit the block and made them stronger as they passed over the pad. Coupled with the fact it had not been possible to tie the turning blades down, this resulted in 'blade sailing', with the helicopter's blades being bent upwards by the wind in an 'ever-increasing arc' until they reached breaking point. The report's recommendations include changes to wind measurement on rig helipads and the inclusion of improved rotor brake maintenance processes in the Airbus EC175 manual.
Calgary Herald
14-05-2025
- General
- Calgary Herald
Vancouver-bound flight aborted after pilot mixes up left and right hands
Article content A flight heading to Vancouver from London had to abort takeoff in a high-speed emergency stop after a pilot got his left and right hands mixed up. Article content Article content The co-pilot of the Boeing 777 jet mistook his right hand for his left and pulled back on the thrust lever. The botched manoeuvre ultimately caused the brakes to catch fire at Gatwick Airport. Article content British Airways flight BA 2279 was travelling at 167 knots (309 km/h) when the incident occurred on June 28 last year, according to a report published this month by Britain's Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB). The report said the pilot was supposed to 'move his left hand during the takeoff roll, while preparing to pull back on the control column with his right hand.' Article content Article content 'However, he unintentionally pulled his left hand back instead.' Article content Article content It went on: 'The co-pilot reported being well-rested and feeling fine. He expressed surprise in himself over the inadvertent thrust reduction and could not identify a reason for it.' Article content The Independent said the experienced flyer had more than 6,000 flying hours banked, adding the captain stepped in to 'calmly and methodically' bring the plane to a halt and alert air traffic controllers. Article content
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Forensics scour Scots field after pilot dies in horror aircraft crash
Blue police tape can be seen surrounding the wreckage COMBING FOR EVIDENCE Forensics scour Scots field after pilot dies in horror aircraft crash FORENSICS officers are scouring a Scots field after a pilot died in a horror aircraft crash. Mercy crews were scrambled to East Fortune, in North Berwick, just before 5pm yesterday. 4 The 40-year-old male pilot was pronounced dead at the scene Credit: Andrew Barr 4 The Scottish Fire and Rescue service erected a black cordon at the field Credit: Andrew Barr 4 Blue police tape can be seen surrounding the wreckage Credit: Andrew Barr 4 Forensics officers in white suits are scouring the area for evidence Credit: Andrew Barr The 40-year-old male pilot was pronounced dead at the scene, while his 42-year-old male passenger remains in a critical condition in hospital. Police, fire crews and an air ambulance were sent to the scene. Images taken today show forensics officers in white suits scouring the area for evidence as a probe was launched into the crash. Cops say inquiries are ongoing and the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified. Blue police tape can be seen surrounding the wreckage of the small red aircraft. Meanwhile, the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service erected a black cordon. A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "We received a report of a light aircraft having crashed in the East Fortune area around 4.55pm on Thursday, 8 May, 2025. "Emergency services attended however the 40-year-old male pilot was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin is aware. "The 42-year-old male passenger was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh where he is described as being in a critical condition. "Enquiries remain ongoing and the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been notified." Moment plane crashes into UK holiday park before bursting into flames A spokesperson for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) added: "The AAIB has been notified of an accident involving a light aircraft which occurred yesterday evening at East Fortune Airfield, near Edinburgh. "An investigation has been launched and a multidisciplinary team of inspectors has been sent to the accident site to gather evidence and begin making enquiries." A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: 'We were alerted at 4.55pm on Thursday, May 8, to an incident involving a light aircraft near to Lammerview, East Fortune, near North Berwick. 'Operations Control mobilised two appliances and specialist resources to the scene."
Metro
09-05-2025
- General
- Metro
British Airways pilot caused plane to catch fire after mixing up left and right
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A pilot managed to cause a fire after on a British Airways plane after mixing up his left and right. The Boeing 777 jet was about to take off from Gatwick Airport when the co-pilot accidently pulled the left instead of the right-hand lever. This caused the plane's brakes to catch fire, forcing the pilot to perform a 'high-speed emergency stop' on the runway when the plane was travelling at almost 190mph. The error, on June 28 last year, prompted authorities to close the airport temporarily and cancel, delay and divert dozens of flights. The incident was published in a Air Accident Investigation Branch report on Thursday. It said the pilot – who had more than 6,000 hours of flying time – had returned from a two week break, feeling 'well-rested and feeling fine'. He was not able to 'identify a reason' why he mixed his hands up. None of the 334 passengers or 13 crew onboard the plane, which was heading to Vancouver in Canada, were injured. The fire, which broke out on the right-side main wheel brakes, was extinguished by fire crews. A video taken from inside the plane shows the of the crews making their way to the plane as it waits on the runway. According to the report, the pilot was supposed to 'move his left hand during the takeoff roll, while preparing to pull back on the control column with his right hand'. 'However, he unintentionally pulled his left hand back instead,' it said. 'There was no obvious reason for him being primed to do that… and he could not identify a reason for it on the day.' The report added: 'The co-pilot reported being well-rested and feeling fine. He expressed surprise in himself over the inadvertent thrust reduction and could not identify a reason for it. 'The airport rescue and firefighting service attended the aircraft and extinguished a fire from hot brakes on the right main landing gear.' After the incident, a spokesperson from Gatwick Airport said the plane had been abandoned 'due to the departing aircraft having hot breaks'. More Trending They added: 'Safety is our top priority and the dedicated airport fire service swiftly attended to support the aircraft. 'A number of flights were diverted. The runway is now open and operating as normal.' A British Airways spokesperson, meanwhile, said at the time: 'Our pilots took the precautionary decision to cancel take-off due to a technical issue. 'Safety is always our top priority and we apologise to customers for the inconvenience caused.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: 12 best things to do in London including 'stunning' London rooftop bars and terraces worth booking MORE: Two major London Underground lines delayed after 'vandalism' MORE: Teen guilty of using zombie knife to attack stranger at Notting Hill Carnival
