What happened
On 18 February 2009, a Eurocopter EC225 LP Super Puma, registration G-REDU, was conducting an offshore operation in the North Sea. The aircraft was operating near the Eastern Trough Area Project (ETAP) Central Production Facility Platform during a period of night flying. During the flight, the aircraft impacted the sea surface near the platform.
The investigation
The AAIB investigation focused on the flight's final moments, examining the aircraft's technical systems, including the Terrain Awareness and Warning System (TAWS) and the Aircraft Collision Avoidance System (ACAS). Investigators analyzed the flight recorders, the Aircraft Management Computer (AMC), and the Multi-Function Display (MFD) processor units to reconstruct the flight path and the status of the cockpit warnings. The investigation also reviewed the meteorological conditions at the time, specifically the visibility and cloud base near the ETAP and Shearwater platforms, as well as the sea state.
Furthermore, the inquiry examined the effectiveness of the aircraft's emergency flotation equipment, the deployment of liferafts, and the survival aspects of the crew and passengers following the water impact. The investigation also looked into the training and procedures regarding offshore approaches and landings used by the operator.