NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation to Interior Department and Coast Guard Regarding Helicopter Gas Ingestion Risks

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued safety recommendation A-14-067, identified by reference number CEN13FA491. This directive is addressed to the United States Department of the Interior, specifically its Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. The recommendation mandates that this bureau collaborate with the US Coast Guard to identify and develop comprehensive systems and procedures. These measures are intended to mitigate the risk of ingestion of raw gas discharges, such as methane, by helicopters operating in the vicinity of offshore oil platforms. The NTSB emphasizes the need for coordinated action between federal agencies to address these specific environmental hazards associated with offshore aviation operations.