Rotorcraft Report
Examination of the wreckage of the S-92A
by the Canadian Transportation Safety
Board showed two of three mounting studs
that attach the oil filter assembly to the
main gearbox had failed.
failure at the oil filter was considered to be
extremely remote.”
During its examination of the helicopter wreckage in March, the board
discovered two of the three mounting
studs that attach the oil filter assembly
to the main gearbox had failed. An FAA
directive then ordered the titanium
mounting studs be replaced with steel
studs. That directive grounded the
91-strong fleet of Sikorsky S-92As,
including Cougar Helicopters aircraft,
until the studs were replaced. This process is now complete.
The TSB says a metallurgical examination of the titanium mounting studs
revealed fatigue cracking and thread damage. The board is still trying to determine
the origin of the fatigue cracks.
Sikorsky was made aware of the
potential problem last August, when an
S-92A was forced to make an emergency
landing in Australia after losing MGB oil
pressure. The company issued an Alert
Service Bulletin in January, asking that
operators replace the studs within a year,
or by 1,250 flight hours.
The families of 15 passengers who
died in the crash and the one survivor,
Robert Decker, are suing Sikorsky, its
maintenance subsidiary Keystone Helicopters and the parent company, United Technologies Corporation. Decker
( 27) managed to escape through a
window to be rescued by the crew of
another Cougar helicopter. On reaching hospital in St. John’s, Newfoundland, he was put on life support and a
Transportation Safety Board of Canada
ventilator: however, he is now said to
be recovering at home.
Cougar rescue technicians Ian
Wheeler and Stephen LeMessurier
were later commended for their actions
during the rescue mission. Wheeler
is credited with reaching and sending
Decker up to the rescue helicopter
while waiting in the ocean. LeMessurier was recognized for his efforts to
save one of the other people aboard the
helicopter, though she did not survive.
At press time Sikorsky commented,
“our prayers continue to go out to the
families of all those lost in this accident.
It is our policy to not comment on
pending litigation except to state that
we will appropriately defend against
these claims.” —By Andrew Healey
