Bristow helicopter lands on AUK after small leak found on airframe

An offshore helicopter needed to be examined this week on a North Sea platform, off UK, after a leak was discovered on the frame of the aircraft.

After media reports claiming the helicopter was forced to land on the Talisman-operated platform in the North Sea, a Bristow Helicopter spokesperson dismissed the writings, saying that the landing was scheduled.

A statement sent to Offshore Energy Today by the helicopter operator reads: “Bristow Helicopters Ltd can confirm that one of its Airbus EC225 helicopters was shutdown on the AUK Platform on Monday 25 August 2014, at approximately 09.10 hours, after fluid was observed on the airframe after landing.”

The Auk platform is a fixed offshore facility, located approximately 155 miles south east of Aberdeen.

According to Bristow, the helicopter was undertaking a routine crew change flight to the offshore installation.

“We can confirm that the outbound passengers were not at risk from what was a very minor leak,” the Bristow Helicopters’ e-mail further reads.

“The crew completed a 15 minute ground run to establish the leak rate and location. It was established as being well within the manufacturer’s acceptable limits and was therefore deemed safe to fly.

“The aircraft landed safely at Aberdeen Airport at approximately 13.19 hours, where the seal was replaced by Bristow engineers and the aircraft returned to service. Flight safety is Bristow’s first priority and we will always investigate prior to further flight,” Bristow ends.

Earlier this week, another offshore helicopter in the North Sea was involved in an unusual story. Two pilots flying the unit mistakenly landed on a wrong platform, nine miles from its original destination. Read the story here.