The Maritime and Coastguard Agency are reassuring Islanders and the wider public that their Coastguard Rescue helicopters have been inspected and cleared to fly following last month’s Leicester City crash, a tragedy which has resulted in an Emergency Airworthiness Directive being issued.
Although the helicopter that crashed within the grounds of Leicester City FC was an AW169 helicopter, the AW189 helicopters that the Coastguard use around the Isle of Wight and the surrounding Solent area have a similar tail rotor flight control system installed.
An Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) was issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency last week directing helicopter operators to check correct installation of the tail rotor servo-actuator. The incorrect installation of the tail rotor servo-actuator, if not detected and corrected, depending on the flight condition, could possibly result in loss of control of the helicopter.
It was on 27th October that Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha’s helicopter crashed shortly after take-off from the King Power Stadium, the home ground of Leicester City Football Club. Sadly, all 5 people on board were killed.
The MCA have confirmed that an inspection of the system has been carried out in accordance with the AD and the AW189 Coastguard Rescue helicopters have been cleared for active duty.
A spokesperson for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has said:
“We can confirm that the European Aviation Safety Agency has issued an Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) which calls for a change in the inspection for all AW169s and also all AW189s which share some common features.
“We would like to reassure the public that upon receiving the AD, Bristow Helicopters Limited immediately carried out the necessary inspections of our fleet of HM Coastguard AW189s and no issues were detected”.
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