Further doubts have been cast about the accuracy of a technical log for the Super Puma helicopter which plunged into the North Sea in April 2009, killing 16 people.
According to pilots who flew the aircraft the day before, just 10 minutes separated the engine being shut down and restarted.
One of the team of mechanics at operator Bond, David Shand, told a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) today he found it hard to believe that inspection work required during a turnaround on March 31, 2009, could have been completed in that time.
The FAI has been trying to establish exactly what work took place during the inspection, and whether the aircraft was powered.
Mr Shand, 64, insisted the rotor blades could not have been running as the Super Puma AS332 L2 was still on “close monitoring” after a metal fragment was found in its gearbox six days before.
But he was “surprised” that a gap of only 10 minutes was recorded by pilots as the time between the rotors stopping and restarting.
He added: “The aircraft was shut down. It would have had to be shut down.”
Another engineer, Torquil Allen said it would normally take two people about eight and a half minutes for a turnaround inspection, and up to a further 10 minutes if additional “pre-flight” checks were required.
Read detailed news and reaction from today’s FAI session in tomorrow’s Press and Journal
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