Reidun Hestetun : “New S-92 Helicopter Safety Regulations”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : : 1. S-92 helicopter safety regulations
2. Norway crash helicopter regulations

Norwegian authorities confirm new international safety regulations for the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter after a fatal crash in Norway. 61-year-old nurse Reidun Hestetun died in the incident, prompting the investigation. The AIBN revealed that the emergency floats did not deploy as designed. As a result, all S-92 helicopters must undergo safety adaptations by August 2025. The AIBN continues to investigate the crash and is collaborating with Sikorsky and Bristow Norway. The incident highlights the importance of adhering to safety regulations to prevent future tragedies. Stay updated on the latest developments in this ongoing investigation.

Norwegian authorities have announced that new international safety regulations will be enforced on the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter following a tragic crash off the coast of Norway in February. The incident claimed the life of 61-year-old nurse and Equinor employee, Reidun Hestetun, and left five others injured during a routine training exercise.

The wreckage of the Bristow-operated Sikorsky S-92 helicopter was recovered from a depth of 220 metres after it sank to the sea floor. Investigators from the Accident Investigation Board of Norway (AIBN) revealed that despite the helicopter being equipped with floating batons, they did not deploy following the crash, despite being armed for release.

In response to the findings, the AIBN has mandated that all S-92 helicopters undergo safety adaptations by August 2025. An aviation industry source described the failure of the emergency floats to deploy as a “major flaw” in the design of the S-92.

**Emergency Floating Batons Failure**

The AIBN investigators confirmed that the emergency floating batons on the S-92 helicopter did not deploy as intended following the crash. The floating elements were designed to operate in the event of a controlled emergency landing on water, but failed to do so in this instance.

The AIBN stated that the power supply required for an automatic release of the floating elements ceased when the main rotor blades hit the sea. As a result, new international regulations have been published that include floating elements for helicopters, and the S-92 will undergo necessary adaptations to comply with these regulations by August 2025.

**Equinor Helicopter Training Flight**

The ill-fated S-92 helicopter took off from Flesland with six individuals on board, including two in the cockpit, two rescuers, an elevator operator, and nurse Reidun Hestetun. The flight was meant to conduct training exercises and hoisting operations with the ship Wilson Twisteden in Hjeltefjorden.

During the approach to a training buoy, the helicopter’s nose rose abnormally, leading to the tragic crash. The crew was operating without night vision goggles in dark conditions with few visual references, and the helicopter sank to a depth of 220 metres upon impact.

**Search and Rescue Operation**

Following the crash, two Search and Rescue (SAR) helicopters were dispatched to the scene to rescue the survivors. Despite efforts to retrieve all individuals, Ms Hestetun was found lifeless in the sea without her life jacket deployed. The survivors were rescued, with one individual in critical condition, and transported to Haukeland University Hospital.

Ms Hestetun’s body was later recovered from the accident site and pronounced dead at Haukeland. The AIBN investigation is ongoing, with a focus on understanding the circumstances that led to the crash and implementing necessary safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

In conclusion, the tragic incident involving the Sikorsky S-92 helicopter has prompted authorities to enforce new safety regulations to ensure the safety of all passengers and crew on board. The investigation continues to uncover the root cause of the crash and work towards preventing such incidents from occurring again in the future.