Rotorcraft Report: Gearbox Eyed in Crash

COMMERCIAL | OFFSHORE

Evidence is pointing to the gearbox as the cause of a fatal April 1 crash involving a Bond Offshore Helicopters Eurocopter AS332 in the North Sea near the shores of Scotland. Investigators believe a gearbox malfunction caused the rotor blades to snap off in flight. All 14 occupants perished. Another Bond AS332 made an emergency landing in the North Sea in Feb. but all survived.