Helicopter Down!

On the 31st July 1980 was a typical Aberdeen summers day, foggy!

British Airways helicopter "India Delta", a Sikorsky S61-N, was returning to Aberdeen from  the oil rig "Atlantic II" with 13 passengers when the 2 pilots had the first indications of a gearbox problem, 60 nm ESE of the city.

Captain David Paul brought the huge helicopter down to a lower altitude and alerted all rescue services of his plight.  A Shackleton aircraft of No.8 Sqn RAF was on a training sortie in the area and altered course to the helicopter's position.

The situation deteriorated rapidly and Captain Paul decided his only option was to ditch the helicopter in the open sea, a manoeuvre he had practised many times before, at 12:20pm.

Capt. Paul landed his aircraft successfully into the North Sea about 24nm from Aberdeen Airport, there was a slight swell with low cloud and patchy fog making visibility difficult. Once down, the crew attempted to taxi the aircraft shoreward with engines running but the gearbox problem was by now very critical and the decision was taken to shut down the engines and abandon ship.

All crew and passengers transferred from the helicopter, which was now rolling heavily in the swell, to one of the two liferafts which the S61-N carries.

At 12:25pm, Aberdeen Lifeboat was launched under the command of 2nd Cox'n Jim Dickson (for Cox'n Norman Trewren, this was to be his first service as Cox'n but he had set off on holiday just a few hours before) and was soon heading at full speed for the casualty through the poor visibility.

The lifeboat arrived on scene at 1:30pm, just as another S61-N from Bristows began to winch up survivors from the liferaft. As winching operations continued, the weather improved and the decision was taken to attempt to tow the stricken aircraft into Aberdeen. S61-N's are almost unique as they are designed with a boat shaped hull and this was a major factor in the decision to tow.

A liferaft was inflated inside the helicopter cabin to aid buoyancy in the event of a capsize and air bags attached to the aircraft's sponsons. The tow line was attached to the aircraft and the tow was underway at the heady speed of 3 knots.

At 7pm, BP Forties entered Aberdeen Harbour, where hundreds lined the quaysides to witness this unique rescue, and the helicopter was taken to the deepwater berths from where she was lifted clear of the water by a harbour crane.

So little damage was done the India Delta, during the ditching and rescue, that she was flying again in less than a week.