§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Transport when he expects to receive the report of the accident investigation branch into the crash of the British International Chinook in the North sea; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Michael SpicerIt will be some time before the accidents investigation branch report on the tragic crash of the British International Helicopters' Chinock on 6 November 1986 is completed. However, today the chief inspector of accidents has published a special bulletin setting out the basic facts of the accident and I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library.
Air safety is the statutory responsibility of the Civil Aviation Authority, who I understand have been closely involved with the accident investigation which has been studying the transmission gearbox failure sequence and its metallurgy. Whilst the authority is evaluating the possibility of safely returning the aircraft to service, the remaining Chinook helicopters on the United Kingdom civil register will not be flying.