1986 British International Helicopters Chinook crash 1986 British International Helicopters Chinook crash On 6 November 1986, a Boeing 234LR Chinook helicopter returning workers from the Brent oilfield crashed on approach to land at Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands. At from the runway the helicopter had a catastrophic forward transmission failure which de-synchronised the tandem rotors, causing the blades to collide. The helicopter crashed into the sea and sank. 43 passengers and two crew members were killed in the crash; one passenger and one crew member survived with wounds. The helicopter was normally based at Aberdeen Airport but had been based at Sumburgh Airport since 3
Boeing Chinook (UK variants) was to be based on the CH-47B but the order was cancelled in a review of defence spending in November 1967. UK Chinook procurement ambitions were revived in 1978 with an announced requirement for a new heavy-lift helicopter to replace the Westland Wessex. Thirty Chinooks were ordered at a price of US$200 million. These helicopters, comparable to the CH-47C with Lycoming T55-L-11E engines, were again designated Chinook HC Mk1, and entered service in December 1980. Eight more Mk1s were delivered from 1984 to 1986 with the CH-47D's Lycoming T55-L-712 turboshafts. The replacement of the Mk1's metal rotor blades with aluminium