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
1994 Scotland RAF Chinook crash data greatly reduced the amount and quality of data available to subsequent investigations. Information on speed and height were derived from the position of cockpit dials in the wreckage, and the wreckage's condition. During 1994, the RAF had begun to fit these recording devices across the Chinook HC.2 fleet prior to the accident; this process was completed in 2002. The aircraft had not been classified as being airworthy. It was mandated upon the RAF that it was "not to be relied upon in any way". The documentary series "Seconds From Disaster" featured the accident in the episode "Chinook Helicopter Crash".