The Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority has grounded all search and rescue flights of the H225 helicopter indefinitely following a deadly accident in Norway in April.

The new restriction applies from June 1 and is in response to the findings of a preliminary report into the April 29 accident. The Airbus H225 (EC225LP) helicopter was en route from the Statoil-operated Gullfaks B platform within the North Sea to Bergen when it went down alongside the coast close to the city of Turøy, killing all 13 folks on board.

After the accident, each the UK and Norwegian Civil Aviation Authorities suspended using all Airbus EC225LP helicopters apart from search and rescue flights. A number of days later, the ban was prolonged to incorporate AS332L2 Super Puma helicopters.

The restriction as of June 1 now entails suspending using most of these helicopters for search and rescue and medical flights.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority, who has been taking part within the investigation with the Norwegian authorities, has not mentioned whether or not or not it’ll introduce the brand new restrictions for search and rescue flights.

Statoil launched an announcement saying that it has H225 helicopters in use for its SAR emergency on the Oseberg Field Centre, Statfjord B and at Sola. In these areas Statoil is mobilizing the required assets to make sure emergency preparedness.

“In addition to one Sikorsky S92 at Sola and one at Flesland that are currently operational for any medical evacuation, we have mobilised two additional stand-by vessels which are on their way to the fields,” Statoil mentioned.

The accident in April was one of many worst accidents within the historical past of the Norwegian oil business, and the worst offshore helicopter accident since 2009 when a Super Puma crashed off northern Scotland whereas getting back from a BP platform within the North Sea, killing all 16 folks on board.