Yahoo News Crash Helicopter Had Previous Technical Problems
A helicopter which crashed in Norway, killing 13 people, showed signs of technical problems three days before the tragedy.
The crew of the Super Puma EC225 was forced to land after an indication light signalled a possible technical issue.
According to CHC, the company which operated the Super Puma, it was 16 minutes into a flight from Bergen to the Oseberg East platform on Tuesday when the light came on in the cockpit.
In accordance with standard procedure, the crew brought the helicopter into land.
Technicians changed a component on the aircraft but, when they conducted a test flight the following day, on Wednesday, the indication light was triggered once again.
A second component change took place and, following that, a test flight was conducted and the helicopter was given the all-clear to resume commercial flights.
On Thursday, the day before the crash, the helicopter was used in six commercial flights.
A spokesman for CHC said the components changed were "nothing to do" with the rotor blades or gearbox.
The British man who died in the crash has been named as Iain Stuart.
The 41-year-old, from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, worked for oilfield services company Halliburton.
In a statement released by Police Scotland, Mr Stuart's family described him as a "loving husband and devoted father".
"We as a family are devastated at the loss of Iain in Friday's tragic helicopter crash in Norway," the statement said.
"Iain was a loving husband and devoted father to his two children and as a family we are heartbroken. He was a caring son, brother, uncle and friend to many.
"We are appreciative of all the messages of support and kind thoughts."
The Super Puma was carrying two crew and 11 passengers from the North Sea Gullfaks B oil field when it crashed off the Norwegian coast while flying to Flesland Airport in Bergen on Friday.
In tributes posted on social media, Mr Stuart was described as "always a gent" and "a top bloke".
Field operators Statoil said the pilots of the helicopter - a Norwegian and an Italian - were CHC Helicopter staff.
All UK commercial passenger flights using the Airbus EC225LP - or Super Puma - model have been grounded by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) following the accident.
The aircraft shattered into pieces when it smashed into the rocky shoreline of Turoey, a tiny island outside Bergen, Norway's second-largest city.
Norwegian television showed footage of what appeared to be a helicopter rotor blade spiralling down minutes before the helicopter crashed.
A team from the UK's Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is assisting with the investigation.
