Review board will examine elements of Rescue 116 report

Almost three years following the fatal crash of Rescue 116 helicopter at Blackrock Island,Co Mayo, a review board is to ‘re-examine’ certain findings of the Draft Final Report into the accident on March 14, 2017.

The Review Board will be chaired by Senior Counsel Patrick McCann who will be assisted by an ‘independent Expert Member’.

Establishment of a review board is ‘in line’ with the regulations governing the investigation of air accidents, specifically ‘Statutory Instrument 460 of 2009: Navigation (Notification and Investigation of Accidents, Serious Incidents and Incidents) Regulations 2009‘, remarked Shane Ross, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

It will be independent in its work in accordance with the relevant legislation.

(SI No 460 of 2009 enables an interested party to serve written ‘notice of re-examination’ to the Minister, in respect of findings and conclusions that appear to reflect adversely on the person’s reputation.)

Such a notice was served on the Minister by an interested party.

The crash of Irish Coast Guard Sikorsky S-92 helicopter claimed the lives of Capt Dara Fitzpatrick, co-pilot Capt Mark Duffy, winch operator Paul Ormsby and winchman Ciaran Smith.

The bodies of Ormsby and Smith have not been found to date.

Background

Following the accident, the Air Accident Investigation Unit commenced an investigation as required under international and domestic law.

On March 14, 2018 the AAIU published a Preliminary Report that ruled out mechanical failure and published a subsequent Interim Statement on March 1.

The AAIU issued its Draft Final Report on September 13, 2019, to ‘interested parties’ who were given 60 days to comment.

CHC Ireland holds the ten-year (2022 expiry) Irish Coast Guard search and rescue contract worth €50m a year.