The Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has completed its thorough investigation into the cause and contributing factors behind the crash of Cougar Flight 491. The TSB report provides very valuable insight into the reasons for the accident and the factors that played a role in the tragedy. Arising from the investigation are recommendations for Transport Canada, the US Federal Aviation Administration and the helicopter manufacturer.

The report identifies matters that had previously been identified in the Board’s comprehensive Public Inquiry into Offshore Helicopter Safety Phase I, chaired by Commissioner Robert Wells. The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board (C-NLOPB) established two Teams in December 2010, a Safety Team and an Aviation Safety Team, to prepare responses to the Inquiry recommendations. Both Teams are led by experts from outside the
C-NLOPB and include representatives from the C-NLOPB, Operators, workers, Cougar and other agencies as required. Progress reports are posted on the C-NLOPB website.

The C-NLOPB, Commissioner Robert Wells and the Teams are now reviewing the report. The Chair and CEO of the C-NLOPB, the Commissioner and the Team leads will meet next week to agree on a way forward. The Teams will integrate the TSB findings into the work they are doing.

While Transport Canada is the agency responsible for regulating helicopter travel, the C-NLOPB is actively making improvements to passenger safety stemming from the lessons learned to date. Safety is a process of on-going improvement and the C-NLOPB is fully committed to learning from this tragedy and taking the necessary steps to improve safety for offshore workers.

Any incident that results in death or injury is regrettable. It is the sincere wish of the Board and its staff that lessons learned from this tragedy for all parties involved will ensure that such an incident never happens again.

Media Contact:
Sean Kelly M.A., APR, FCPRS
Manager of Public Relations
(709) 778-1418
(709) 689-0713 (cell)
skelly@cnlopb.nl.ca