Setting
Helideck
Helicopter landing area on an installation or vessel.
Documents
- 2026Mar
Personal Safety (USCG)
US Coast Guard inspection questions address personnel safety on manned and unmanned OCS platforms. They link protective equipment, housekeeping, deck guarding, lifesaving provision, escape arrangements and emergency drills to regulatory authorities and enforcement actions. Individual entries carry update labels, including March 2026 changes to escape and survival equipment checks.
- 2025Dec
Health Safety Insight 2025
Annual review of UK offshore energy health and safety, centred on 2024 performance with historical comparisons. It examines hydrocarbon releases, maintenance backlogs, injury trends, medical assessment outcomes and evacuations, including mental health. Offshore aviation analysis covers fleet utilisation, helicopter safety indicators and the inclusion of wind operations.
- 202522 May
EC175 B Rotor Blade Failures at Offshore Platform During Strong Winds
Investigates rotor blade failures on EC175 B G-MCSH at the Elgin platform during strong winds. A partially seized rotor brake prevented blade securing; local vertical airflow was considered to exacerbate blade sailing. The report examines maintenance, securing equipment, helideck airflow, wind reporting and flight recorder anomalies, and makes six safety recommendations.
- 202516 Apr
BSEE: Crane safety awareness during offshore helideck operations
An offshore helicopter landing nearly ended in collision when a crane operator raised the boom as the aircraft was 10 feet from touchdown. The pilots performed a successful go-around. Drawing on BSEE findings, the flash highlights procedural enforcement, communication and coordination, with recommendations also applicable to vessel approaches and simultaneous operations.
- 20245 Nov
BSEE Safety Alert 491 - Vigilance Required in Offshore Helideck Operations
A helicopter approaching an offshore helideck avoided collision by going around after a crane boom was raised near the landing area. The alert identifies communication and procedural enforcement shortcomings. BSEE recommends operators and contractors consider crane-movement suspension, coordinated communications, helideck checks, training and routine audits.
- 202410 Oct
BSEE Safety Alert 490 - Helideck Condition Notifications and Verification
A helicopter pilot diverted after discovering that an offshore helideck’s capacity had been reduced from its published rating of 12,000 lbs to 6,000 lbs. The alert examines delayed notification and recommends considering verified capacity information, verbal checks before flight and landing, updated procedures, marking recognition training and prompt communication of changes.
- 202419 Jun
Safety Bulletin - Helideck Structural Integrity
This bulletin discusses corrosion-related impairment of offshore helidecks and the risks introduced by alternative personnel transfers. It highlights difficult access for inspection and repair, galvanic corrosion, protective coatings and maintenance regimes, alongside statutory duties to maintain structures throughout facility life, including infrastructure needed for future decommissioning.
- 202414 Feb
BSEE Safety Alert 481 - Hazardous Helideck Conditions Results in Near Miss Incident
An offshore helideck near miss involved unsecured safety skirting moving in helicopter rotor downwash after landing clearance. BSEE recommends that operators and contractors consider checks before clearance, coordination of simultaneous operations, facility-specific procedures and briefings, alongside notifications and visible markings for out-of-service helidecks.
- 202416 Jan
BSEE Safety Alert 479 - Lack of Adherence to Helideck Safety Procedures Results in Series of Near Miss Incidents
BSEE reviews six helideck near misses involving gas venting during approach, loose debris, grease, unsafe approach to a running helicopter, crane interference and raised handrails. It recommends that operators and contractors consider personnel instruction, facility-specific procedures, operational planning and pre-arrival briefings to strengthen helideck safety.
- 202314 Nov
Safely Approaching a Helicopter on Offshore Helidecks
An offshore crew-change near miss involved personnel approaching a helicopter from the rear while its rotors were moving and before pilot clearance. BSEE recommends operators and contractors consider pilot confirmation, aircraft-specific safe entry zones, passenger familiarisation and facility-specific procedures. The alert also describes the air crew’s stop-work intervention.
- 202320 Oct
BSEE Identifies Medical Evacuation and Emergency Hazards During Risk-Based Inspections
BSEE inspections identified deficiencies in offshore medical evacuation arrangements, supplies, emergency plans and drills. Findings included inaccessible defibrillators, unsuitable Stokes litters, obstructed escape routes and helideck concerns. The alert recommends operators and contractors consider procedure reviews, supply checks, realistic drills and assessment of medical response times.
- 2023
Standards for offshore helicopter landing areas (Version 9.1, 7 January 2026; publisher status Current)
Sets criteria for offshore helicopter landing areas on installations and vessels, alongside wind-turbine winching arrangements. Covers structural loading, obstacle protection, surface friction testing, lighting, motion monitoring, meteorological reporting, rescue and fire-fighting, fuel-system design and maintenance, and passenger preparation. The January 2026 amendment introduces arrangements for temporary safety-critical equipment unserviceability.
- 202113 Jun
Report - Offshore helicopter operations - April 2010
Updates an earlier review of Australian offshore helicopter support through operator and petroleum-company questionnaires and regulatory analysis. It compares provision with 2006, examines proposed rotorcraft rules and personal locator beacon interference, and reports improvements in monitoring systems, medical evacuation availability, flight tracking and helideck support.
- 202124 Feb
Hazards Identified in Level I Surveys not Communicated to Affected Personnel
BSEE describes platform inspections revealing structural deterioration already recorded in Level I Surveys but not communicated to visiting personnel. Cases include collapsed helideck skirting and unsecured well-deck grating. Operators are urged to consider disseminating findings, tracking structural issues to closure, marking compromised access areas out of service and barricading hazards pending repairs.
- 202030 Jan
Near miss during helicopter operations
A crew member removed a helideck access chain during helicopter boarding and passed beneath the tail rotor despite a shouted warning. No injury occurred. The flash examines passenger judgement, access supervision and ineffective readiness checks, and recommends clearer boarding routes, passenger briefings and consideration of human factors in safety-system design.
- 201910 Dec
Safety Alert 373 - Lightning Strikes Threaten Aircraft on Helidecks
A lightning strike damaged an aircraft at an offshore oil and gas facility. The pilot initially found no damage and transported passengers; maintenance personnel subsequently identified damage. BSEE recommends operators and contractors consider thorough post-storm inspections, completing required checks and notifications before further flights, and briefing passengers on inspection actions.
- 20198 Aug
Sikorsky S-92A Wrong-Deck Approach During Offshore Shuttling
Investigates a Sikorsky S-92A wrong-deck approach during shuttling in the Brae field. Platform similarity and alignment, training workload and expectation biases weakened identification checks. The report examines flight management cues, helideck directories and operating procedures, describes the radio operator’s intervention, and records planned training and checklist reviews.
- 2019Jun
Aviation (Helideck Operations)
An offshore inspection guide setting out regulatory responsibilities and success criteria for safe helideck operations. It covers team competence, certification, emergency planning, protective equipment, breathing apparatus monitoring and escape routes. Drone inspection risks and gas-linked wave-off lights are addressed alongside dutyholder performance scoring and enforcement expectations.
- 201822 Mar
Aircraft Accident Report 1/2018, G-WNSR High resolution
Investigation of G-WNSR’s loss of yaw control during landing at West Franklin. A failed tail rotor pitch change shaft bearing damaged the control servo; the initiating reason remained undetermined. The report examines missed HUMS warnings, software interfaces, maintenance review and crew decisions, documenting safety actions and recommendations. No injuries occurred.
- 201714 Dec
AW139 Landed on Wrong Offshore Platform Following Destination Change
An AW139 crew landed at Viscount instead of Vampire after a destination change was not reflected in flight planning software and inconsistent platform identifiers caused confusion. The investigation examines planning and radio communication, records proposed operator safety actions, and discusses industry recommendations for preventing wrong deck landings.
- 201714 Sep
AW139 Landed on Wrong Helideck Following Incorrect Destination Selection
An AW139 landed at Leman 27B rather than Shell Leman 26B after an incorrect destination was selected during manual flight planning. The investigation examines incompatible helideck codes, dropdown selection, passenger manifests and radio calls. Operator actions included secondary flight-plan checks, coding reviews and crew access to coding information.
- 201630 Aug
Safety Alert 322 - Helideck Obstructions and Compounding Procedural Errors Contribute to Five Near Misses on OCS
This alert describes five helicopter near misses at OCS oil and gas helidecks, involving uncommunicated closures, poorly visible status lighting and protruding obstructions near tail rotors. Recommendations address NOTAM checks, radio warnings, closure markings, helideck information plates, visual reconnaissance, crew resource management and landing position within the aiming circle.
- 20169 Jun
AW139 Landed on Wrong Offshore Platform During Line Training
An AW139 carrying ten passengers landed on Amethyst A1D instead of A2D during line training. The report examines similar platform appearances, flight-display waypoint presentation and destination-identification checklists. The crew attributed the error to early misidentification and considered simulator identification practices a possible contributory factor. No injuries or damage were reported.
- 20169 Jun
Sikorsky S-92A Landed on Wrong Offshore Helideck
Investigation of a Sikorsky S-92A landing on the unmanned Ensco 120 helideck rather than Buzzard in the North Sea. It examines visual misidentification, crew workload, radio interruptions, unused flight-management information and the decision to depart immediately. Potential safety actions concern navigation cross-checks, approach checklists and training.
- 201624 Feb
Helicopter rotor downdraft hazards – Oil & Gas UK (OGUK)
This safety flash describes helicopter downdraft lifting unsecured baggage and other objects near helidecks, including bags landing on a level 10 m below. It discusses wind effects, storage and ineffective crate-lid securing, and suggests reviewing risk assessments, briefing crews and securing or removing susceptible materials before flights.
- 201410 Dec
Eurocopter EC155B1 OY-HJJ 07-14 v2
Investigation of a serious helicopter incident following departure from Clipper Gas platform. The aircraft approached within approximately 50 feet of the sea. Recorded data showed correct automatic flight-control performance with extensive manual override. The report examines crew responses, control-system defects, weighing and fuel-gauging errors, and subsequent operating restrictions.
- 20144 Jun
Unsecured object lifted by helicopter downwash
Helicopter downwash lifted an unsecured bench cover on a vessel and flung it onto a deck some 6 m below; nobody was in the landing area. Investigation identified missing securing provisions and unrecognised risk. Actions included additional securing inspections and risk assessment before installing new equipment near the helideck.
- 20142 May
Safety Alert 311 - Methane Venting Hazard to Helicopter Operations
BSEE warns that vented methane can enter helicopter engines near offshore helidecks, potentially causing overspeed or failure. Referencing one attributed accident and two similar accidents under investigation, the alert discusses flight-path precautions, operator notifications, visible wind indicators, vent warning beacons and draft recommendations for discharge siting and automatic detection.
- 201211 Dec
Lost time injury (LTI): Person fell over on helideck and broke arm
This safety flash summarises a Marine Safety Forum incident in which helicopter turbulence knocked a landing officer off his feet during landing. He fell on the helideck and broke his arm. The account identifies inadequate sheltering from the helicopter’s downdraft as the immediate cause.
- 201220 Aug
Helideck Obstruction Hazard: Marking and Notification
Following a fatal helicopter crash, this alert examines helideck obstruction identification, closure marking and notification to aviation providers. A pilot attempted to land on an unmarked platform helideck apparently obstructed by a jackup. The reasons for the landing attempt remain unknown; management marked the helideck closed afterwards.
- 200926 Nov
Helicopter Wheel Snags Helideck Net Near Miss with High Severity Potential
This alert describes a helicopter wheel snagging a helideck net after the aircraft moved forwards and sideways before take-off. The Helicopter Landing Officer noticed the snag and informed the pilot by radio. The net released itself as the wheel was lifted about 30 cm above the helideck.
- 200925 May
Helicopter Operations – Ground Resonance Phenomena
The supplied alert excerpt describes a helicopter arriving at a MODU helideck for a routine crew change. Following a mutual safety signal, the landing officer exchanged manifests and passed food to the pilot while two assistants unloaded luggage from the aircraft’s starboard aft locker.
- 20067 Nov
Safety Alert 244 - Two Injured in Separate Incidents from Lack of Fall Protection and Improper Supervision
This alert describes two offshore injuries: a worker fell from a flare boom after weld failure, and another fell through an opening created during helideck skirting removal. MMS identifies inadequate supervision and missing fall protection, recommending accountable contractor supervision, pre-job JSA reviews and secure fall-protection connections.
- 2005Nov
How offshore helicopter travel is regulated
Explains how offshore helicopter travel is regulated through the complementary roles of HSE and the Civil Aviation Authority. Describes responsibilities of helicopter operators, flight crews, installation operators and workers, covering aircraft airworthiness, helideck suitability, personnel competence and regulatory co-operation in the UK offshore oil and gas industry.
- 20052 Jul
Safe Helicopter Operations
An offshore crew-change alert describes helicopter boarding interrupted by a crane lift from an alongside supply boat. After an uneventful return flight, the pilot found ten passengers rather than the eight manifested. Subsequent manifest checks and weighing established that the aircraft had exceeded its maximum allowable weight by approximately 308 kg.
- 20053 Jan
Helideck foam sample
Testing of a vessel’s helideck foam sample revealed excessive water content, traced to a leaking non-return valve. The diluted concentrate could not have produced the required foam blanket during a helicopter fire. Company actions included leakage testing where possible, frequent planned inspection when convenient, and scheduling an isolation valve.
- 20037 Nov
Helicopter Landing Incident
This alert describes a helicopter landing attempt on a MODU under tow. Approaching the heliport from the bow, the aircraft’s tail rotor struck and severed two antennas mounted above the adjacent ballast control room. The supplied account provides no incident date or preventive recommendations.
- 1998
OCS Report 1998
This report compiles 1998 Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas incidents by region and event type, combining case narratives with graphical analysis. Pacific and Gulf of Mexico data cover well-control events, fires, collisions, fatalities, injuries and pollution. Cases examine equipment failures, work procedures and response measures, retaining uncertainty in reported causes.
- 19943 Mar
Safety Alert 11 - Crane/helicopter Operations
An alert describes a crane boom swinging in line with a helideck while a helicopter idled before take-off on a Pacific offshore platform. It reiterates crane shutdown, boom securing and operators leaving cabs, recommends arrival announcements, and attaches guidance on pilot–operator coordination, crane visibility and warning indicators.
- 19936 Apr
Safety Alert 9 - Platform Helideck Obstructions
A helicopter skid spring snagged beneath helideck perimeter tubing used to deter seagulls with compressed air. The alert identifies nearby drilling equipment, wind conditions and tubing as contributing circumstances. It requests obstruction inspections, consideration of remedial options, pilot awareness of local conditions and immediate communication of helideck changes.
- 19925 Sep
Safety Alert 7 - Platform Helideck Closing Procedures
Following a helicopter landing during platform natural gas venting in the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf Region, MMS found differing helideck closure procedures among operators. The notice requests adherence to existing closure procedures when necessary and staff awareness of changes, while possible standardised requirements remain under investigation.
- 197820 Sep
Safety Alert 75 - Helicopter Crashes: 17 Fatalities
A helicopter lost lateral control during landing and its main rotor struck a crane cable before the aircraft fell from the platform into water, killing 17 people. The alert describes wind conditions and landing obstructions, and sets out crane positioning and restrictions on crane activity during helicopter operations.
- Undated
Helicopter Mechanic Fell While Retrieving Tools from Aircraft
Investigation of a helicopter mechanic’s fall while retrieving grease guns from an aircraft at an offshore facility. The report identifies oversized boots, loss of three-point contact and tools left on the aircraft. It describes impact injuries, unsuccessful helicopter evacuation attempts, transport ashore by vessel and subsequent relocation of aircraft maintenance onshore.
- Undated
Helicopter Tail Rotor Struck Rig During Landing Manoeuvre
Investigates a helicopter landing accident at Platform Irene in which the tail rotor struck the rig during a hovering turn. The report attributes the accident to pilot error and examines early seatbelt release, evacuation, injuries and fuel spillage. Revised arrangements address rig-location information, pilot briefings and landing-position checks.
- Undated
Helicopter Slid from Heliport into Water During Start-Up
An investigation describes a helicopter sliding from the South Timbalier 127A heliport into the water during start-up as adverse weather approached. The pilot sustained lower-back injuries. The report identifies an unforeseen thunderstorm gust and failure to secure the aircraft and await better weather as probable causes, and records a crew-boat recovery request.
- Undated
Platform Crane Collapsed During Casing Removal for Well Abandonment
Investigation of a platform crane collapse during casing removal for plug and abandonment work. Possible swing gear bolt failure from exceeding load capacity was identified as the probable cause. Findings address missed ring-bearing inspections, operator experience, unavailable load information and missing JSA documentation. No injuries or pollution were reported.
- Undated
Safety review of offshore public transport helicopter operations (Version 1, 20 February 2014; publisher status Current)
This review examines offshore helicopter transport supporting oil and gas operations, combining accident and occurrence analysis with documentary research, interviews and independent challenge. It assesses airworthiness, gearbox failures, maintenance, pilot performance, helideck standards and passenger survivability, setting out CAA actions and recommendations on training, flotation, underwater escape and operational restrictions.