Airbus Issues Alert After Preliminary Findings on Helicopter Crash

By Olivia Bugault

Airbus SA (AIR.FR) has issued an emergency alert following preliminary findings on the deadly crash of an Airbus helicopter in late August, the Accident and Investigation Board of Norway said Wednesday.

On Aug. 31, an Airbus helicopter AS350 B3e operated by Norway's Helitran hit the ground while transporting passengers from a cultural event, killing all six occupants, AIBN said.

"Preliminary findings linked to the connection between the engine and the main gearbox has led Airbus Helicopter to issue an emergency alert service bulletin calling for immediate visual inspection of this area for recently delivered AS350, AS550 and EC130 helicopters," AIBN said.

The issuance of the alert is a precautionary measure to ensure the airworthiness of the helicopters, the helicopter division of Airbus said.

As the examinations are still in progress, AIBN is unable to say if the crash was due to a failure of connection between the engine and the gearbox.

Write to Olivia Bugault at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 11, 2019 05:27 ET (09:27 GMT)

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