TSB gives federal minister more time to respond to its report on chopper crash

<p>ST. JOHN’S, N.L. – The Transportation Safety Board is giving the federal transport minister more time to respond to its recommendations resulting from the crash of Cougar Flight 491 off Newfoundland two years ago.</p> <p>Board chair Wendy Tadros says a new minister will be appointed in the coming weeks and will have to be brought up to speed on the safety issues surrounding the crash.</p> <p>A Sikorsky S-92A helicopter was carrying workers to oilfields off Newfoundland on March 12, 2009, when it crashed in the ocean, killing 17 people.</p> <p>The act governing the TSB normally requires the minister to respond to the board’s findings and recommendations within 90 days.</p> <p>The TSB, in a report released in February, cited 16 factors for the cause of the crash, primarily a massive loss of oil to the chopper’s main gearbox.</p> <p>The board made several recommendations, including that offshore helicopters be able to run dry without oil in the main gearbox for at least 30 minutes.</p>