Gearbox crack found in ditched helicopter

A MAJOR crack has been discovered in the gearbox of the Super Puma helicopter that ditched in the North Sea earlier this week, it emerged last night.

Officials from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch, who examined the CHC aircraft yesterday, said there had been complete failure of the gearbox and emergency back-up system.

The AAIB report was produced out after the aircraft arrived back at Peterhead early yesterday.

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