Investigators analyzing the wreckage of doomed aircraft Rescue 116 have found that the on-board warning system lacked terrain data relating to Blackrock Island.
Rescue 116, a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter, crashed on March 14 last, causing the loss of its 4-strong crew. Two bodies, those of winch operator Paul Ormsby and winch man Ciarán Smith, remain missing.
Analysis of the helicopter’s onboard Enhanced Ground Positioning Warning System has revealed that it did not have any reference to the lighthouse sited at Blackrock Island, nor was the terrain of the island itself listed on the flight database.
The helicopter collided with Blackrock Island’s western slopes and crashed down onto rocks below.
Investigators have ruled out mechanical issues, and are focusing on operational conditions.