Accident/Incident Investigation, Helicopter Safety, In-depth Feature

Descent to the Sea

Norwegian investigators cited failure of the S92’s pitch actuator in the North Sea accident, which killed the flight nurse.

by Linda Werfelman | April 28, 2026

The crew of the Sikorsky S-92A was conducting a pitch-up maneuver to retrieve a training beacon that they had dropped into the North Sea when the maneuver, which normally halted automatically, instead continued until the helicopter had pitched up 30 degrees and entered an unrecoverable vortex ring state. The commander’s attempt at a go-around failed, and the helicopter entered rearward flight and descended into the water.

Descent to the Sea

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