HALIFAX — Transport Canada says it will consider whether to require changes to the design of a gearbox that lost oil and was a cause in the fatal crash of Cougar Flight 491 off Newfoundland two years ago.
The federal department is responding to recommendations by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada on the crash that killed 17 people.
The department posted its response Monday night on its website, but words were missing and a spokeswoman sent an email Tuesday to clarify the response.
In her email, Maryse Durette says Transport Canada will meet with American and European regulators and discuss whether rules need to be changed to ensure the gearboxes will be capable of operating 30 minutes if they lose oil pressure.
In a report released in February, the safety board said the primary cause of the March 12, 2009, crash was a massive loss of oil to the chopper’s main gearbox after two of three titanium studs snapped off the oil filter assembly during flight.
The safety board recommended that Transport Canada change regulations so that offshore helicopters are capable of flying without oil in the main gearbox for at least 30 minutes.
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