Helicopter safety report to be released today

Inquiry from crash off of N.L. last year expected to include many changes for workers' safety

A highly anticipated report from the inquiry into an offshore helicopter crash near Newfoundland will be released today.

The Offshore Helicopter Safety Inquiry was established after the crash of Cougar Helicopters Flight 491 in March 2009. Only one of the 18 people on board survived after the helicopter crashed into the ocean 60 kilometres east of St. John’s.

Commissioner Robert Wells is expected to make several recommendations for how transport for workers can be made safer, as the inquiry exposed deficiencies in how workers are flown to fields off Newfoundland's east coast.

The inquiry was set up by The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board, the province's offshore oil regulator.

The board said it will take 30 days to review the recommendations from this first phase of the inquiry.

A $27-million lawsuit has been filed against the helicopter's manufacturer, Sikorsky Aircraft Corp., and others alleging breach of duty, gross negligence, negligent misrepresentation, recklessness and willful misconduct.

None of the allegations have been proven in court.

The report will be released on the board's website at www.cnlopb.nl.ca.

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