Super Puma fatal accident inquiry: Crash was 'not survivable' The Super Puma helicopter crash which killed 16 men in the North Sea was "not survivable," a fatal accident inquiry has heard. Air Accidents Investigation Branch senior operations investigator Timothy Atkinson said the gearbox failure meant there was nothing the crew could do. He said: "I'm sorry to say there is no doubt whatsoever that this event was not survivable for those on board." The AAIB pinpointed a catastrophic failure of the gearbox for the crash. The inquiry, now in its fourth week, continues.