The accident was one of a series suffered by Bristow helicopters in the North Sea in just over a year . These included the 12 August 1981 loss of another Bell 212 and the 13 August 1981 loss of a Westland Wessex . Soon after the crash , former Labour Secretary of State for Social Services David Ennals called for a Trade Department inquiry into the safety of helicopter operations in the North Sea oil industry . The accident brought the total number of dead from North Sea helicopter accidents by all UK operators to 40
13 August 1981 loss
1981 Bristow Helicopters Westland Wessex crash
1982 Bristow Helicopters Bell 212 crash