THE search for the two remaining missing crew members from Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter R116 has resumed in an attempt to find their remains.
Helicopter R116 crashed into Blackrock lighthouse off the coast of Blacksod, Co. Mayo on March 14 this year.
The crew were dispatched from Dublin to assist in the recovery of an injured crewman from a boat off the Mayo coast on the night of March 13, but lost contact with the Coast Guard in the early hours of March 14.
Captain Dara Fitzpatrick was recovered at sea later that day, while the body of fellow Captain Mark Duffy was found in the wreckage two weeks after the crash.
While an extensive search was carried out in the weeks following the crash, winchman Ciarán Smith, 38, and winch operator Paul Ormsby, 53, are yet to be recovered.
The lighthouse at Black Rock, where the helicopter debris was found. (Picture: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews.ie)Now, the Irish Coast Guard have said five agencies will coordinate another search of the area around Blackrock lighthouse using nets.
"The Irish Coast Guard, Canadian Helicopter Corporation, An Garda Síochána, Belcross Enterprises (Marine contractors) and with the Marine Institute in support will begin a five-day trawling campaign using specially modified nets.
"The nets were provided for free by Swan Net-Gundry Ltd based out of Killybegs, and will be deployed from a medium-sized fishing vessel called the MFV Westbound.
"The search will be coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard Malin Head.
"During the searches the Irish Coast Guard will increase their shore patrols with Rescue 115 and Rescue 118 assisting those searches.
"We will not leave you. You are not alone. Help is on its way. Hold hope," they said.
Following the search with the nets, the ILV Granuaile - a multifunctional vessel designed to search in difficult conditions - is scheduled to arrive in Blacksod to initiate another search using a robot on the seabed.
'We're gone'
The rescue helicopter was retrieved from the seabed near Blackrock lighthouse, where investigators initially said the rear of the aircraft had “contact” with the rocks on the small island.
The primary report into the findings of the aircraft’s black box revealed that the crew identified the island, and attempted to “come right” before impact.
In a transcript of the audio released from the black box, Mark Duffy said "We're gone" before the aircraft collided with the island.
The audio of the crew is detailed on three channels; Capt Fitzpatrick and Capt Duffy each on separate channels and Paul Ormsby and Ciarán Smith sharing a channel in the rear of the aircraft.
“Looking at an island just in, directly ahead of us guys, you want to come right,” the rear channel says.
“Ok, come right, just confirm?” Capt Fitzpatrick asks.
“Come right, come right now, COME RIGHT,” the rear channel says.
“We’re gone,” Capt Mark Duffy says, before muffled sounds are picked up on the audio.
The helicopter then rapidly “pitched nose up” during the two seconds prior to the initial impact.
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