Robert Decker, the sole survivor of a helicopter crash that killed 17 people off Newfoundland's east coast, arrives Thursday at the St. John's inquiry into the tragedy. (Andrew Vaughan/Canadian Press)

The sole survivor of a helicopter crash off the east coast of Newfoundland last spring has criticized the safety training passengers receive, the survival suits they wear when travelling offshore and the seating design of the helicopters.

Speaking for the first time since the March 12 crash of Cougar Flight 491 that killed 17 people, Robert Decker, 28, told his story Thursday in St. John's at an inquiry into offshore helicopter safety.

"I don't think that anyone will ever know why it is that I survived this disaster and the others did not," said Decker. "There is probably no good reason. Just luck. What I do know is that I came incredibly close to losing my life."

Decker gave a gripping account of how he escaped the sinking Sikorsky S-92A helicopter after it hit the ocean 55 kilometres southeast of St. John's.

He told the inquiry that he doesn't recall the moment of impact and that his first memory of the crash is of being trapped inside the sinking craft.

"The helicopter was sinking quickly, port side down. It was instantly filled with water… The next thing I did was reach for my seatbelt and I pulled myself out through the window," said Decker.

"I didn't know how deep the helicopter was at that time. I didn't know what was happening. I had my hands above my head and I could look up and I could see it was getting brighter and brighter and I guess eventually my arms broke the surface."

Problems with training, equipment

Decker said he wanted to speak at the inquiry to help it find ways to make offshore work safer. He suggested there are some real problems.

An avid sailor and sailing instructor, Decker said the training that all people who work offshore must complete before they are allowed to travel offshore isn't adequate.

"As good as the training is, a couple of days of controlled emergency training in a pool [are] not enough to allow anyone to develop the instinctive reaction to survive a crash like this," he told the inquiry.

Decker escaped the helicopter as it plummeted to the bottom of the ocean. He said that when he reached the surface, he had problems with his survival suit.

"I couldn't get the gloves on and even in the training in warm water when you have complete dexterity with your fingers, I think they're a little bit tricky to get on. And there is also a shield that you pull over from around the hood that kind of protects the spray from getting on your face and I wasn't able to access that, either," Decker said.

Decker also said the seating design in the Sikorsky S-92A is flawed. He said his experience shows that window seats are safer than the others.

"The chances of being able to escape from an overturned helicopter being on the inside seat would be next to impossible.… You would have to hold your breath and wait for the initial person who would be directly next to the window to get out and clear out of your way. Their feet are kicking.

"I just can't see how this person would ever stand a chance," said Decker.

In a prepared statement that he read at the inquiry, Decker said safe helicopters are the most important aspect of offshore transportation safety.

"Training to escape from a helicopter is important…. Having good survival suits is important and having search and rescue capacity nearby is important. But all those things are what you need after there has been a crash into the ocean," said Decker.

"If we really want to make offshore helicopter travel safe, what we have to do is make sure that every helicopter doesn't crash. The best way to keep every worker safe is to keep every helicopter in the air where it belongs. Safety starts with the helicopter and I think everything else is secondary."

The offshore helicopter safety inquiry was established by the Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Petroleum Board after the crash. The CNLOPB regulates the province's offshore oil industry.

The inquiry led by commissioner Robert Wells, a retired Supreme Court Judge, is adjourned until Nov. 16.