PUTRAJAYA: PILOT error and bad weather have been identified as the probable cause of the Eurocopter AS350 helicopter crash near Sungai Batang Lupar, Sarawak, last year, which killed six people, including a deputy minister and a member of parliament.
According to the final report prepared by the Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau, the pilot, Filipino Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas, was believed to be under tremendous stress prior to the crash.
It stated that there was no response to several radio calls made by other helicopter pilots flying in the area.
The report also said the thunderstorm, rain and a lack of local terrain and weather knowledge could have hindered the pilot’s ability to effectively make decisions.
The investigation revealed that the body injuries on the deceased were due to extreme impact on their foreheads, and most of the long and short bones were fractured, which was consistent with high velocity impact.
The report was uploaded onto the ministry’s website (www.mot.gov.my) at 3pm yesterday.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the next-of-kin of those who died in the accident had been informed by the investigation team on the findings and analysis of the final report.
He said the objective of the investigation was to prevent similar accidents and incidents in future and not to apportion blame or liability.
“The report contains factual information, analysis and conclusion to the findings and probable cause of the accident,” Liow said.
The investigation team comprised six members, led by investigator-in-charge Datuk Yahaya Abdul Rahman.
The investigation was assisted by French Bureau of Enquiry and Analysis for Civil Aviation Safety (BEA) and the Aircraft Accident and Inquiry Investigation Board of the Philippines.
The investigation team also outlined several key safety recommendations to ensure safety and security of helicopter operations in future.
The recommendations include urging Malaysian and Philippine civil aviation authorities to ensure via the Visual Flight Rules that pilots in single pilot operations have sufficient knowledge on decision-making processes when flying in marginal weather, or in the vicinity of thunderstorm. It is for these authorities to make crew resource management or Aeronautical Decision Making course a mandatory knowledge to single pilot operations.
“The Civil Aviation Department (DCA) Air Traffic Controller should adhere to all procedures related to emergency responses as published in the Manual of Air Traffic Services, especially on the timing for declaring each phase of emergency so that other search-and-rescue agencies can react accordingly.
“Foreign helicopter pilots flying in Malaysia also need to be familiar with and exposed to local terrain and weather pattern prior to flying on his own.
“It is recommended that foreign helicopter pilots have 10 hours of flying under supervision prior to flying on their own.”
The DCA will announce the requirements for helicopter operations, taking heed of the recommendations put forward by the investigation team to prevent similar future accidents or incidents in due course.
On May 5, the helicopter travelling from Betong to Kuching crashed, killing former deputy Plantation Industries and Commodities minister Tan Sri Noriah Kasnon and husband, Asmuni Abdullah; ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran
Annamalai; Kuala Kangsar
member of parliament and Malaysian Palm Oil Board chairman Datuk Wan Mohammad Khairil Anuar Wan Ahmad; Noriah’s bodyguard, Ahmad Sobri Harun; and Ragas.