Thai Army Probes Series Of Chopper Crashes

[webfact]

Thai army probes series of chopper crashes

BANGKOK, July 25, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's army has grounded a number of its helicopter fleet, a military official said Monday, after a string of deadly chopper crashes that some have blamed on angry jungle spirits.

On Sunday three troops were killed when a Bell 212 helicopter went down in Phetchaburi province, southwest of Bangkok -- one of three helicopter crashes in the area in little over a week that have together claimed 17 lives.

The crashes had spooked the superstitious even before it emerged that the third chopper had carried the bodies of those killed in the second helicopter, which had in turn been sent to retrieve those who died in the first crash.

"It is a big loss," Major General Pitaya Krajangwong, the Thai army aviation commander, told a press conference in the capital.

He said the first two crashes, involving a Huey and a Black Hawk helicopter respectively, seemed on initial investigation to be caused by bad weather, while in the third incident the Bell 212 appeared to have a tail rota fault.

"The other 20 Bell 212 choppers will not fly until they are well-checked. Once it is found that there is nothing wrong, they can go back to missions," he said, adding that a formal 30-day investigation into the crashes would be held.

The Bell lost on Sunday, which was travelling from Bangkok to a task force base in Phetchaburi, had a day earlier transported bodies from a Black Hawk helicopter crash on Tuesday, in which nine people were killed.

The victims were eight military personnel and a television cameraman.

The Black Hawk was found in dense forest just across the border in Myanmar on Friday morning, three days after it disappeared during a mission to recover the bodies of five soldiers killed in the Huey helicopter accident on July 16.

The strange sequence of events has sparked a range of theories among those living in jungle-heavy areas close to the crash sites, according to Thai media.

A number of military and civilians "believe bad omens are to blame" and have cited earlier predictions by a fortune teller, the English-language Bangkok Post reported on Monday.

"The guardian spirits here are very fierce," said one villager quoted by the paper.

The Thai Rath newspaper said the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment planned to hold a ceremony on Monday to pay respect to spirits believed to be in the jungle.

Top army brass and politicians, including outgoing premier Abhisit Vejjajiva, attended a Buddhist ceremony for the victims of the Black Hawk crash in the western province of Kanchanburi on Monday.

Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha was initially due to travel to the service by helicopter but changed his plans and went by car, Pitaya said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-07-25

[AleG]

If they are falling in the same region maybe they should check the fuel depots in the area, for contaminated fuel... or blame spirits, who knows.

[Thai at Heart]

bizarre contamination story a few months ago.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4065059,00.html

Fuel contamination halts flights

Air traffic at Ben Gurion International Airport halted after contamination is discovered in jet fuel. Airline official says airport plunges into 'colossal chaos.' All flights diverted to Cyprus for refueling

http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx

This is the most only reason for 3 copters falling out of the sky in a week.

[ib1b4]

I think that it quite possible that spirits may have been involved!

[Thai at Heart]

I think that it quite possible that spirits may have been involved!

Well you are probably right, helicopters don't run very well on vodka or lao kao.

[mania2301]

Burmese black magic maybe....remember the 2 F-16's that crash near the cambodian border...cambodian black magic. I'm sure the generals will not rule out black magic

[Phatcharanan]

Quote : "Army chief General Prayut Chan-O-Cha was initially due to travel to the service by helicopter but changed his plans and went by car" Pitaya said. Unquote.

No kidding! Wise choice seeing as how the maintenance on these birds probably sucks.

[webfact]

KANG KRACHAN TRAGEDY

Crashes: Army downplays chance of human error

By The Nation

Aviation chief says all three helicopters were well maintained, crews experienced; poor visibility a possible factor in first two accidents

The Royal Thai Army yesterday made its first official statement about the three helicopter crashes near the Thai-Burma border over just nine days, downplaying human error as possible reasons for the accidents.

Commander of the RTA Aviation Centre, Maj-General Phitthaya Krajangwong, repeated that poor visibility was a possible reason that the first two helicopters crashed.

They were a UH1-H on July 16 and a Black Hawk on July 19.

Meanwhile, mechanical failure was a likely cause of the third crash - a UH1-N - on Sunday. The details have been widely reported by the media and are known to the public.

Detailed results of an official investigation into the technical and other relevant aspects would be available soon, or after 30 days if an extension was necessary, he said.

All three incidents were being investigated by a single panel, which was looking into the technical, logistical and administrative aspects.

While admitting that the human factor was always a probability in any accident, Phitthaya did not mention it as a cause of the three incidents in his statement at the press conference yesterday.

He said the aviation centre's history dated back to 1967.

It had trained more than 2,000 pilots in a total of 55 classes. He cited the facts in an attempt to highlight the qualifications of the crews that perished, saying they were highly trained and had experience of flying long hours.

The three crashes are the worst air disasters in the history of the Thai military. All up, 16 personnel and a civilian cameraman were killed, while one crew member was also injured.

All UH-1N helicopters - about 20 belonging to the Army - have been grounded for a couple of days for an inspection, which may take a few more days. The general said maintenance and repairs to all three helicopters, as well as other aircraft in the RTA fleet, had been adequate and according to the manufacturers' specifications.

The only new details given by Phitthaya was a theory related to the first crash. He said that thick clouds could have suddenly converged above a landing zone, affecting visibility and forcing the pilots to head up the UH1-H, without looking ahead, and hitting a hillside before climbing up.

In the case of the UH-1N, which is referred to by the Army and the media as a Bell 212, maybe to differentiate it from the UH-1H, he said the tail rotor was not damaged or gutted by fire and would be a crucial evidence and very useful to the investigation. He said it could confirm that it was a key mechanical failure, and possibly linked to the UH-1N losing control and hitting the ground.

Meanwhile, Army commander General Prayuth Chan-ocha reacted angrily to certain media reports and opinions of academics who questioned the decision-making of the Army's senior leaders. They said that after the first two accidents, sending a third chopper could have been avoided. He called on them to show responsibility for causing a drop in the morale of the Army aviation personnel.

He said criticism could be made but should be based on facts and fairness to Army aviation personnel. He repeated Phitthaya's insistence that the choppers had had sufficient maintenance.

Prayuth said the Army was upset over the incidents but not discouraged by them. "I welcome criticisms but they must be based on the right principles.

"What we can do now is to study the incidents, ensure the deaths were not in vain, and learn lessons from them to prevent future incidents," he said.

Prayuth attended the funerals in Kanchanaburi of Maj-General Tawan Ruengsri, the highest-ranking casualty, among others. He travelled from Bangkok by road, instead of taking a helicopter.

Water granted by His Majesty the King in honour of the troops was presented at bathing rituals during funerals for all 17 killed. Most were promoted posthumously to higher ranks, and their families have been promised a full package of financial assistance and other support.

Prayuth said the families would be allowed to live in military apartments for a while, and the family of Channel 5 cameraman Sornwichai Khongtannikool would be also be granted extra assistance.

-- The Nation 2011-07-26

[housepainter]

Once they find there is nothing wrong ................................. they fall out of the sky due to lack of maintenance, pilot error, too heavy loads and yet they WILL find nothing wrong.

Carry on Flying.

Next.

[EyesWideOpen]

The true reasons will probably be lost in face saving nonsense. But I am sure that one outcome will be certain, that no ranking Army officer will ever set foot in a helicopter again....... :jap:

[cup-O-coffee]

The condemning phrase "after a string of deadly chopper crashes" is the outrage!

Take the FAA for example. Only one mishap happens, whether there are casualties or not, and the entire range of those aircraft model numbers are grounded in US airspace until a full safety inspection and cause is found. No matter what!

Why did it take more than one?!

All other commentaries are baseless and demonstrate the utmost ignorance and unprofessional irresponsibility to the deceased and the relatives, as well as to the honor and safety of those who do serve their nation. Soldiers should not have to worry about equipment failure, nor should they have to be expected to operate or use their equipment when its function is in question, and there is no action being taken. The insult to injury is any suggestion of superstitious who-do-voo-doo. What a sick way for so-called professionals to diagnose a situation and to abandon the safety of the soldiers who trust them without question.

I'll expect next that some police or military investigator make a statement that the pilots drowned while operating these aircraft.

At the first sign of any complications of defects in an aircraft, you ground them and conduct a full investigation with the owners and the manufacturers and any governing bodies who are responsible for flight safety. But there is no mention of this, and at least not to any great detail as you would read were it a defective brake/fuel-line in a Toyota, or a horizontal stabilizer in a 767, for example. A recall or a grounding is a certainty. Lives are being used at the roll of the dice, and we delay, and allow a "string" of deadly events before anyone can make a clear decision?

This simply re-affirms what I say about most natives, or native organizations; that there is no crisis or emergency until it happens, and even then, maybe they delay in the hopes it will go away.

Sheesh! This is senseless; and apologies, compensation and resignations are overdue.

My opinion!

Edited July 26, 2011 by cup-O-coffee

[peecee]

The condemning phrase "after a string of deadly chopper crashes" is the outrage!

Take the FAA for example. Only one mishap happens, whether there are casualties or not, and the entire range of those aircraft model numbers are grounded in US airspace until a full safety inspection and cause is found. No matter what!

Why did it take more than one?!

All other commentaries are baseless and demonstrate the utmost ignorance and unprofessional irresponsibility to the deceased and the relatives, as well as to the honor and safety of those who do serve their nation. Soldiers should not have to worry about equipment failure, nor should they have to be expected to operate or use their equipment when its function is in question, and there is no action being taken. The insult to injury is any suggestion of superstitious who-do-voo-doo. What a sick way for so-called professionals to diagnose a situation and to abandon the safety of the soldiers who trust them without question.

I'll expect next that some police or military investigator make a statement that the pilots drowned while operating these aircraft.

At the first sign of any complications of defects in an aircraft, you ground them and conduct a full investigation with the owners and the manufacturers and any governing bodies who are responsible for flight safety. But there is no mention of this, and at least not to any great detail as you would read were it a defective brake/fuel-line in a Toyota, or a horizontal stabilizer in a 767, for example. A recall or a grounding is a certainty. Lives are being used at the roll of the dice, and we delay, and allow a "string" of deadly events before anyone can make a clear decision?

This simply re-affirms what I say about most natives, or native organizations; that there is no crisis or emergency until it happens, and even then, maybe they delay in the hopes it will go away.

Sheesh! This is senseless; and apologies, compensation and resignations are overdue.

My opinion!

3 different types, two due to bad weather; brings to mind pilot instrument training. Only the bell was reported as a technical defect and grounding of that type until after a fleet check or even a board of inquiry would be sensible . If the Thais stopped op's after every 'copter crash they'd never fly again!

Edited July 26, 2011 by peecee

[taff33]

Do you think it could be possible that during maintenance genuine parts were not used?.

[noahvail]

Do you think it could be possible that during maintenance genuine parts were not used?.

Given the amount of world-wide aircraft and automobile parts counterfeiting, I think it;s much more than possible:

http://counterfeitin...php?sec_=C&c_=6

edit: type

Edited July 26, 2011 by noahvail

[Bagwan]

Any serviceman who has served for a lengthy amount of time knows that he is handling and using the cheapest equipment that his Government can buy. They also realise that they are minimum wage.

[Lite Beer]

Air Force Huey helicopter makes emergency landing in Udon Thani rice field

UDON THANI, July 27 – A Royal Thai Air Force 'Huey' helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing in a rice field in the northeastern province of Udon Thani, apparently due to engine problems, but was able to fly again after three hours of repairs.

Villagers at Phen district told reporters that they heard two helicopters flying over their heads, moving to Ban Dung district but the second helicopter reduced its flying level and landed in a rice field.

They said there were six soldiers on board the helicopter, who reportedly told the villagers that they planned to travel to Ban Dung for training but engine problems forced them to land in the rice field.

One hour later, six soldiers in a military jeep arrived to repair the chopper and asked the villagers to stay away from the chopper and not take photos.

Mechanics from Udon Thani-based Wing 23 Air Force Base took about three hours to repair the helicopter and then it flew back to Wing 23 at about 1pm.

Over the past two weeks, three army helicopters – a Huey, a Black Hawk and a Bell 212 -- crashed during the operations in the Khang Krajan National Park forest in Phetchaburi province, killing 17 people, 16 military and one civilian cameraman from Army-operated television Channel 5, and one man was injured.

The Huey helicopter was on a rescue mission to airlift a group of rangers, journalists and forest encroachment suspects out of the forest in Kaeng Krajan National Park where they were stranded for five days. It crashed on July 16 and killing five soldiers.

Three days later, a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a mission to retrieve the bodies of five soldiers killed in an earlier Huey helicopter crash, killing nine persons including 9th Infantry Division commander Maj-Gen Tawan Ruangsri.

The Bell 212 helicopter crashed on July 24 during a mission to support the operation to retrieve the remaining bodies of soldiers killed in the Black Hawk crash. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-07-27