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PETALING JAYA: The Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) preliminary report of its investigation into an accident involving two helicopters at Taman Melawati in November confirms that an airborne collision occurred and investigators are now determining how it happened and how could it have been prevented.
The office, which reports to the Ministry of Transport, also revealed that the two Guimbal Cabri G2 helicopters, registered as 9M-HCA and 9M-HCB, had kept a distance between 50 and 120 meters from each other at all times.
“However, at 11:44 am, for reasons still unknown, the helicopters began to converge and collided a few seconds later,” the report said.
The report also revealed that passenger Tan Chai Eian, who was on 9M-HCA, alerted his pilot, former MAS group executive director Datuk Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, that the other helicopter was approaching.
Ahmad Jauhari immediately took evasive action, but it was too late as the 9M-HCB main rotor blades impacted the 9M-HCA skids.
The impact also caused the 9M-HCB’s rotor blade to break off and it flew off mid-flight and then it recovered.
The report also revealed that the two aircraft indicated in their flight plan that they would be “flying in company”, which also raised doubts among investigators.
“A quick review at the local Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) reveals that the only rule similar to the one that has been practiced can be found on formation flights.
“Formation flying is certainly a discipline unto itself … any lack of discipline could lead to catastrophic results,” he said.
The AAIB will conduct further investigations into the incident.
The full AAIB report can be found on the website of the Ministry of Transport.
Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) will seek to make additional training a requirement for clubs and private operators, which aims to increase awareness and competition among aviation enthusiasts.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri, Dr. Wee Ka Siong, said CAAM would also launch a review of existing rules and procedures to identify and improve current deficiencies to prevent a repeat of the tragedy.
“This measure places the safety and security of all private aviation enthusiasts as a top priority, without affecting business growth and enjoyment of general aviation.
“We want to remind the public that the main objective of the investigation is to determine the circumstances and cause of the accident with the objective of safeguarding lives and preventing future accidents,” he said.
On November 8, the helicopters took off from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang for a round trip to Genting Sempah.
The helicopters are said to have collided around 11:45 a.m., causing the 9M-HCB to crash while the 9M-HCA achieved a safe emergency landing on a school field in Taman Melawati.
The crash killed pilot Mohd Sabri Baharom, 56, and passenger Mohd Irfan Fikri Mohd Rawi, 41, while Ahmad Jauhari, 66, and Tan, 51, were unharmed.
All four belonged to the My Heli Club based at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah airport and Jauhari is the president of the club.
The club had obtained CAAM approval to offer Private Helicopter Pilot License (PPL (H)) training programs to its members.
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