Human error caused the Nuri accident

Human error was the cause for the S 61 Nuri accident on 13 July 2007, which killed 6 crew last, which include Kept. Nur Intan Asykeen Mohd. Arof, TUDM, a 27 year old female pilot near Genting Sempah, border between Selangor and Pahang. The board of inquiry finding were revealed today by the Deputy Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Lt. Jen. Dato’ Bashir Abu Bakar, TUDM.

Photographs of the accident site were shown to media that clearly shown the utility helicopter were flying far too close to the jungle canopy and clipped some of the trees, thrice, before it went down. Tests on hydraulics fluid and other fluid samples taken from various apparatus of the aircraft proved that the machine was operating well and no signed of mechanical failure.

Therefore pilot error was concluded as the cause of the mishap in bad weather and low visibility. The aircraft was commandeered by Kept. Nor Azlan Termuzi, TUDM, 29.

Bernama.com has the story on this finding which was made public today in a media conference:

September 27, 2007 20:52 PM

Ill-Fated Nuri Copter Hit Canopy Of Trees Before Crash

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 (Bernama) — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Nuri helicopter which crashed in Genting Sempah in July hit the canopy of trees thrice while flying low over the area before going down, according to the report on the investigation into the incident released today. Deputy Air Force Chief Lt Jen Datuk Bashir Abu Bakar said the investigation also found that bad weather, which had reduced visibility to less than two kilometres, and the hilly terrain in the area had also contributed to the mishap. “The primary factor for the helicopter crash was that it hit the canopy of trees before crashing during the attempt to get across the Genting Sempah area,” he said when disclosing the report here. The July 13 crash took the lives of the pilot, Capt Nor Azlan Termuzi, 29, co-pilot Capt Nor Intan Asykeen Moh Arof, 27, Flight Sergeant Khusnizaim Ariffin, 34, and Mohd Azmi Md Yassin, 35, Senior Airman Saifulizam Alias, 28, and Muhammad Ridzuan Ahmad, 27. The helicopter was flying from the RMAF airbase in Sungai Besi to Kuantan when the accident happened. Bashir said there was no evidence pointing to any technical fault in the helicopter, and that the investigation did not show up evidence of the engine and gearbox having caught fire. “The probe team conducted various tests and analyses on several important components, such as the engine and gearbox. Analyses were also done of oil samples, and hydraulic fluid and lubricants. “The analyses and engineering reports showed that there was nothing wrong in the samples and there was no evidence of any technical problem with the aircraft,” he said. He also said that two witnesses had seen the ill-fated helicopter flying low. “At 9.35am, an officer of the Orang Asli Affairs Department in Gombak saw the helicopter flying low in heavy mist. The other witness, an RMAF officer, saw the Nuri making a left turn at bearing 280 degrees,” he said. Bashir said the pilot of the helicopter had decided to continue flying despite being aware of the bad weather. He said the pilot should have checked on the weather and sought a safe altitude and not fly low in the heavy mist. “The pilot should have turned back in such weather and there should have been awareness. The RMAF has decided to provide situational-awareness training for pilots to enable them make (the right) decisions during flights and emergencies,” he said. The RMAF investigation panel was led by Lt Col Syed Islam Shahajam with Lt Col (Dr) Zuki Othman, Major Yee Ching Choy and Major Muhd Noorafzanidzam Frienney Salleh as the members. – BERNAMA

 

The board of inquiry was led by Lt. Kol. Syed Islam Sahajam, TUDM. The S 61 Nuri twin-engine utility helicopter had been in service with the RMAF since 1968 and was the trusted vehicle and mainstay of logistics and aerial operations when the Army was fighting against the communist terrorists in the interiors of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.