Report reveals engine failure for chopper crash that killed Ogolla

A helicopter carrying the former Chief of the Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla crashed due to an engine malfunction, a report presented to President William Ruto yesterday has revealed.

“Based on facts and evidence gathered, and indicated in the findings, the Board of Inquiry is of the opinion that the Bell UH-1H-II (Huey) helicopter KAF 1501 crashed due to engine malfunction,” reads the report.

The six-page report ruled out the weight, bad weather, crew coordination and communication as the causes of the crash on April 18, 2024.

It, however, notes that the chopper suffered an engine compressor stall or surge, which means that the airflow through the compressor was disrupted which led to engine damage.

“The helicopter then experienced a complete power loss which was followed by a left yaw, drop in engine RPM, low RPM audio alarm and change in engine noise, as narrated by witnesses on the ground and accident scene reconstruction.”

The report was presented by Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, the current CDF General Charles Kahariri, vice CDF Lt-General John Omenda and the Kenya Airforce Commander Major-General Fatuma Ahmed at State House, Nairobi

It explains that the pilots, Major George Benson Magondu and Captain Sora Mohamed, attempted to control the helicopter to a clear landing zone but lost control of the aircraft.

Twelve witnesses were interviewed, including the two survivors, Corporal Frankford Karanja and Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta and three other eyewitnesses.

Others on the flight were Brigadier Swale Saidi, Colonel Duncan Keittany, Lieutenant Colonel David Sawe, Captain Hillary Litali, Senior Sergeant John Kinyua, Sergeant Cliphonce Omondi and Sergeant Rose Nyawira.

The chopper crashed a few minutes after taking off from the Cheptulel Boy High School, where they had gone to inspect works that were being done by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) as part of Operation Maliza Uhalifu (OMU).

The KDF is supporting OMU which is aimed at fighting banditry in the Baringo, Turkana, West Pokot, Laikipia, Elgeyo Marakwet and Samburu counties.

Their support includes the repairing of learning institutions that were vandalised by bandits.

The chopper left the Wilson Airport on April 18, 2024, as Ogolla and his entourage were set to visit the counties.

It was refuelled at Chesit and made stops at Chesogon and Kainuk, where it was refuelled again before departing for the Cheptulel School.

The late CDF and his entourage left the school at around 2.20 pm but the chopper came crashing down and caught fire shortly after at the Shamba la Amani farm a few minutes after departure.

It was damaged beyond economic repair.

The aircraft was among eight Heuy helicopters that Kenya got from the US in 2016, and the report notes that they have been extensively used in the country for different purposes.

The ill-fated chopper underwent two major inspections between June 2021 and October 2023, and no major defects were diagnosed.

On December 14, 2023, it underwent scheduled servicing after an overhauled engine was installed two days before.

On January 9, 2024, it underwent the 50 hours inspection, the 75 hours inspection on January 29 and the 100 hours inspection on February 11.

It underwent a further 25 hours inspection on February 22 and 150 hours inspection on March 17.

“The last scheduled servicing was 25 hours which was conducted from April 2 to 5 2024 and the helicopter was left with 19 flight hours to the next 100 hours scheduled servicing,” says the report.

A check by The Saturday Standard found that the report on the crash was reportedly stalled by delays involving firms in Canada and the US.

Key components, including the engine and wreckage, were sent to Canada and then airlifted to the US for analysis.
A senior ministry and KDF official confirmed that the materials were handed over to the companies, which involved the wreckage to an investigative bureau outside Kenya, but noted, “It has taken too long to return.”

Since 2018 there have been three crashes involving this model of helicopters — Huey — in Kenya but no official accident report has been made public until yesterday’s report.

The Huey, formally known as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois, is manufactured by Bell Helicopter in the US.
Its engines, including the T53 turboshaft series, are made by Pratt & Whitney, a US aerospace manufacturer with key production facilities in Canada.

Inquiries by The Standard to both Bell and Pratt & Whitney yielded little. Bell Helicopter responded with an automated message: “One of our agents will be contacting you soon,” referencing case number 00307893.

Ogolla’s death, the first of a sitting CDF in office, dealt a major blow to the military and reignited scrutiny over aviation safety in Kenya.
The government declared three days of mourning, with flags flown at half-mast.

Ogolla was laid to rest in Siaya County, concluding a 40-year military career that began in April 1984.

A US-trained fighter pilot and former Kenya Air Force commander, Ogolla was praised by President William Ruto as a “gallant officer” whose service shaped Kenya’s security strategy.

A source told The Saturday Standard that since 1964, KDF has had over 30 plane crashes, and no report has been released to the public.