Black box data expected to shed light on deadly chopper crash

Investigators at the site of the helicopter crash that killed Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ng’eno and five others have recovered several key components critical to the probe.

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), Flight Data Recorder (FDR), Vehicle and Engine Multi-function Display (VEMD), Digital Engine Control Unit (DECU) and GPS are among the important devices found at the scene.

The CVR records the audio environment of the flight deck, including radio transmissions, pilot conversations and ambient sounds, while the FDR captures specific parameters, such as altitude, airspeed, heading and vertical acceleration, which are crucial when reconstructing a flight profile.

The DECU is responsible for managing, monitoring and optimising all aspects of engine performance in real time. The GPS is a navigation tool that provides precise positioning and velocity data for the aircraft. “These components are very critical. They will be shipped out of the country for further analysis and data download, which will be critical to the investigation,” Fredrick Kabunge, Director of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department (AAID), told The Standard.

The ill-fated helicopter, carrying Ng’eno and registered as 5Y-DSB, crashed on Saturday at around 4:26pm at Chepkiep village in Mosop, Nandi County. Kebulonik Location Chief Mildred Jerubet, who was among the first responders, told police that the helicopter was flying too low when it struck two trees before tumbling down and bursting into flames.

It had departed from Tabolwa in Endebess, Trans Nzoia County, where the controversial lawmaker had attended a fundraiser for local musicians.

Onboard were pilot Col (Rtd) George Were, photojournalist Nick Kosgei, forest ranger Amos Rotich, teacher Carlos Kipng’etich and Wycliffe Kiprotich, a protocol officer at the Narok County Government.

On Sunday evening, Transport Cabinet Secretary Davis Chirchir said the AAID had commenced investigations and would provide a preliminary report by the end of the month. “My ministry, through AAID under the State Department for Aviation and Aerospace Development, has been at the crash site since yesterday (Saturday) and has initiated investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident,” the CS said in a statement.

On the day of the accident, the AAID team that had been deployed was unable to access the scene due to the rough terrain and darkness.

Proper investigations began the following day when investigators recovered the devices, started documenting the site, mapping the wreckage, and examining both the site and the debris.

There had initially been fears that the wreckage may have been contaminated, but investigators found this was not the case. Apart from securing the site, investigators have been recording accounts from witnesses.

The key areas of interest for investigators are the environment, equipment and human factors. “These are broad areas covering weather conditions, the state of the helicopter and the condition of the pilot. As per our protocols and procedures, we do not want to speculate, and our investigations do not focus on assigning blame; we are independent and impartial,” noted Kabunge.

Investigators have also recovered several parts, including the engine, which were scattered at the scene.

Some of the parts will be taken overseas for metallurgical examination and analysis. This means the full investigation may take longer, even though the AAID team has been given 30 days to issue a preliminary report.

A full report will be prepared within 12 months, as required by International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations.

According to aviation experts, investigators will pursue several lines of inquiry to determine the most likely cause of the crash.

Although bad weather is being cited as a likely cause, as is standard practice, investigators will eliminate possible causes systematically until the most likely cause is identified.

“Basically, my colleagues will be looking into the condition of the aircraft and its maintenance records, prevailing weather conditions at the time of the crash, and the state of the pilot,” said an aviation investigator working in the insurance sector.

Investigators will also seek to establish whether the pilot breached Visual Flight Rules (VFR), which require pilots to operate aircraft in clear weather conditions.

The probe will also try to determine whether the pilot was under any pressure or influenced in decision-making. They will also need to determine whether visibility levels were adequate and whether the pilot had a clear view of at least two kilometres ahead.

“These aspects, including regulations, will form part of the probe, and the pilot will be considered a person of interest because pilots are trained in situational awareness when flying. However, for now, we should allow the investigation to run its full course,” added the private investigator.

Police assured that they have secured the scene while providing the requisite support to the AAID investigators. “In accordance with standard operating procedures and international civil aviation guidelines, the management of the investigation into the cause of the accident has formally been taken over by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Department,” said police spokesman Muchiri Nyaga.