The preliminary report on the investigations into the crash of the GDF Bell 412 helicopter that claimed the lives of five Servicemen, is expected to be completed soon and handed over to the Minister of Public Works, officials at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority have indicated.
The Guyana Civil Aviation Authority is leading the investigations into the December 6 helicopter crash in the Region 7 area between the villages of Arau and Eteringbang.
Over the past three weeks, the two survivors of the crash were interviewed by the investigation team. Other officials from the Guyana Defence Force, including senior officers from the Air Corps, were also interviewed as part of the probe.
The GCAA is tightlipped on the investigations, but officials at the Aviation Authority have stated that the probe has been going well.
As part of the investigations, the cockpit voice data recorder has been sent to the United States’ National Transportation Safety Board for analyzing. The fact that there are survivors of the accident, has assisted the investigators with filling in a number of the gaps and questions that make up the probe.
The Guyana Defence Force is conducting its own investigations into the crash. The GDF had announced the setting up of a Board of Inquiry to probe the accident. However, there were no further details released on that Board of Inquiry or its probe. The GDF has not released any information on the statements provided by the two survivors.
There was heavy rainfall and low heavy clouds at the time of the crash.
The helicopter was being piloted by veteran pilot, Lt. Colonel Michael Charles at the time. He was among the five servicemen who died, when the helicopter crashed through giant trees and slammed into the ground, bursting into flames.
The investigators are looking at possible pilot error as part of their probe.
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