Helicopter crash near Hua Hin

[Dougal]

Copter crashes in Hua Hin; 5 injured

(BangkokPost.com) - A helicopter of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives carrying five officials crashed on Friday afternoon in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.

The copter crashed in mountainous area while the officials were inspecting forests in Hua Hin district at around 2pm.

The officials were a pilot, a mechanic, a navigator and two park officials.

Rescue unit found them and rushed them to Thanarach Camp Hospital in Pran Buri district.

Cause of the crash is still unknown.


It's a crap picture but as it is topical I'll include it. Unless it is one of the search and rescue choppers, this is probably them passing over earlier in the day. The pilot normally flies much lower than this when he goes past.

[blackgang]

The officials were a pilot, a mechanic, a navigator

That might explain the crash,, I been on a lot of choppers and never had a mechanic along.

[forreachingme]

the last crash, a few month ago, was due to " no time for maintainance" to busy in duty, during Ayuthaya floodings...

Same ministry of agriculture

[blackgang]

If the fuker breaks down during a trip thru the mountains, a mechanic is just another body to haul out.

[Texpat]

Often referred to as flight engineers, it's not uncommon for them to be a permanent part of the crew. But on a small chopper like that, doubt it.
Also if the flight crew have a minor maintenance discrepancy they can't replicate on the ground, they'll often bring along a mechanic to figure it out.

Perhaps it wasn't a minor problem after all.