Thread: Phayao Copter Crash Kills Nine Soldiers, Including Senior Officers

Villagers and soldiers were at the scene within minutes of the crash, after take-off from Ban Dok Bua in Phayao's Muang district.
The intense fire from the helicopter's burning fuel made it impossible to rescue anyone.

Bangkok Post
November 18, 2014
Writers: Wassana Nanuam and Saiarun Pinaduang

Nine soldiers, including several senior officers, died after their Bell 212 helicopter crashed in Muang district of Phayao province Monday evening.

Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, deputy 3rd Army Region commander, was among those on board the chopper.

The helicopter left Khun Chuang Thammikarat Camp under the 17th Infantry Regiment at Phayao Military District to fly back to an army base in Chiang Rai.

The chopper had been in the air about 10 minutes before contact was lost, according to deputy army spokeswoman Sirichan Ngathong, who spoke to the press in Bangkok. It was later found by villagers, engulfed in flames in a rubber plantation at Ban Dok Bua in tambon Tha Wang Thong, a short distance from the camp.

The accident took place at 5:30pm.

The nine officers on board were a pilot, a co-pilot, two mechanics and five passengers. The victims were identified as Maj Gen Songphol, Col Kitti Suwanchareon, Col Yuttaphong Phuenfung, Lt Col Wuttisak Soonthornsook, SM 1 Anan Chomchiangkham, Lt Col Manit Surasaena (pilot), Capt Woraphong Changsalak (co-pilot), SM 1 Somphob (engineer) and SM 1 Aphirun (engineer).

Shortly after the accident, soldiers in Phayao military district and the 17th Infantry Regiment were dispatched to the scene. They combed the area and were initially able to recover six bodies.

Army chief and Deputy Defence Minister Udomdej Sitabutr ordered the 3rd Army Region and relevant authorities to search for the remaining passengers shortly after he received the report of the crash. Ban Dok Bua villagers and civil defence volunteers joined the search for the remaining bodies among the helicopter debris.

Gen Udomdej told the soldiers to keep searching until the bodies were found.

Not long after Gen Udomdej's order, Pol Lt Col Kriengsak Wonguthai, in charge of crime suppression and deputy chief of Muang Phayao police station, said the rescue team found the remaining three bodies in the wreckage.

Pol Lt Col Kriengsak said investigators had yet to question villagers who witnessed the crash to find out more about the accident.

All the bodies were taken to Phayao Hospital for autopsies.

One villager who witnessed the incident said the accident scene was around five kilometres away from the village. He said he saw the helicopter fly overhead and then fall from the sky. He then saw a huge explosion as the helicopter crashed.

Phayao governor Chuchart Keelapaeng said one witness said he saw the helicopter crash only five minutes after it took off.

Some believe a bad omen hung over the officers.


Minutes to live: Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, deputy commander of the 3rd Army Region,
was photographed with aides and other army officers just before boarding the helicopter
that took them to their deaths.

Copter crash kills nine soldiers[at] | Bangkok Post: news

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

Some believe a bad omen hung over the officers.

things they don't understand , like maintenance , are in the realms of the ghosts

Bangkok Post photos:

Remember the passengers were well placed military personnel. Choppers don't just suddenly explode in the sky as was reported on Thai channel 7.

I remember a statistic from years ago on being a surviving Mexican President. There were none after leaving office. I'm not trying to begin any sort of "conspiracy," thread here, but if you are one of the heads of opposition in Thailand, I would think you ought to be more than a little cautious about your mode of transportation. Don't piss off the Boss.

^The fucking things are deathtraps. I think politicians and military are simply at a much higher risk because your average Somchai never gets in a chopper.

When in the military, I had three very close calls involving choppers. I had another here in 1991.

They fall out of the sky for a variety of reasons and, when doing so shortly after takeoff with full fuel tanks, generally explode.

My dad investigated chopper crashes for the Air Force to determine if a crash was due to mechanical or pilot error. He wouldn't fly in one.

Last series of crashes up north a few years ago was deemed to be caused by bad fuel.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

They fall out of the sky for a variety of reasons and, when doing so shortly after takeoff with full fuel tanks, generally explode.

The event in this case was that the Huey blew up in flight not on crash impact as voiced by witnesses on site.

Mechanical problems perhaps, or bad fuel, who knows. As well I spent over 125 hours in Huey's during my SEA vacation. I must have had a false sense of security as I was always trying to go out again. I also spent time in bird dogs but they weren't near as addictive to me.

Been on loads of helis offshore to oil / gas rigs, never had a problem in over 25 years. Are the military copters / pilots different?

As someone mentioned earlier, maintenance could be an issue here as well.

Originally Posted by kmart

Been on loads of helis offshore to oil / gas rigs, never had a problem in over 25 years. Are the military copters / pilots different?

As someone mentioned earlier, maintenance could be an issue here as well.

My three incidents in 1968-1969 were all in US Army Hueys, which had been hard used during the war. Two were as a result of hydraulics problems, one was a problem with a little fella with a big-ass machine-gun.

The one here in the Philippines was a Philippine Army Huey. Mechanical. Old chopper, lots of miles.

Originally Posted by baldrick

Originally Posted by Sumocakewalk

Some believe a bad omen hung over the officers.

things they don't understand , like maintenance , are in the realms of the ghosts

exactly

Choppers don't just suddenly explode in the sky

The event in this case was that the Huey blew up in flight not on crash impact as voiced by witnesses on site.

he saw the helicopter fly overhead and then fall from the sky. He then saw a huge explosion as the helicopter crashed.

Some confusion here methinks. I have spent a lot of time in choppers - they don't just suddenly explode in mid-air. An engine failure should not be a huge drama - the Bell 212 has two engines, though a precautionary landing would be prudent.
The worst event is some sort of mechanical failure - helicopters don't handle breakages very well.

RIP, guys...

Must be grim when you know you're going to die in a few seconds...

(Unless they blew up)...

Originally Posted by JayZee

Choppers don't just suddenly explode in the sky

The event in this case was that the Huey blew up in flight not on crash impact as voiced by witnesses on site.

he saw the helicopter fly overhead and then fall from the sky. He then saw a huge explosion as the helicopter crashed.

Some confusion here methinks. I have spent a lot of time in choppers - they don't just suddenly explode in mid-air. An engine failure should not be a huge drama - the Bell 212 has two engines, though a precautionary landing would be prudent.
The worst event is some sort of mechanical failure - helicopters don't handle breakages very well.

No they don't explode in midair, but this helicopter version has had its problems. As most of the aircraft is used for military use, crash reports are not in the public domain. However, there have been a few civilian use crashes due to the engines.
Here's an example of one investigation that shows that this crash and the suspected engine failure is possible. As the helicopter was manufactured in Canada, the most reliable source will be that of the Canadian Transportation Safety Board, so let's have a look at one report's extract;


Finding as to Risk
1.In-service wear causes the governors to malfunction before reaching their overhaul life of 4500 hours; the average time in service before they are removed for repair is about 1600 hours.

Safety Action

On 22 April 2005, Aviation Safety Advisory A050009-1, Dual Engine Power loss - Power Turbine Governor Malfunctions, was sent to Transport Canada and copied to Pratt & Whitney Canada, Honeywell and Rolls-Royce. The letter identified the aforementioned findings and noted that PT governors used in similar applications have shown premature wear, with many being removed from service because of fluctuating torque. The advisory suggests that the current approved TBO for these governors is too long, and that Transport Canada, in cooperation with Honeywell, Pratt & Whitney Canada and Rolls-Royce, may wish to review the TBOs approved for these governors.

Transport Canada responded to the advisory on 21 July 2005, indicating that a review of Service Difficulty Reports on Honeywell Nf governors as installed in Rolls-Royce 250 C20, P&WC PT6T engines, does not indicate a chronic problem with the time between overhauls.

On 22 April 2005, Aviation Safety Advisory A050010-1, Dual Engine Power Loss - Power Turbine Governor Rigging, was sent to Pratt & Whitney Canada and copied to Transport Canada and Honeywell. This letter also identified the aforementioned findings and noted that although the accident governors operated with the control arms at 74º and 73º for about 150 hours before the power losses, it is apparent that the engine oscillation and acceleration problems were present only when the governor control arms were rigged in the 75º range. The advisory suggests that because power turbine governors are essential engine controls, which can cause critical power losses when they malfunction, Pratt & Whitney Canada, in cooperation with Honeywell, may wish to review the effects of having to rig the PT6 power turbine governor control arms in the 75º range.

Transport Canada responded to the advisory on 21 July 2005, indicating that the Department would not be taking any action regarding the advisory pending new information indicating aircraft certification concerns.

This report concludes the Transportation Safety Board's investigation into this occurrence. Consequently, the Board authorized the release of this report on 06 September 2005.

The Nation
November 18, 2014

An Army helicopter crashed in Phayao province on Monday evening, killing all nine soldiers on board, including a deputy commander of the Third Army Area.

An official probe is underway into the causes of the crash. While there has been much speculation online about reasons for the incident, an aviation expert gave The Nation his views:

- The Bell 212 helicopter, the type in this incident, has two engines. There is very little possibility that both engines would malfunction at the same time.

- A Facebook post about limited visibility by one of the nine soldiers noted weather conditions on Monday morning. But the crash occurred in the evening when the weather was good.

- The helicopter was not overloaded at the time of the crash.

- The first pilot, Lt-Colonel Manit Surasena, was experienced. He was also a graduate from the Military Technical Training School. This counters an online post that described a pilot as a rookie.

- Although the Bell 212 was launched several decades ago, manufacturers of such aircraft have continued to produce new parts. So, owners of thousands of Bell 212 helicopters around the world can get new parts for maintenance.

- Parts from helicopter manufacturers are best. Helicopters that have these parts and proper maintenance should not be deemed old just because of their manufacturing year.

Aviation expert counters online claims about chopper crash - The Nation

The remains of the nine victims of Monday's helicopter crash in Phayao were carried in wooden coffins,
each draped with a national flag, during the formal transfer of the bodies from Phayao to Phitsanulok
where the funerals will be held. (Photo by Saiarun Pinaduang)

Bangkok Post
November 19, 2014

A relative of one of the nine victims killed in Monday's military helicopter crash has pleaded with the army to improve the safety of its choppers. "I'd like to beg the army to make sure that all of its vehicles currently in use are as new as possible and safe to use.

"Don't risk the lives of military personnel like that again," said Phachoen Phueanfung, an uncle of Col Yuttaphong Phuenfung. "I'm feeling like I've just lost a son," said the 60-year-old who looked after Col Yuttaphong after the death of his parents.

Only a few days before Monday's crash, Mr Phachoen and Col Yuttaphong agreed to hold a family reunion. Mr Phachoen described Col Yuttaphong as a very nice, smart man who had sacrificed his dream of becoming a medical doctor to fulfil his father's wish for him to become a soldier.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Tuesday offered his condolences to the families of the nine military personnel killed in the helicopter crash in Muang district of Phayao. Gen Prayut pointed out that the crash was an accident, saying the exact cause was being investigated.

Despite admitting that the Bell 212 helicopter was a rather old model, Gen Prayut insisted the model was still being used by other countries. The army has an even older model — between 30 and 40 years old — that works just fine if it is maintained properly, Gen Prayut said. The army plans to purchase new helicopters to replace its older ones but they cannot be replaced all at once due to budget limitations, he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon said he has already received a report that a formal investigation is being conducted to find out the cause of the crash. He said he thinks bad weather might be to blame for the crash on Monday. The army currently has 40 Bell 212 helicopters and all of them have had their engines replaced and upgraded, Gen Prawit said.

The army currently has a total of 285 helicopters but only about 90 are fully functional, said an army source. A number of the helicopters were left by the US after the Vietnam War, the source said.

Over the past two years, the army has purchased eight Fennec, six Mi-17, and six Black Hawk helicopters, said the same source. The Fennec helicopters cost 335 million baht each. The Mi17s cost 300 million baht each and each of the Black Hawks cost 1.5 billion baht, said the same source.

Following Monday's crash, Maj Gen Nopporn Ruanjan, chief of the 4th Infantry Division, said the 3rd Army Region has temporarily grounded its Bell 212 helicopters while a maintenance check is carried out on them to determine if they need new parts.

The nine bodies of the crash victims were transferred from Phayao to Phitsanulok where a royally sponsored funeral bathing ceremony was performed. The royal cremation of the bodies is set for next Tuesday.

Kin of copter crash victim makes safety plea[at] | Bangkok Post: news

Khaosod English
November 19, 2014

The Royal Thai Army has dismissed speculation that a helicopter crash that killed 9 servicemen earlier this week was a result of the aircraft’s old age.

The crash raised concerns that the age of the chopper, built during the Cold War and imported to Thailand in 1995, may have been a significant factor behind the incident. According to data provided by Thai army, the first batch of Bell-212 helicopters was purchased in 1976, and the last in 2004.

However, a spokesperson of Third Region Army said the age of the choppers is not a concern because Bell-212s can be used for up to 30 years. "We have been using those helicopters in the Third Region Army for 20 years," Maj.Gen. Thana Charuwat said. "They can still be used for the next 10 years."

He added that the cause of the incident is still under investigation, but stressed that pilots and mechanics in the Thai army have been performing “strict” maintenance checks on all aircrafts.

'Gate of Hell is Open'

However, some of the soldiers who perished in the 17 November crash appeared to have had doubts about the old helicopter.

Sgt. Anan Chomchiangkam, a mechanic onboard the Bell-212, posted the following comment his Facebook moments before the aircraft took off:

"Time to challenge the sky and brave the cold wind again. New pilot, old helicopter. Weather is closed [bad], the gate of hell is open."

An uncle of Sgt. Somphob Malaiwong, another soldier who died in the crash, told reporters that his nephew mentioned the age of the helicopter when he met with him several days before the incident.

"He wanted to change his deployment from Phitsanulok camp to Lopburi camp because there are only old helicopters [at the former]," said his uncle, Surin Puangsriraksa."He said they were very dangerous and risky."

Full article: Army Downplays Concern Over Old Choppers After Deadly Crash

He added that the cause of the incident is still under investigation

Any news on the cause of the incident?

^Vanished into the Thai investigator's vacuum.

Two Burma type people did it Thai very good.

Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton

one was a problem with a little fella with a big-ass machine-gun.

This sounds like it might be an interesting story. Would you care to relate it to us, Davis ? You descended rather rapidly ?