By Antonio Dey
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill yesterday said Krishnanand Ramlachana has been appointed investigator into the helicopter crash which claimed the lives of five military personnel and injured two others on December 6, 2023.
The minister who has purview over the aviation sector told the Sunday Stabroek that the black box containing flight data has already been retrieved and will be taken overseas to complement investigations which have already begun.
A flight recorder commonly known as a “black box” is an electronic recording device placed in an aircraft for the purpose of facilitating the investigation of aviation accidents and incidents.
Edghill said that Ramlachana an (Airworthiness Inspector at the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority (GCCA) has already started work and a decision would be taken on whether to send the engine of the Bell 412 helicopter overseas for examination.
The subject minister however said that he will not provide additional details into how these investigations will be conducted as too much at this point can compromise the process.
Recently, Director General of the GCCA, Lt. Colonel (Rtd) Egbert Field told this newspaper that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Unit, which is an independent branch of the GCCA, is tasked with carrying out these investigations into the crash with involved the GDF helicopter and the seven servicemen.
He said that while the probe unit consists of experts from the local aviation authority, it will be assisted by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), an independent US government investigative agency, responsible for civil transportation accident investigation.
“We will get assistance from the NTSB, and when I say we, I mean the Accident Investigation Unit, which is answerable to the Minister of Public Works. The body is an independent annex of us [GCAA], Field had told this newspaper
“They will help us in areas where we don’t have the requisite equipment to complement the investigation, [also] the accident investigation unit is required to report to the minister and not the Director General of the GCCA,” he explained.
The Director General had noted that if the GCAA doesn’t follow international civil aviation standards, as required during the accident investigation, the investigation unit can summon the Authority for questioning.
“Let’s say the GCCA, doesn’t follow international civil aviation standards, it can be called in for questioning by the unit, and the other parties like the Guyana Defence Force can be summoned as well if the unit realizes that certain operational procedures were not followed.”
The GCCA is responsible for conducting initial inspection, registration, and airworthiness certification, as well as continued surveillance and annual re-inspection and recertification, for all Guyanese registered aircraft.
The body is also tasked with maintaining the Guyana Civil Aircraft Register and database of aircraft accidents and incidents.
Questions will be asked about why a new Bell 412 chopper with the GDF’s most experienced pilot at the helm crashed. The weather in the area at the time is likely to be another area of examination.
During the course of last week, the servicemen who died: Brigadier (retired) Gary Beaton, Colonel Michael Shahoud, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles, Lieutenant, Colonel Sean Welcome, and Staff Sargeant Jason Khan were laid to rest.
The two survivors of the catastrophic crash are Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson.
The Ministry of Public Works in a press statement on the crash said that on December 6, 2023, at 11:20LST, a Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) message was received by Air Traffic Services at Timehri Control Tower indicating an initial alert of a distress signal by the helicopter.
In keeping with established procedures, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority had activated the National Rescue Coordination Centre (NRCC) at 1145LST, to coordinate the search and rescue mission to locate the aircraft.
Immediate response coordination with the primary responders for such a mission included the GDF, private aircraft owners and operators, and the Guyana Police Force. Four aircraft, including a specially equipped search and rescue helicopter, were deployed to the base of operation, with GDF Special Forces. However, the search was suspended due to adverse weather conditions.
The NRCC re-commenced its operations at 0500LST, on December 7, 2023. Five aircraft, including the GDF Skyvan and Bell 412, were deployed to the base of operation at Blake Slater aerodrome between 0700-1000hrs with twenty-seven persons, including the On Scene Coordinator from the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
At 1040hrs, the GDF Bell helicopter located the crash site and signs of life were observed. However, the insertion of the GDF Special Forces was impaired due to weather. A team led by Col. Howell was successfully inserted 800m from the crash site.
Subsequently, the On Scene Coordinator had reported that there were two survivors of the seven persons on board the aircraft.
