-stakeholders now have 60 days to comment
The draft final report into the December 6th 2023 crash of a new Guyana Defence Force (GDF) helicopter which claimed the lives of five senior servicemen has been completed and the various stakeholders now have 60 days to comment.
A statement yesterday from the Minister of Public Works, Juan Edghill said that consistent with Section 71 of the Civil Aviation Act 2018, the Minister for Civil Aviation is entrusted with the responsibility of investigating all aviation accidents in or above Guyana.
He said that in keeping with the provisions of the Act, on December 9, 2023, he appointed an Investigator in Charge to probe the crash of the GDF’s Bell 412 helicopter, registration 8R-AYA, that occurred on December 6, 2023.
“I am pleased to advise that the Draft Final Report into the tragic accident is completed and as per ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation) Annex 13, the Draft Final Report will be sent to the various stakeholders associated for their comments before the report can be finalized. These stakeholders include the Guyana Defence Force, National Transportation Safety Board, Transport Canada, Bell Helicopters and the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority. These stakeholders will have sixty (60) days upon receipt of the Draft Final Report to review and provide their comments. Upon completion of this exercise, the Final Report will be released”, Edghill said.
He added “I am happy that we have reached this stage of having a Draft Final Report and that we are very close to concluding this matter.
“I wish to thank the media and the public for waiting for the Final Report to be published before making any comment on this tragic accident”.
The December 6th crash in Region Seven shook the country particularly as so many senior servicemen perished and that a new Bell helicopter was involved. Those who died were veteran aviator, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Charles; Brigadier (Ret’d) Gary Beaton; Colonel Michael Shahoud; Lieutenant Colonel Sean Welcome and Staff Sergeant Jason Khan. Lieutenant Andio Crawford and Corporal Dwayne Jackson survived. They have not spoken publicly about their experience.
The Ministry of Public Works in a press statement on December 8th 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.
