PETALING JAYA: The transport ministry says it is still investigating the cause of a mid-air collision between two helicopters in Taman Melawati, Ampang, last month.
In its preliminary report of its investigations into the Nov 8 collision, which killed two people in one of the helicopters, the ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said two main questions will dictate the investigation’s future direction.
“Exactly how and, more importantly, why did the helicopters collide?” it said in the report.
“A more critical analysis into the ADS-B data is ongoing. It is hoped that more light will be shed into why the helicopters converged in the first place.”
ADS-B is a surveillance technology in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation or other sensors and periodically broadcasts it, thus enabling it to be tracked.
AAIB noted that both helicopters had maintained a separation of between 50m and 120m before the collision.
However, at 11.44am, “for reasons still unknown”, the helicopters started to converge and collided a few seconds later.
AAIB said a point of contention was raised by the phrase “flying in company”, which was written in the flight plan. It could be argued that this term did not entail flying in a “tight” formation but rather a “loose” one, it added.
AAIB said the rules spelled out the maximum distance between aircraft must be not more than 1km. But, no minimum distance was stipulated.
“More importantly, are those who have been practising this adequately trained to carry out such a manoeuvre?” asked AAIB.
The collision caused one helicopter to crash and the other to make an emergency landing.
The pilot of the crashed helicopter, retired navy commander Mohamed Sabri Baharom, 56, and his passenger, businessman Mohd Irfan Fikri Mohamed Rawi, 41, lost their lives in the incident.
Former MAS chief executive Ahmad Jauhari Yahya, 66, and his passenger, Tan Chai Eian, 51, were slightly injured.
All four were members of the My Heli Club, a private social network of helicopter enthusiasts. Jauhari is its president and Sabri was its chief instructor.
AAIB said that based on the preliminary report, the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia was to take a “critical look” into the practice of “flying in company” among local aviation enthusiasts and will review current rules and procedures.
AAIB said this measure will ensure the safety and security of all private aviation enthusiasts, without impinging on business growth and enjoyment of general aviation.