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Monday, April 30, 2007
Kite lines eyed behind chopper crash
By Mia E. Abellana
CEBU CITY -- Philippine Air Force (PAF) members investigating the crash of a UH-1H Huey helicopter are trying to find out if three kites that got tangled in its swash plate could have caused the accident.
Major Gen. Pedro Ike Insierto, commanding general of the Tactical Operations Center of the PAF, said they found strands of nylon used in flying big kites.
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The strands were around the swash plates of the helicopter. Swash plates, he said, control the pitch of the main motor. Blades on a helicopter are pitched to control the direction of the chopper’s movement.
Insierto told reporters that they found an eyewitness who claimed that when the helicopter passed the market, it got tangled in nylon strands that were used to control three kites.
Insierto, though, said this did not make their findings conclusive yet and maintained that all helicopters in the country remain grounded until further notice, as ordered by Lt. Gen. Horacio Tolentino, commanding general of the PAF.
Tolentino and Insierto arrived Sunday morning to check on the investigation and provide the necessary assistance to the victims of the accident. As to the condition of the Huey helicopter, Insierto assured that all PAF aircraft are properly maintained.
“It goes through periodic maintenance. Every 25 hours, it is sent for periodic inspection. Every 100 hours, it is given a periodic examination, which is more extensive. We also follow the service bulletins provided by the manufacturer. We would be held liable if we did not follow that,” Insierto said.
The UH-1H helicopter was procured in 2003 under the Excess Defense Acquisition program of the United States Department of Defense. Whether the kites were to blame, Insierto said it was important that everyone knew it was not allowed to fly kites near an air base.
“Bawal magpalipad ng kite within 2.5 kilometers from the center of the runway. Dapat nga the whole of Mactan, walang magpalipad ng kite,” Insierto said.
But because the Air Transportation Office (ATO) has no police powers, Insierto said it is the local government unit that should regulate the flying of kites. He explained that kites could also cause damage to commercial airplanes if they get stuck in the planes’ engines. While the standard altitude of the helicopter is 500 feet, Insierto said some people flew their kites higher than this. He said one of the kites used was the propaganda material of a politician. He declined to give the politician’s name.
Despite the death of nine persons, Insierto credited the crew of the helicopter for maneuvering the aircraft away from the houses. He said that if helicopter landed on the houses, there would have been more damage and the helicopter could have exploded, creating a fire.
“Malas lang talaga. It was an accident,” he said.
While he admits that the nylon strings are a factor that could have led to the crash, he said this may not be the only cause and they want to be sure before they conclude their investigation.
Members of the Air Transportation Office also accompanied the PAF investigating team. Tolentino said they could have investigated the incident on their own but because there were civilians involved, they wanted to bring in another agency to show they were conducting an impartial probe.
Tolentino handed out P10,000 cash to the families of the victims and assured that all burial and hospital expenses were to be shouldered, including coffee and biscuits for the wake.
PAF also sent their chaplain and psychologist to talk to the families and help them with their stress.
The civilians killed in the incident were identified as Odelon Acompado, 36, who owned and drove the Kawasaki tricycle; Rey Laida Ledesma, 25, a welder; Jenevieve Amparado Garcia, 21; Laura Jumao-as, 45; Leticia Dungog, 55; Maria Nenita Dungon, 38; and Charmagne Bejerano, 25.
Most of those who died on the ground were commuters on their way home, and included a fresh college graduate looking forward to starting her first job. Injured were Noel Ymbong, driver of the Yamaha STX tricycle, and passenger Casimira Yanson. The members of the PAF crew were conducting lesson 12 of the pilot qualifying course.
Captain Allan Villagarcia and Staff Sgt. Johnny Reyes survived while colleagues 1st lt. Jesus Arnel Embat and Sgt. Micheal Gabino were killed.
The last contact they had with the ATO was at 5:45 p.m., when they reported that they were above the General Milling Corp. Brig. Gen. Arthur Mancenido, commander of the 205th Helicopter Wing in Mactan, said 41 Hueys nationwide—the air force’s work horses—were indefinitely grounded pending an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. An air force officer said the pilots suddenly encountered engine trouble at an altitude of about 400 feet.
As the helicopter went out of control, the pilots tried but failed to maneuver it away from houses toward a basketball court area, according to the air force officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the media. The helicopter hit power cables as it crashed, causing a power outage. (Sun.Star Cebu/With AP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Manila. (April 30, 2007 issue)
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