Loss of Control - Inflight, Airfast Indonesia (As 350 B3 Pk-Odb); Kalisilet Area, KNKT.21.12.03.04

On 30 December 2021, a helicopter Eurocopter AS 350 B3, registered PK-ODB, conducted an unscheduled flight from KM 7 Helipad, which was located on radial 190 about 4 Nm (on coordinate of 4° 55’ 1.70” S; 139° 28’ 10.41” E) from the Nop Goliath Airport, Dekai, Yahukimo, Papua to Tanah Merah Airport, Boven Digoel Regency, Papua, Indonesia.

The filed flight plan to Dekai, the helicopter was planned to fly from KM 7 Helipad to Camp 67 Helipad then to Camp 99 Helipad and to Tanah Merah and stop.

The Camp 67 Helipad located on radial 090 about 38 Nm from KM 7 Helipad (on coordinate of 4° 57’ 6.11” S; 140° 6’ 20.30” E) and the Camp 99 Helipad located about 1 Nm on radial 290 from the Camp 67 Helipad (on coordinate of 4° 56’ 44” S; 140° 05’ 18.7” E).

About 0630 UTC (1530 Local Time (LT)), the helicopter departed from KM 7 Helipad with the destination of Camp 67 Helipad. On board in this flight was one pilot, one engineer, one passenger and about 420 kg of cargo. About 5 Nm to the Camp 67, the pilot recognized that the area surround Camp 67 and Camp 99 were covered by the high dense clouds but the terrain was still visible.

About 1550 LT, the helicopter landed at Camp 67 Helipad. The passenger disembarked and some of the cargos were unloaded. Afterward the helicopter continued the flight to the Camp 99 Helipad. The pilot noticed that the weather was raining and the visibility around Camp 99 still good. The distance from Camp 67 Helipad to Camp 99 Helipad to was about 1 Nm.

A moment later, the helicopter landed at Camp 99 Helipad. The investigation received a video footage taken by the local people, showing that during the helicopter landing at the Camp 99 Helipad, the weather was heavy rain. The video footage showed that after the helicopter landed, without engine shutdown, the rest of the cargo unloaded from the helicopter. After unloading the cargo finished, two passengers embarked and no cargo loaded to the helicopter. The helicopter stayed about 2 minutes at Camp 99 Helipad before continued take off.

About 1600 LT, the helicopter departed from the Camp 99 Helipad in the heavy rain condition. During climb, the pilot observed that the weather was deteriorated and decided to turn right to land at Camp 67. Suddenly the pilot felt the helicopter sinking then impact.

On 1605 LT, the Tanah Merah Air Traffic Service (ATS) reported that the helicopter was lost contact.

The helicopter found by local people and the crash site was about 0.56 Nm (straight line) from the Camp 99 Helipad, on coordinate 4° 56’ 48.60” S; 140° 5’ 51.60” E, with the elevation of about 750 feet. All occupants were seriously injured.

The investigation is ongoing and in this preliminary investigation report, KNKT issued safety recommendation to the aircraft operator.