The crash of an unlicensed helicopter in Tainan County during a test flight yesterday morning has raised the eyebrows of the nation's transportation officials.
Test pilot Hung Cheng-hung (洪禎宏), 47, was rushed to Chi Mei Medical Center where he was declared dead. The crash resulted in no other injuries.
According to a press release issued by the Civil Aeronautical Administration, the helicopter that Hung had been testing, American Sportscopter Inc's Ultrasport 496H, had not been licensed by the administration.
PHOTO: TSAI WEN-CHUN, TAIPEI TIMES
American Sportscopter Inc representative Lin Yi-jen (
The helicopter had been brought by truck to an open field in Tainan County's Hsikang township for testing. The testing process had not involved anything out of the ordinary, though the cause of the crash had yet to be determined, Lin said.
The helicopter was said to have crashed at approximately 10:30am.
Lin also said that the company had no plans to use the helicopter commercially.
The administration said that the accident would be thoroughly investigated.
It said the incident would also be investigated by the Aviation Safety Council.
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