Overloading was identified as the main factor leading to the crash of a Sunrise Airlines helicopter last year, according to an investigative report published by the Aviation Safety Council yesterday.
The BK117B-2 helicopter was commissioned in October last year to take supplies to staff working at the Central Weather Bureau’s observation station in Yushan (玉山), the highest mountain in the nation.
The investigation showed that the aircraft first landed at a temporary landing ground in Tatajia (塔塔加) after departing from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and was scheduled to carry the supplies from Tatajia to the observation station in three different batches.
However, the aircraft crashed at the landing ground on the northern side of Yushan when it was about to deliver the second batch of supplies, killing three people on board.
As well as the casualties, the tragedy drew nationwide attention to the working conditions of weather station staff as well as safety risks that pilots have to bear in transporting supplies to the nation’s highest weather observation station.
The report, published following a year-long investigation, showed that the flight crew failed to accurately calculate the weight of its supplies and did not demand the ground crew weigh the supplies before loading.
“Failing to accurately calculate the weight of the loaded supplies makes it difficult to ascertain and control the overall weight of the aircraft, making it possible that the weight of the supplies exceeded the carrying capacity of the aircraft,” the report said.
The report also found that the overloaded helicopter had suddenly spun to the right when it was due to land, adding that the spinning was exacerbated by a gust of wind, as well as the failure of the tail rotor blade to balance the torque increased by the main rotor.
All these factors eventually caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, which subsequently crashed, it said.
“The accident exposed many operational errors, including an overloaded aircraft and inadequate personnel training,” the council said in the report. “It also showed that Sunrise Airlines failed to follow the recommendations made by the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) after the administration made its inspections.”
Aside from the cause of the accident, the council also made 11 recommendations for both the airline and the CAA to improve aviation safety. The CAA was also asked to monitor whether the airline followed the council’s recommendations and addressed the issues exposed by the accident.
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