How A Missiom To Preserve The Kaeng Krachan Forest Turned Into Tragic Triple Helicopter Crashes

HOW A MISSION TO TRAGIC TRIPLE KAENG KRACHAN HELICOPTER INTO CRASHES UH-1 is dispatched to pick up those stranded in the Three helicopters are sent to transport bodies of the victims, with two Ground patrols find the crashed Black Hawk within 200 metres from PRESERVE THE Total casualties 17 of them heading back while the Black Hawk UH-1, along with the bodies of eight soldiers and a reporter. Soldiers 16 crash while landing. Five patrol teams are set up. FOREST TURNED crashes near the UH-1's crash site. Civilian UH-IN crashes, killing three crew members and Injuries Hilltribe and Burmese minority people have been encroaching on Kaeng Krachan National Park in Phetchaburi, prompting soldiers, border patrol policemen and forestry officials to stop them, and drive them away wounding one. 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 22 23 24 July, 2011 UH-1 crew Major Kittisak Jeen-iam, First pilot Lt Pratya Nualsri, Second pilot Sgt-Major Rangsan Pholsaibua, Mechanic Sgt-Major Narongdej Phongnumkool, Mechanic Major Kitiphoom Ekkaphan, Operations officer, Thab Phraya Sua Taskforce Security and forestry officials, plus a reporter, get stranded in jungles UH-1 picks Five bodies up the officials Patrols dispatched on foot to search for bodies, which are found and 200 soldiers found, belonging to soldiers. sent in to WEATHER PATTERNS THAT MAY AFFECT HELICOPTER FLIGHTS recover bodies. due to bad weather. and the reporter, 16 in total. transported on ground to the pickup zone. Thunderstorm Black Hawk crew Lt-Colonel Praphan Jiamsoongnern, First pilot Major Choophan Pholwan, Second pilot Sgt-Major Somkhid Wongtasaeng, Mechanic Sgt-Major Aram Wongsing, Mechanic Black Hawk passengers Major-General Tawan Ruengsri, 9th Infantry Division, commander Captain Jate Sudjai, Long-range patrol company, deputy commander Captain Jakkraphan Bamrungphuet, Long-range patrol company, operations officer Lance Corporal Itthisak Hinasut, Long-range patrol company TV5 cameraman Sornwichai Khongtannikool UH-1N crew Major Theerawat Kaewkamol, First pilot Lt Boorana Wanjai, Second pilot Sgt-Major Wichean Janphat, Mechanic Sergeant Phatthanaphorn Tonjan, Mechanic, survivor Turbulence is a Cold downdrafts Wam t updrafts Downdrafts possible cause for the accidents, as well as thick fog which may have caused Spatial Disorientation in the pilots. *... Gust front Background wind Wind shear weather Updraft weather UH-1 specifications Manufacturer: Type: Engine: Bell Helicopter, US General purpose: 13 seats Single T53-L-13B, BA, giving 900 horsepower at 6,600RPM Body weight 9,500 pounds, and internal payload at 4,000 pounds, or six stretchers Maximum 124 knots/223 kph; Cruise 100 knots/180 kph Turbulence Wind flow Freight: INFOGRAPHIC SIMULATING THE CRASHES Speed: Turbulent weather SIMULATION OF THE BLACK HAWK CRASH RESULTING FROM SPATIAL DISORIENTATION Black Hawk arrives at the destination. Radio contact is lost. What pilots feel during Ground team coordinates landing through radio communication. Black Hawk specifications Manufacturer: Sikorsky, US General purpose Two T-700 GE-701C engines with turboshaft with 900 horsepower, 1,800 in total Body weight 11,500 pounds; with external payload of 9,000 pounds, with full payload at takeoff 22,000 pounds Maximum 193 knots; Cruise 120-150 knots Type: Engine: SPATIAL DISORIENTATION Freight: Actual helicopter position Conditions leading to material-fatigue theory 1 Tail rotor Tail rotor 90' gearbox Black Hawk crashes with wheels intact, implying it had turned over prior to impact Speed: 2 Thrust and directional controls 3 Transmission Engine gearbox Images from Sornwicha's camera show thick fog but no strong wind Combining gearbox Hanger bearing Suphan Buri 9th Inf Div O. Kanchaburi a E Naklon Puthom hailand Ratchabur Fort Surasee 42" gearbox Burma Bangkok Saut UH-1N specifications Ton Nam Phet Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter, US General purpose: 14 seats Twin Pratt & Whitney PT6-38 engines, each with turboshaft with 900 horsepower, 1,800 in total Body weight 2,753kg, full payload 5,600kg Maximum 120 knots/216 kph; Cruise 100 knots/180 kph- forestry outpost Type: Engine: • Phetchaburi O Kaeng Krachan Special Warfare School Kaeng Krachan Special z Warfare School Freight: Speed: UH1-N crash site NO 719299 Special equipment: Weather radar Kaeng Krachan National Park POSSIBLE MANOEUVRE OF UH-1N PRIOR TO CRASH Phanern Thung Hill UH-1 crash site 59 Black Hawk NQ 251124. crash site NQ 251126 4964 Assembly point Kaeng Krachan Dam RTAA PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT H Landing zone Annual training: With helicopters and UH-1 simulator, in a full mock-up type, with virtual-motion system supported by hydraulics simulators L Hill 1,10o Thailand Basic flight skills: Twice a year, every six months Burma Evaluation by Army inspectors: Average flight hours: First pilot Second pilot 600-1,500 Exam tests. NO 251124 elevation 1,072. metres 3-D images from Ikonos satellite, recorded on January 6, 2009, show two of the crash sites 1,500-3,000 NO 251126 elevation 972 metres flight tests (40 per cent minimum score) DID PILOTS LACK TRAINING? An aviation expert says that RTAA may be failing in providing pilots with sufficient simulator flights, which could enhance their skills during emergencies or bad weather. Without regular simulator flights, pilots could make wrong decisions during emergencies. But Major-General Phitthaya Kacharngwong insists that all the six pilots who perished were highly qualified and underwent sufficient actual and simulator flights during training, as shown in the graphic above. GROUND SEARCH PARTIES Joint teams comprising soldiers, border patrol policemen and forest rangers (15 teams of seven each), 105 in total Burmese troops in unknown numbers (from 3rd company of 101st battalion) Members from civilian Emergency Response Team 12 Nation Graphics: • Pradit Phulsarikij • Niphon Appakarn Ekaphob Preechasilp Reference details compiled by: • Veena Janjaung • Panya Theosangwan Arkom Chaiyasorn • Thasong Asvasena • Pradit Phulsarikij • Niphon Appakarn Sources: • Amy aviation experts • Royal Thai Army Aviation • Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Public Organisation) Karen scouts 12 Mules carrying supplies 22