Nine killed in Thai helicopter crash

[Lung Per]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... pter-crash

What is it with helicopters and Thais? It seems to me there has been quite a few crashes the past few years.

Very, very sad indeed. My sympathy to the victims.

[Nereus]

As an ex helicopter pilot I can say that there are a multitude of reasons why they crash. But they do not just fall out of the sky.

Maybe this had something to do with it:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... e-soldiers

"Before take off, SM 1 Anan posted on his Facebook page at 6.35am, "It's time to fly against the chill winds again ... old helicopter, new pilot. Visibility is bad, hell's door is open."

[Lung Per]

"Before take off, SM 1 Anan posted on his Facebook page at 6.35am, "It's time to fly against the chill winds again ... old helicopter, new pilot. Visibility is bad, hell's door is open."

Or the sentence just before this might have something to do with it.

Shame the pilot took the flight but I guess he had no alternative.

Such a meaningless waste of lives.

[Nereus]

Engine failure cited in copter crash

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... pter-crash

Engine and transmission failures caused the crash of an army Bell 212 helicopter that killed a 3rd Army deputy commander and eight other officers last month, army chief Udomdej Sitabutr said Wednesday....

He also said that all Bell 212 and UH-1 "Huey" helicopters in the Army's fleet would be checked and those passing inspection would return to service. The Army operates 40 212's and about the same number... ...............
..................................................
I suppose it could just be mis-reporting, or more likely, usually called "covering your arse".

Every component on a helicopter is "time lifed". There is no such thing as "on condition" replacement with these old aircraft. It is laid down plain and simple in the maintenance manuals, and has been so since the first Bell Helicopter was built!
The turbine engines also rarely fail, even with bullet holes through them!

[Nereus]

Another one! At least this time they all appear to have survived.
I guess it is one way of getting new aircraft: crash all the old ones!

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/securit ... es-in-yala

4th Army helicopter crashes in Yala ............................................