CAD will conduct an investigation into a GFS helicopter accident to determine the casual factors

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The Deputy Director-General of Civil Aviation, Mr Norman Lo, said today (August 27) that a detailed investigation is being conducted into the cause of an aircraft accident involving a Government Flying Service (GFS) EC155 B1 helicopter with registration B-HRX, which occurred last night at Pak Kung Au, near Tung Chung Road on Lantau Island.

"An accident investigation team was set up for investigation in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accident) Regulation. The team consists of five Civil Aviation Department (CAD) trained staff including two helicopter pilots, one engineering expert, one airworthiness officer and one air traffic control officer. A representative from GFS will also join the team of investigators. Eurocopter, the manufacturer of EC155 B1 helicopter, Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile and the Accident Investigation Bureau (BEA), which is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accident, will also be informed of the accident," he said.

"All information and evidence pertaining to the aircraft, aircrew members, meteorological conditions, air traffic control data, etc will be preserved as soon as possible to help investigate the accident."

CAD coordinated the search and rescue operations after the helicopter lost contact with the Air Traffic Control Tower at 10:33 pm last night (August 26), three minutes after it departed Chek Lap Kok for Cheung Chau to carry out medical evacuation duties. Ground search parties located the main wreckage of the helicopter near Pak Kung Au early in this morning (August 27). The two crew members were found trapped inside the wreckage and were certified dead on arrival at Princess Margaret Hospital.

End/Wednesday, August 27, 2003

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