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In accordance with Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, an inspector's investigation is in progress to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident involving a Eurocopter AS332 L2 helicopter (registration mark B-HRN) operated by Government Flying Service that made an emergency landing in Shing Mun Reservoir on December 27, 2010.
The investigation is being conducted by a team of investigators from the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD) with assistance from the Bureau d' Enquˆ§tes et d'Analyses pour la sˆmcuritˆm de l'aviation civile (BEA) (the French aircraft accident investigation bureau); Eurocopter, the aircraft manufacturer; and Turbomeca, the engine manufacturer.
The investigation team today (January 26) released a preliminary report on the accident.
A spokesperson for the CAD said that the preliminary report contains facts relating to the accident as determined up to the time of issue and must be regarded as tentative.
"The investigation team is investigating the cause of automatic shutdown of the No 2 engine of the helicopter just before the accident. The team will continue to collect and study all relevant information in order to determine the circumstances and causes relating to the accident. More in-depth investigation and analysis work has to be done before any conclusion can be drawn," the spokesperson said.
"The preliminary report is published at this stage for general information," the spokesperson added.
The full preliminary report is attached in the annex. It is also available for download at the CAD webpage (www.cad.gov.hk/english/reports.html).
Ends/Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:03
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