QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES
QUESTION 377.
Mr D A Worth (DA-FS) to ask the Minister of Defence and Military
Veterans:
(1) In respect of an accident which occurred recently at the
Bloemspruit Air Force Base in the Free State which involved an
Oryx helicopter, (a) what was the purpose of the trip and (b)
who were the crew members on the aircraft;
(2) whether there were any passengers on the aircraft; if so, (a)
who were they and (b) in what capacity were they on the
aircraft;
(3) whether an AI transport request was submitted; if not, why not;
if so, what are the relevant details;
(4) whether approval was given to all the necessary levels of the
flight; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
(5) whether any investigation was conducted regarding this accident;
if not, why not; if so, (a) what were the findings of the
investigation, (b) what was the nature of the damage to the
aircraft and (c) what is the estimated cost of this damage?
CW476E
RESPONSE
1. On 15 August there was a ground accident at the Bloemspruit Air
Force Base. The accident happened during routine maintenance on the
helicopter in the servicing hanger.
a) There was no flight.
b) Falls away.
2. Falls away.
3. Falls away.
4. Falls away.
5. For the ground accident on 15 August the 87 Helicopter Flying
School Aviation Safety Officer conducted an investigation.
a) The outcome was that there was no there was no gross gegilgence
by the member involved and that all procedures were followed.
b) The member bumped a torch off the working stand and it fell on
top of the aircraft damaging the Perspex inspection panel on the
left hand tank.
c) The estimated cost to replace the damaged inspection panel is
R7700.