Air Force grounds Huey choppers in wake of Agusan crash

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Air Force (PAF) has grounded two of its remaining UH-1H Super Huey helicopters pending a probe on circumstances behind the Nov. 4 crash, its spokesperson said on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

The military said it has not entirely ruled out bad weather and human error in the air tragedy that killed two pilots and four crew, even as it pointed out that the chopper was “full mission capable” when it was dispatched as Typhoon Tino tore through Visayas and pummeled parts of Mindanao.

The downed Super Huey was a “refurbished” chopper from the US “reconfigured to operational standards and air worthiness” after the air force commissioned it in 2011, air force spokesperson Col. Cristina Basco told a press briefing.

It was one of three UH-1H Super Huey helicopters in the PAF fleet, but the only Huey dispatched for a relief mission and was escorted by three other aerial assets - Black Hawks and Bell - before it went down en route to Butuan City, Agusan del Norte.

“It’s a very reliable aircraft. Ito nga po ang ginagamit ng [This is used by the] 505 Search and Rescue group lalo na nga sila ang [as they are] in charge sa [of] humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. We use this in all our HADR (humanitarian assistance and disaster response) operations,” Basco said.

Clearance for any takeoff hinges on parameters including wind conditions and weather, she said. The PAF also holds periodic maintenance inspections of its fleet.

“May ino-observe po tayong wind limitations or wind conditions so kapag hindi favorable ang wind conditions, we do not take off because safety is paramount,” Basco said.

[Translation: We observe wind limitations or wind conditions, so if the wind conditions are unfavorable, we do not take off because safety is important.]

"Hindi po natin sinabi na meron na mission you really have to fly it kahit anong mangyari [We are not saying if there is a mission we fly regardless of what happens]. We take the safety of our air crew very seriously. We allow flights basta maayos lang po ang parameters [as long as the parameters are in order], which is wind condition is okay and the aircraft is also full mission capable,” she added.

Troops are still scouring the area in Agusan del Sur which the PAF described as a mountain slope with thick vegetation.

Asked on whether investigators are looking into human error as among the leads, Basco said, “That is also among the factors.”

“However, we cannot pinpoint exactly as of now kung ano po yun hanggang hindi natatapos ang investigation. Kasi nga po yung weather and also it could also be technical,” the PAF official said.

EIGHT YEARS IN SERVICE AS PAF PILOT

The PAF only disclosed that the Huey was flown by a senior pilot, “well-seasoned and well-trained” with the rank of captain who was in service for seven to eight years, while the co-pilot was a second lieutenant at the Air Force.

The four crew members were a crew chief, a jump master, and two helicopter mechanics.

Condolences flooded social media, including from rescuer groups who have known the fallen heroes.

Two of the dead were from Mindanao, and the family of a Muslim crew member has sought that the remains be flown to Zamboanga to observe burial customs within 24 hours.

The PAF’s other aerial assets – S-70A Black Hawks and W-3A Sokol – have been dispatched to resume humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions.