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21 July 2023
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Helicopter crash at Swakopmund claims two lives, Namibia
A Robinson R44 Raven II helicopter crash resulted in two fatalities near Swakopmund's Airport in the Erongo Region in Namibia on Monday, 17 July 2023 at 15h53. The deceased have been identified as the pilot and engineer, although their names are yet to be released.
The Robinson R44 Raven II impacted the ground following an inflight loss of control during a test flight.
It was alleged that the pilot and the engineer, both from the Flying School Company in Swakopmund, were fixing new rotary blades to the aircraft. Upon completion, the two allegedly went up for a test flight. It is suspected that, whilst up in the air, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which resulted in it crashing to the ground, taking their lives.
The crashed helicopter belonged to a private company at Swakopmund.
"The helicopter took off from the Swakopmund airfield, presumably for a test flight and then went to ground nearby," Julius Ngweda of the Ministry of Works and Transport said.
The helicopter's cabin lay crushed just east of the airfield next to the highway, while its tail laid several hundred metres from the main wreckage.
Erongo police commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona confirmed the incident and said an official incident report would only be released after preliminary investigations are completed.
Ngweda said the wreckage would be moved to Eros Airport in Windhoek for further investigation by aviation accident specialists. "The transport minister is expected to deliver an incident report with findings within the next month," he said.
Sources: The Namibian, Aviation Safety Network
The Robinson R44 Raven II impacted the ground following an inflight loss of control during a test flight.
It was alleged that the pilot and the engineer, both from the Flying School Company in Swakopmund, were fixing new rotary blades to the aircraft. Upon completion, the two allegedly went up for a test flight. It is suspected that, whilst up in the air, the pilot lost control of the helicopter, which resulted in it crashing to the ground, taking their lives.
The crashed helicopter belonged to a private company at Swakopmund.
"The helicopter took off from the Swakopmund airfield, presumably for a test flight and then went to ground nearby," Julius Ngweda of the Ministry of Works and Transport said.
The helicopter's cabin lay crushed just east of the airfield next to the highway, while its tail laid several hundred metres from the main wreckage.
Erongo police commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona confirmed the incident and said an official incident report would only be released after preliminary investigations are completed.
Ngweda said the wreckage would be moved to Eros Airport in Windhoek for further investigation by aviation accident specialists. "The transport minister is expected to deliver an incident report with findings within the next month," he said.
Sources: The Namibian, Aviation Safety Network
