Five Bell-430 helicopters of the Ecuadorian Navy have been grounded due to safety reasons, atleast for the time period required for technical evaluations to be carried out. The measure is a result of the accident of the same helicopter variant, that happened on the morning of Monday, May 6, 2024, in the La Frutilla sector, belonging to the Santa Elena canton.
An accident investigation board has already been formed to determine the causes of the tragedy. The result of the investigations could be known within a maximum period of three months, Admiral Miguel Córdoba, general commander of the Ecuadorian Navy, reported this Tuesday, May 7 .
This accident occurs eleven days after a Mi-171 helicopter of the Ecuadorian Army fell in the Amazon while transporting humanitarian aid to populations affected by floods. Eight people died in that accident, including three civilians, including officials from the Risk Management Secretariat and a local political authority.
Córdova announced this decision on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, and specified that in the country there are five other helicopters similar to the one that crashed 24 hours ago in the La Frutilla sector, a remote area in the province of Santa Elena.
The helicopter involved in the accident, registration HN-407, was from 1997 and was acquired by the National Navy in 2010. Córdova added that an accident investigation commission will have a period of up to three months to determine the causes of the accident.
"It has been decided that helicopters of the same type will stop operating. The helicopters will undergo a total inspection and after that their operation will be allowed," he indicated. There is one of these helicopters in Galapagos and four in Guayaquil .
The five aircraft of the same type are used in aero-maritime exploration, combating drug trafficking , crime at sea and activities for the regular operation of the national maritime authority.
Regarding the accident ship, Córdoba pointed out that, at the time of the accident, it was used for training and updating by the staff lieutenant commander Wilson Andrés Bohórquez Andrade , who was accompanied by the lieutenant captain and naval aviator Jean Elías Ramírez Saltos . Both died in the accident.
"This helicopter dates back to 1997 and was acquired in 2010 by the Ecuadorian Navy. All preventive maintenance required for this type of aircraft has been carried out, complying with what is specified and stipulated in the manufacturer's manuals. Every 50 hours Minor maintenance is carried out and major maintenance is carried out when required," he said.
Córdoba also highlighted the experience and trajectory of the deceased crew members and emphasized that determining the reason for the accident will be a priority.
"Commander Bohórquez had 2,422 flight hours , as a pilot of this unit he had 397 hours and as an instructor pilot 212 hours. Captain Ramírez had 1,865 flight hours, as a pilot of this unit 130 hours and as an instructor pilot 160 hours," he detailed.
