2007 Romanian Air Force IAR-330 SOCAT crash

Infobox Airliner accident
name=2007 Romanian Air Force IAR-330 Puma SOCAT crash
Crash

Image caption=
Date=November 7, 2007
Type=Engine Failure
Site= Near Piteşti, Romania
Fatalities=3
Injuries=
Aircraft Type= IAR 330 Puma SOCAT attack helicopter
Operator=Romanian Air Force
Tail Number=59
Crew=3
Survivors = none

On 7 November 2007, a Romanian Air Force IAR-330 SOCAT attack helicopter belonging to the 90th Airlift Base crashed in Ungheni, 30 km south of Piteşti, Argeş county, southern Romania. Immediately after touching the ground, the aircraft exploded, as it was already in fire. All three crew members aboard were killed, [en icon Air Forces Monthly, January 2008 issue.] including Commander Nicolae Bucur, who was one of the most experienced pilots of the Romanian Air Force, with over 2,700 flying hours. The other two victims were Lt. Ionel Craiu, pilot and Alexandru Adrian Ticea, mechanic. [ro icon [http://www.ziare.ro/1194472850-Elicopter_prabusit_intr-o_localitate_din_Arges_trei_victime "Elicopter prăbuşit într-o localitate din Argeş: trei victime"] , at Ziare.ro, November 8, 2007]

The helicopter was unarmed, performing a night training flight at the moment of the crash. Eye-witnesses declared that smoke came out from the helicopter before the crash. On November 8, the flight recorder of the aircraft was recovered and officials declared that further information and conclusions will be available after 30 days. [ ro icon [http://antena3.ro/Elicopter-prabusit-in-apropiere-de-Pitesti-Trei-oameni-au-murit_act_41497_ext.html "Helicopter crashed near Pitesti killing three people aboard"] , Antena 3, November 7, 2007. ] [ en icon [http://www.mediafax.ro/engleza/investigators-find-black-box-of-helicopter-crashed-central-roman.html?6966;1029489 "Investigators Find Black Box Of Helicopter Crashed In Central Romania"] , Mediafax, November 8, 2007. ]

Emergency response

Approximately 10 minutes after the crash, the first firefighters detachment from the Inspectorate for Emergency situations arrived at the scene and was confronted with 15 meters-tall flames. Paramedics arrived almost at the same time, but where unable to intervene because of the heavy fire. Also, the 90th Airlift Base assigned two additional helicopters for search and rescue. The fire was stopped after one hour and the forensics officers started their search. [ro icon [http://www.mediafax.ro/social/elicopter-prabusit-judetul-arges.html?1688;1029444 "Helicopter crashed in Argeş County"] , Mediafax, November 7, 2007.]

Reactions

Teodor Meleşcanu, the Romanian Minister of Defense, announced on November 9, 2007, that the entire IAR-330 Puma SOCAT attack helicopter fleet will be grounded until the results of the investigation are available. The first results of the investigation were made public after 30 days by the special commission assigned by the minister. He also declared that the helicopter crashed had been completely checked, and all safety procedures were followed accordingly before the flight. [ro icon [http://www.ziua.net/display.php?data=2007-11-09&id=229157 "The Puma SOCAT helicopter fleet is grounded"] , "Ziua", November 9, 2007.] The SOCAT fleet became operational again in late-November 2007, when the first preliminary reports of the investigation were available.

Investigations

The preliminary results of the investigations were available two weeks after the crash. According to them, the helicopter crashed due to an engine failure, which might have been caused by ice formations on the rotor blades. However, the final results of the investigations should be available by late-December 2007, or January 2008.ro icon [http://www.protv.ro/stiri/eveniment/ancheta-finala-in-cazul-elicopterului-prabusit-la-ungheni.html "Investigations on the helicopter crashed in Ungheni"] , Pro TV, November 19, 2007.]

The final results of the investigations came out on February 25 2008, stating that the helicopter crashed due to ice formations on rotor blades, resulting from entering a snowy cloud. According to the conclusions of the investigations, if the helicopter had have a doppler radar, the cloud could have been avoided. As a result to this, all aircraft within the Romanian Air Force without a doppler radar are not allowed to fly anymore and therefore retired. [ ro icon [http://www.protv.ro/stiri/eveniment/raport-final-in-cazul-elicopterului-prabusit-la-ungheni-vremea.html "Final results on Ungheni IAR 330 crash investigation"] , Pro TV, February 25 2008. Retrieved on February 26 2008.]

Controversies

24 IAR-330 Puma SOCAT helicopters have been modernized by the Romanian Aviation Industry in cooperation with Elbit Systems (Israel) for attack missions. The Romanian MoD spent over 60 million dollars on this program, which ended during early-2005, when the last modernized SOCAT helicopter entered service. [ro icon "AeroNautic" magazine, June 2007 issue, pp.40.] However, it remains unclear if the modernization of the IAR 330 Puma's was the best choice for the Romanian attack helicopter fleet, as this aircraft crashed only two years after its modernization. Also, before its modernization, the helicopter in case, which was produced in 1983, had about 1,400 flying hours without any incidents. [ ro icon [http://www.gandul.info/romania/cosciuge-palete-elicopterele-puma-modernizate.html?6446;1030924 "Flying coffins with blades - Puma modernized helicopters"] , Gândul, 9 November 2007. ]

The SOCAT fleet became operational again just one day before the National Day of Romania, in which Puma helicopters were scheduled to take part at the military parade. According to the MoD regulations, a type of aircraft should stay grounded after a crash until preliminary results of the investigation are available. Since the authorities were facing the National Day as a deadline, the accuracy of the investigation is questionable. [ro icon [http://www.gardianul.ro/2007/11/30/linia_fierbinte-c5/atentie_demnitari_de_1_decembrie_se_defileaza_cu_pume_periculoase-s105396.html "Dangerous Puma's parading on 1st December"] , Gardianul, 30 November 2007.]

References

External links

* [http://www.roaf.ro/en/index_en.htm Official site of the Romanian Air Force]
* [http://english.mapn.ro/ Official site of the Romanian Ministry of National Defense (MoND)]