AAIB flags firefighting gaps at Sarawak airstrip after crash killed five

The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has advised the operator of Long Lellang STOLport in Miri, Sarawak, to enhance its rescue and firefighting protocols following a helicopter crash on September 8, which resulted in five fatalities, including four Health Ministry personnel.

The recommendations emphasize the need for proper training and equipping of auxiliary personnel, along with the maintenance of firefighting and personal protective equipment.

Despite efforts by responders and villagers, the fire persisted for several hours, destroying the helicopter.

The AAIB's preliminary report highlighted equipment deficiencies and the absence of a distress signal before the crash.

The investigation aims to prevent future incidents, with detailed findings to be included in the final report.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has urged the operator of Long Lellang Short Take-Off and Landing Port (STOLport) in Miri, Sarawak, to review its rescue and firefighting arrangements after a helicopter crash killed five people, including four Health Ministry personnel, on September 8.

The AAIB recommended that aerodrome operator Malaysia Airports Sdn Bhd (MASB) review rescue and firefighting arrangements across its STOLports to ensure auxiliary personnel were properly trained and equipped, and that firefighting equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) were properly maintained and serviceable.

The bureau said the recommendation followed findings that Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department (Rela) personnel assigned to auxiliary rescue and firefighting duties had responded to the blaze without appropriate firefighting PPE.

“Some of the available PPE exhibited visible signs of deterioration and damage, which could adversely affect the safety and effectiveness of the emergency response,” the AAIB said in its preliminary report.

The report said 12 dry powder fire extinguishers at the STOLport terminal were used by responders and local villagers in an attempt to put out the flames, but the fire continued to burn for several hours.

All five occupants on board – a 30-year-old Malaysian pilot and four Health Ministry personnel – died from severe burn injuries, according to post-mortem findings cited in the report.

The Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm BO105 S helicopter, registered as 9M-LLF and operated by Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd under the callsign MEDIC3, was conducting a scheduled Flying Doctor Service flight.

The aircraft is designed for various operations, including passenger transport, utility work, medical evacuation and other specialised missions, with a maximum take-off mass of about 2,500kg, depending on its configuration.

The report said a 37-second ground-based video captured the helicopter’s final moments, showing it in flight with a visible smoke trail and apparent flames behind the main gearbox as it approached Runway 04.

The helicopter came to rest about 25 metres from the runway threshold and was destroyed by fire.

All communication frequencies were operating normally, and no emergency call or distress transmission from the helicopter was recorded between departure and the crash, the report said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department found that weather conditions near Long Lellang STOLport were generally good, with horizontal visibility exceeding 10km during the period assessed.

As an immediate safety measure, Layang-Layang Aerospace suspended operations of aircraft fitted with the same engine type pending airworthiness verification.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia cleared the affected aircraft to return to service on September 13 after technical reviews, the report said.

A detailed examination of the wreckage will be conducted to establish the nature and extent of the damage and, where possible, the sequence and development of the fire and ground-contact damage. The findings will be included in the final report.

The Transport Ministry said information in the preliminary report could be revised as additional evidence emerged, while a comprehensive analysis and the investigation’s conclusions would be presented in the final report.

The ministry said the investigation was intended to prevent similar accidents from recurring, rather than determine fault or liability.

“The ministry appreciates the efforts of the AAIB and the cooperation of all parties involved in assisting the investigation, and remains committed to strengthening the country’s aviation safety,” it said. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: Rela stands for Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia, or the Malaysia Volunteers Corps Department in English.

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9 月 8 日，一架直升机坠毁，造成 5 人死亡，其中包括 4 名卫生部人员。事后，马来西亚航空事故调查局 (AAIB) 建议砂拉越美里龙乐浪短距起降机场的运营商加强其救援和消防规程。

这些建议强调了对辅助人员进行适当培训和装备的必要性，以及对消防和个人防护装备的维护。

尽管救援人员和村民尽力扑救，但大火持续了数小时，最终直升机被毁。

英国航空事故调查局的初步报告强调了设备缺陷以及坠机前未发出遇险信号。

此次调查旨在防止类似事件再次发生，详细调查结果将包含在最终报告中。

吉隆坡，10 月 16 日讯——航空事故调查局 (AAIB) 敦促砂拉越美里龙乐浪短距起降机场 (STOLport) 的运营商审查其救援和消防安排。此前，9 月 8 日发生的一起直升机坠毁事故造成 5 人死亡，其中包括 4 名卫生部工作人员。

英国航空事故调查局 (AAIB) 建议机场运营商马来西亚机场有限公司 (MASB) 审查其所有短距起降机场的救援和消防安排，以确保辅助人员接受过适当的培训并配备齐全，并且消防设备和个人防护装备 (PPE) 得到妥善维护和使用。

该局表示，之所以提出这项建议，是因为调查发现，被指派执行辅助救援和消防任务的马来西亚志愿军（Rela）人员在参与灭火时没有穿戴合适的消防个人防护装备。

“部分可用的个人防护装备出现了明显的劣化和损坏迹象，这可能会对应急响应的安全性和有效性产生不利影响，”英国航空事故调查局 (AAIB) 在其初步报告中表示。

报告称，救援人员和当地村民在短距起降机场码头使用了 12 个干粉灭火器试图扑灭火焰，但大火持续燃烧了几个小时。

根据报告引用的尸检结果，机上五名乘客——一名 30 岁的马来西亚飞行员和四名卫生部工作人员——均因严重烧伤而死亡。

注册号为 9M-LLF 的梅塞施密特-伯尔科夫-布洛姆 BO105 S 直升机，由 Layang-Layang Aerospace Sdn Bhd 公司运营，呼号为 MEDIC3，当时正在执行定期飞行医生服务任务。

该飞机设计用于各种作业，包括客运、公用工程、医疗后送和其他特殊任务，最大起飞重量约为 2,500 公斤，具体取决于其配置。

报告称，一段 37 秒的地面视频记录了直升机的最后时刻，视频显示，直升机在接近 04 号跑道时，飞行中拖着一条清晰可见的烟雾，主变速箱后面明显有火焰。

直升机最终停在距离跑道入口约 25 米处，并被大火烧毁。

报告称，所有通信频率均运行正常，从起飞到坠毁期间，直升机没有发出任何紧急呼叫或遇险信号。

马来西亚气象局发现，龙乐浪短距起降机场附近的天气状况总体良好，评估期间水平能见度超过 10 公里。

作为一项紧急安全措施，拉央拉央航空航天公司暂停了所有配备相同类型发动机的飞机的运营，等待适航验证结果。

报道称，马来西亚民航局在经过技术审查后，于9月13日批准受影响的飞机恢复运营。

将对残骸进行详细检查，以确定损坏的性质和程度，并在可能的情况下，查明火灾和地面接触损坏的顺序和发展过程。调查结果将纳入最终报告。

交通部表示，随着更多证据的出现，初步报告中的信息可能会进行修订，而全面的分析和调查结论将在最终报告中呈现。

该部门表示，此次调查旨在防止类似事故再次发生，而不是确定过错或责任。

“该部感谢航空事故调查局（AAIB）的努力以及所有参与调查各方的合作，并将继续致力于加强国家航空安全。”——马新社

*编者注：Rela 代表 Jabatan Sukarelawan Malaysia，即英文的马来西亚志愿者军团部。

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