Controversy Likely to Continue Over Support for DX-Korea Private Association
[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The mid-air collision accident involving two Army-owned Surion helicopters (KUH-1) that occurred in early last month was found to be due to pilot negligence. The Army has strictly warned four commanders, including the aviation unit commander (colonel) to which the pilots belong, holding them responsible for inadequate safety control, and plans to refer the two pilots to the corps air duty qualification review committee.
On the 6th, the Army announced the results of the investigation conducted by the Central Aviation Accident Investigation Committee, composed of the Army Aviation Command and the Army Headquarters, stating, "The main cause was confirmed to be human factors due to pilot negligence."
At the time, the pilots failed to pay sufficient attention to external conditions and lacked close communication with each other, resulting in their failure to recognize the approaching helicopter. The two helicopters, which were engaged in rapid helicopter rope descent training, collided at the tips of their main rotors about 190 meters above the ground at the airborne holding point. The No. 1 helicopter, positioned in front, was ascending while moving backward, and the No. 2 helicopter, positioned behind, was descending, leading to the collision.
The accident helicopters are currently at the maintenance hangar of the 15th Aviation Brigade in Pocheon, and the Army plans to determine whether to retire the helicopters and report the results to the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The Army stated, "Taking this accident as an opportunity, we will thoroughly review and supplement the aviation safety management system to ensure safety and establish a perfect aviation operational posture."
Meanwhile, the accident occurred during training for demonstration flights and descents for the 'Defense Expo Korea 2022 (DX KOREA 2022)' held from the 21st to the 25th of last month. DX Korea is a defense industry exhibition hosted annually by the Army Association, a reserve organization of the Army. Although it is a civilian event, there had been controversy even before this accident about the appropriateness of the military being mobilized for a civilian organization’s event because the Army performs mobility and firepower demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the Army normalized the operation of Surion series helicopters, which had been minimized immediately after the accident, starting from the 16th of last month.
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