Cause of Tunai helicopter crash ‘still unknown’

The cause of the helicopter accident in which Narok Governor Samuel Tunai and Narok East MP Lemanken Aramat survived is still unknown, with a preliminary report showing that everything checked right for the ill-fated chopper.

The report, which has been released about a month after the accident, deepens the mystery on what caused the crash.

“Investigation of the accident involving 5Y-MEP is still ongoing to determine the facts, conditions, and circumstances in order to establish the probable cause(s),” the report signed by Martyn Lunani, the chief investigator of accidents at the Ministry of Transport Aircraft Accident Investigation Department reads.

The accident involved a Robinson Helicopter R44 Raven II passenger chopper, registration 5Y-MEP, owned by the Karen Blixen Camp Trust and was piloted by a 35-year-old Kenyan, Marc Goss.

No known defects

By the time of the accident, the aircraft technical records indicated that the helicopter had been maintained as per its maintenance schedule and there had not been any significant airworthiness problems.

A review of the aircraft logbook indicated that the helicopter had no known defects before the accident flight, the report says.

The pilot also established that the weather conditions, in general, were fine, with light and variable winds and that there was good visibility.

Further, the helicopter was fitted with VHF radio communication equipment and the radio was serviceable on the day of the accident.

The pilot had no evidence to suggest that he suffered from any pre-existing illness that might have contributed to the accident and from his statement, he was not taking any medicines prescribed by a doctor or purchased over the counter.