What happened
On July 10, 2009, at 04:19, a BK-117 helicopter, registration B-77088, operated by Chung Xing Airlines, crashed into the sea approximately one nautical mile south of Kinmen Shangyi Airport. The aircraft was performing an NDB/DME instrument approach at night. The crew consisted of two pilots and one paramedic. While the pilot in command survived, the co-pilot and the paramedic both lost their lives, and the aircraft was destroyed.
During the approach, the pilot requested a direct landing at bay number seven, bypassing the standard runway 06 circling procedure. The aircraft's descent rate increased significantly, and the pilot failed to maintain the required altitude, leading to the impact with the water.
The investigation
The Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB) conducted an investigation that included wreckage recovery and analysis of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR). The investigation examined the flight crew's performance, the aircraft's mechanical condition, and the operator's safety management systems. Investigators also reviewed the crew's duty schedules and fatigue management protocols. The investigation confirmed that all aircraft systems were functioning normally prior to the crash and ruled out mechanical failure as a cause. The investigation also noted that the aircraft's ELT signal could not be transmitted because the antenna was submerged in the sea.