NTSC Investigates 2012 Eurocopter AS350B3 Accident in Papua (PK-ODA)

Incident Overview and Flight History On 16 March 2012 at 0702 local time (2202 UTC), a Eurocopter AS350B3 helicopter, registration PK-ODA, operated by PT. Airfast Indonesia, departed from Timika Airport, Papua. The aircraft was on an unscheduled charter flight for Freeport Indonesia Company, with a planned route from Timika to Utikinagon, Mile Post (MP) 66, Wanagon, MP 66, and back to Timika. The helicopter initially carried four passengers and food supplies to Utikinagon, where it dropped three passengers and supplies before picking up three others. It then proceeded to MP 66 with four passengers on board, disembarked three, and picked up food supplies for delivery to Wanagon. At Wanagon, the helicopter dropped one passenger and the supplies, picked up two passengers, and returned toward MP 66. During this leg, the pilot received a radio call to pick up one passenger from West Gully, located approximately on radial 100 from Wanagon and on the left side of the track to MP 66 (approximately 180°). The pilot attempted to land at West Gully twice but was unsuccessful due to poor visibility and decided to continue to MP 66. ## Diversion and Loss of Contact While approaching MP 66, the pilot could not land due to weather conditions and decided to divert to Landville (MP 73). At 2310, the pilot made a radio call to the company frequency to inform of the intention to divert to MP 73, which was the last communication with the pilot. MP 73 is located northeast of MP 66 at a lower elevation, with normally better ground visibility than MP 66, and had previously received successful diversion landings. There was no radio room at MP 73 for crew communication other than via aircraft radio. At 2317, the Kilangin Tower controller received a phone call from a Biak Flight Service Station (FSS) officer, who reported that BASARNAS had received an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) distress signal at coordinates 04°07.9'S 137°04.5'E from PK-ODA on the emergency radio frequency 121.5 MHz. The Kilangin Tower controller confirmed this information to the AFE company frequency and exploration radio room, and was informed that PK-ODA had landed at MP 73. After 30 minutes from the last radio contact, no further information was received from the pilot. The MP 66 Manager contacted Wanagon and was informed that the helicopter was not at Wanagon. The MP 66 manager then instructed a team to go to Landville by land vehicle to check the aircraft's condition. At 0208, the Biak FSS officer reconfirmed the ELT signal.