Flight History
On 20 February 2024, a Bell 429 helicopter registered PK-WSW, operated by PT Whitesky Aviation, conducted an unscheduled flight to serve mining operations at Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Halmahera, North Maluku. The daily operations were centralized at Kaorahai Helipad and managed by a Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO).
At 0239 UTC (1139 LT), the helicopter departed Weda Bay Airport for Kaorahai Helipad, landing safely at 1152 LT. It then performed four uneventful flights to various helipads. At 1244 LT, the helicopter took off from Kaorahai to Jiguru Helipad with 6 passengers, landing at 1252 LT where 5 passengers disembarked. At 1255 LT, it departed Jiguru for Pinto East Helipad with 2 passengers, arriving at 1301 LT to drop off one passenger. At 1304 LT, it took off from Pinto East bound for Kaorahai with two pilots and one passenger on board.
About two minutes after departure, the Helicopter Deck Assistant (HDA) at Pinto East heard an explosion but could not identify its source. Simultaneously, rain began and visibility significantly decreased. The HDA then contacted the HLO at Kaorahai to alert them to monitor for the helicopter's safe arrival. At 1316 LT, the operator's flight following system indicated the helicopter was inactive, and it was considered missing. A search and rescue mission was activated.
Wreckage Location
On 21 February 2024 at 0955 LT, the helicopter was found in a rainforest approximately 1.5 nautical miles on radial 350° from Pinto East Helipad, at coordinates 00° 37' 19.9" N; 128° 06' 30.6" E, at an elevation of about 2,900 feet above mean sea level. All three occupants were fatally injured.
Investigation Status
The Komite Nasional Keselamatan Transportasi (KNKT) launched an investigation under ICAO Annex 13 and notified the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada, who appointed Accredited Representatives and Advisers. The KNKT issued safety recommendations for issues identified during the investigation. The investigation remains ongoing; further safety issues may be addressed as they emerge.
Meteorological Information
Weather conditions around the time of the accident included rain and degraded visibility, as noted by the HDA. The preliminary report includes weather satellite imagery but no specific characterization beyond what was observed.
Personnel and Aircraft
The pilot in command and second in command are listed in the report with their qualifications and experience. The Bell 429 helicopter was appropriately registered and maintained per operator records. No further details are provided at this stage.
Additional Factual Information
The report includes details on the helipads used, communication logs, flight recorder data (Cockpit Voice and Data Recorder), wreckage analysis, medical findings, and organizational information about the operator and the mining company. No safety actions have been reported to the KNKT as of the preliminary report issuance.