Investigators, who are at the crash site where a helicopter crashed in Turkana have revealed that Mr Magonga , flew the helicopter at night in a bush without navigation facilities, contrary to civil aviation regulations.
The fatal helicopter, a Bell 505X, costing about Sh450 million, came tumbling down on Sunday night at Central Island, an area made up of three active volcanoes which emit sulphurous smoke and steam, adding to the gem that is the blue-green waters of Lake Turkana.
According to the company, the helicopter was the first of the Bell manufactured type in Africa, according to its manufacturer Bell Company and was shipped from Bell’s facility in Mirabel, Canada, and delivered in September last year at the newly established Kenya Civil Aviation Authority facility in Ruiru, where it was reassembled.
This is the wreckage of the Helicopter Reg No 5Y-KDL That crashed in Turukana killing the Pilot Captain Mario Magonga and 4 American tourists.@AviationSafety pic.twitter.com/wOMPO0kRVL— Puff ™🇰🇪 (@onlyaterics) March 5, 2019
“After re-assembly, the Bell 505 was flown by KIDL (the company operating the ill-fated chopper) Chief Executive Officer Captain Marco Brighetti to Wilson Airport in Nairobi to begin VIP transport operations.
“We started investigations on Monday at the crash site and we hope to finalise them tomorrow. We will find out whether the aircraft was equipped and certified to fly at night, and if the pilot was certified to fly at night,” Captain Martyne Lunani, the director of Aircraft Accident Investigation Department, told the Nation.
He said that air accident investigators could also look at factors like the air worthiness of the helicopter, the pilot’s licence, weather, planning of the flight and air operators’ certificate before coming up with a possible reason on why the helicopter crashed.
The fatal helicopter, a Bell 505X, costing about Sh450 million, came tumbling down on Sunday night at Central Island, an area made up of three active volcanoes which emit sulphurous smoke and steam, adding to the gem that is the blue-green waters of Lake Turkana.
Whereas the Bell 505 X went down, another helicopter which it was flying with, a Robinson 44 model, made it to the destination, Lobolo camp situated at Central Island.
According to aviation experts, the Robinson 44 is among the latest productions and has been operational in Kenya for about a year. The helicopter is manufactured in the US and Canada.
Profiles of the three Americans who died painted a picture of moneyed-fast rising figures in political circles.
The 29-year old Forti was described as a prolific figure in Colorado Republican politics who run a political and public affairs firm in the US.
“Forti ran Republican Brian Watson’s campaign for Colorado treasurer last year. His death prompted an outpouring of sympathy from the State’s conservative and political circles, Colorado Sun, his hometown newspaper, reported.