Investigation Summary
The flight was an executive transport mission carrying high-ranking government officials to a fundraising event in Homa Bay County. The helicopter, a nearly new Eurocopter AS 350B3e, departed Wilson Airport at 08:32 local time. Five minutes into the flight, the crew made their last radio contact. Five minutes after that, at 08:42, the aircraft disappeared from radar. The wreckage was discovered in the Kibiku area of the Ngong Forest, where it had impacted the terrain and caught fire. Although Transport Minister Amos Kimunya initially described the weather as normal with 8 kilometers of visibility, the subsequent investigation highlighted that the crew encountered localized poor visibility that contributed to the loss of control. The investigation also scrutinized the procurement and maintenance of the relatively new aircraft, which had only entered service five months prior to the accident. Among the victims was Assistant Minister for Internal Security Joshua Orwa Ojode, whose role was clarified during the inquiry.
Final Conclusions
The commission led by Lady Justice Kalpana Rawal concluded in its report, handed in on 28 February 2013, that the probable cause was the crew's loss of control of the helicopter while flying in conditions of poor visibility.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Systems & Failure Modes
Visual Flight Rules (VFR)
The flight was operating under VFR; the investigation found that the crew lost control when visibility deteriorated, suggesting they were unable to maintain visual reference with the horizon.
Interesting Facts
- 01The helicopter had accumulated approximately 340 total flying hours at the time of the crash.
- 02All six occupants, including two pilots, two government ministers, and two bodyguards, were killed.
- 03The aircraft was manufactured in 2011 (MSN 7238) and entered service with the Kenya Police in January 2012.
- 04The post-crash fire was intense enough to burn the victims beyond recognition.
- 05The crash site was located at coordinates 1°22′25″S, 36°38′22″E.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Inquiry Recommendations
Source ↗The Rawal Commission recommended a complete overhaul of the Kenya Police Air Wing's procurement processes and pilot training programs, specifically addressing the transition of pilots to new aircraft types and the necessity of adhering to strict weather minimums for VFR flights.