Tunai Chopper Crash: Calculate The Lies

Nattydread

Elder Lister
Pilot Mark Goss explains:

The Robinson R44 helicopter belongs to Karen Blixen Camp Trust. At the point of its take off, it was at 8,979 feet which is above its hover ceiling of 8,950 feet. Hover ceiling is the highest altitude above sea level at which a helicopter can hover at maximum computed gross weight.


1. He was pictured feeding the gas tanks from a jerrican minutes before the crash. Why?

2. If the chopper was beyond its rated hover ceiling, how did it get there?

The introduction of the Raven was a great move for Robinson and sales soared. Who doesn’t love power steering? It was still limited in performance, however. At max gross it could only hover at around 6,000’ (specified at 6,400’ but that’s with a new engine and clean blades). And that’s in ground-effect. Out of ground effect, its hover ceiling drops to less than 4,000’.

These inadequacies were addressed a couple years later when Robinson introduced the Raven II in 2002. The Raven II was now equipped with a fuel-injected, rather than carbureted, Lycoming IO-540 six-cylinder. Max takeoff power was increased from 225 hp to 245 hp, and the hover ceiling at max gross increased from a published 6,400’ to 8,950’. Out of ground effect, the hover ceiling almost doubled from 4,000’ to 7,500’. Slightly wider blades were also responsible for the increased performance.



Someone is not being truthful, and I think I know why. Notice that yesterday's accounts spoke of 4 occupants rescued, but the EAStandard is now telling us that it was pilot, Governor and bodyguard?

Narok Governor Samwel Tunai and three others on Saturday survived a Chopper crash in Eldamat Narok County.


Did the Guv'nor insist on giving somebody a lift, increasing the payload to something the machine couldn't handle at that altitude?
 
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To me it looks like the pilot was asked to carry an extra person rather than fly with one empty seat. Four men of substantial weight easily exceed that rated payload. Add to that the altitude and reduced performance and it's no wonder he attempted to take off 5 times.

Now the extra passenger is being left out of the story, insurance isilete noma.
All good until the insurer goes for publicity...
 
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