Engine and transmission failure caused the crash of an army Bell 212 helicopter that killed a 3rd Army deputy commander and eight other officers last month, army chief Udomdej Sitabutr said Wednesday.
Gen Udomdej, who also is the deputy defence minister, said the engine and rotor transmission were to blame, not weather or the pilots. The official result of the investigation would be announced next week, he said.
Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, deputy commander of the 3rd Army, walks ahead of other army officers before the crash in November.(3rd Army photo)
He said all Bell 212 and UH-1 "Huey" helicopters in the Army's fleet would be checked and those passing inspection would return to service. The Army operates 40 212s and about the same number of Hueys.
Gen Udomdej said the government had agreed to pay for the maintenance and parts replacement to make the choppers workable while the Army planned to gradually replace them with new helicopters.
The crash in Muang Phayao district happened on Nov 17. Maj Gen Songphol Thongjeen, 3rd Army deputy commander, was among the nine officers on board the chopper who were killed.
The helicopter left Khun Chuang Thammikarat Camp of the 17th Infantry Regiment at Phayao Military District to fly back to an army base in Chiang Rai.
The chopper had been in the air about 10 minutes before contact was lost. It was later found by villagers, engulfed in flames in a rubber plantation at Ban Dok Bua village in Tha Wang Thong sub-district, a short distance from the camp.