Police aircraft crash at Rand Airport leaves five people dead, one injured

[Grant]

A police aircraft has crashed at Germiston’s Rand Airport, leaving five people dead.

A sixth person has been flown to hospital in a critical condition.

National South African Police Service spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: “The South African Police Service can sadly confirm that one of its fixed wing aircrafts has crashed at the Rand Airport in Gauteng at half past two this afternoon. On board were five passengers and the pilot. All five passengers have sadly lost their lives and the pilot has been critically injured and has been taken to a nearby hospital for further medical care

Police aircraft crash at Rand Airport leaves five people dead, one injured

A sixth person has been flown to hospital in a critical condition.

ewn.co.za

 

[Fulcrum29]

Pilatus PC-6 Porter?

 

[rvZA]

Not sure how true it is as yet, but I heard a wing came off.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Not sure how true it is as yet, but I heard a wing came off.

I am curious how well these are maintained? The PC-6 Porter is now EoL, and IIRC these have been acquired in the late 1980s, but has been pretty active throughout its service years.

Sad news, and tragic.

EDIT: Just checked, we had one PC-6 and three PC-7s. Again, under correction, this PC-6 was the SAPS's only small transport utility.

 

[rvZA]

I am curious how well these are maintained?

I will not be surprised if these aircraft were not maintained properly. I know a police pilot, now employed in the private sector abroad, who complained a few years ago that the aircraft are not being maintained properly and one of the reasons he left was because he believed people will die. I have sent him a Whatsapp with the breaking news earlier.

It will be sad if he was right and the people died because of improper maintenance. But, knowing the current government and policies, I will definitely not be surprised.

 

[Fulcrum29]

I will not be surprised if these aircraft were not maintained properly. I know a police pilot, now employed in the private sector abroad, who complained a few years ago that the aircraft are not being maintained properly and one of the reasons he left was because he believed people will die. I have sent him a Whatsapp with the breaking news earlier.

It will be sad if he was right and the people died because of improper maintenance. But, knowing the current government and policies, I will definitely not be surprised.

Having a look at this article published last year,

Less than half of SAPS aircraft are operational - defenceWeb

Of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing’s 34 aircraft, only 15 are operational and the rest are undergoing maintenance or grounded after incidents. This is according to the reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Annette Steyn. Minister of Police Bheki...

www.defenceweb.co.za

Less than half of SAPS aircraft are operational​

Of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing’s 34 aircraft, only 15 are operational and the rest are undergoing maintenance or grounded after incidents.

This is according to the reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Annette Steyn. Minister of Police Bheki Cele replied that 17 aircraft are undergoing mandatory periodic inspection and two aircraft are grounded for investigation purposes, after a crash and a hard landing respectively. An SAPS Squirrel helicopter crash-landed at Virginia Airport in August 2019 during an exercise. The aircraft ended up on its side.

which also brought upon correction to the errors I have made,

The South African Police Service Air Wing operates several different aircraft types, the most numerous of which are helicopters. According to Scramble magazine, the Air Wing has 13 AS350 Squirrel, six R-44 Raven II, two MD500 and one BK 117 helicopters and nine PC-6 Turbo Porter, one PC-12, one King Air C90 and one Citation Sovereign fixed wing aircraft.

what happened to our PC-7s?

Regardless, the above raises the immediate concern I had, maintenance.

 

[Fulcrum29]

Posted back in 2012,

The SAAF Forum • View topic - SAPS Air Wing fleet

www.saairforce.co.za

A little bit of history on the PC-6’s.

S/N: 866 Built: 1990
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-MSZ PC-6B/B2-H4 Pilatus Charters 1990-04-04 1992-03-13
ZS-MSZ PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1992-03-13 Current (Nick name: "Oudste")

S/N: 871 Built: 1990
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
T320 PC-6B/B2-H4 Bophuthatswana 1990-04 1994-04 (Merged with South Africa in April 1994) Defence Force
2070 PC-6B/B2-H4 SAAF 1994-04 1999-08-11 (42 Sqn)
ZS-OLO PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1999-08-11 Current

S/N: 885 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIR PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-04-16 Current

S/N: 886 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIS PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-04-16 Current

S/N: 896 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIT PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-08-16 Current

S/N: 897 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIU PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-08-16 Current

S/N: 898 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIV PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-08-16 Current

S/N: 899 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIW PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-09-01 Current

S/N: 900 Built: 1993
Registration Type Operator/Owner From To
ZS-NIX PC-6B/B2-H4 SAPS Airwing 1993-09-01 Current (Nick name: "Blou Bul Express")

It is said they were still serviced in that time, how many, I don't know, but the one which crashed today I believe is PC-6/B2-H4 ZS-NIT 896.

 

[Mekon]

Having a look at this article published last year,

Less than half of SAPS aircraft are operational - defenceWeb

Of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing’s 34 aircraft, only 15 are operational and the rest are undergoing maintenance or grounded after incidents. This is according to the reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Annette Steyn. Minister of Police Bheki...

www.defenceweb.co.za

which also brought upon correction to the errors I have made,



what happened to our PC-7s?

Regardless, the above raises the immediate concern I had, maintenance.

Less than half are operational. Another cANCer success story. But then with a weak corrupt dog turd like Cele in charge should we have expected any other outcome.
With a pathetic governmant like ours, who needs terrorists?

 

[Segg]

So here's the thing with Civil Aircraft maintenance in SA (the size of the PC6)

The aircraft will have to undergo it's annual MPI (Mandatory Periodic Inspection)

This occurs every 100 flight hours or 1 calendar year, whichever comes first.

The Police PC-6 to my knowledge was maintained by Pilatus Center South Africa, who are a HIGHLY respected AMO (Aviation Maintenance Organization) They maintain the jets Mr Checkers and Mr Pick 'n Pay fly on, amongst many other high profile people, including the president of Botswana's private chariot.

The AMO has to sign off the aircraft as airworthy at the end of each MPI, and to do so there are check that need to be completed, and items that require overhaul. This differs aircraft by aircraft.

Proof of this needs to be supplied into the airframe, or propeller or engine logbooks, and submitted with flight folio copies to the CAA each year in order to receive a renewed certificate of airworthiness (CoA)

If an aircraft is not maintained to standard, the AMO will not issue a Release to Service (RTS) and you will not receive your CoA when it is time to renew it, never mind without the RTS the aircraft is not deemed airworthy, so insurance will deny a claim if it has expired.

So for a maintenance failure to have occurred looks unlikely knowing this particular AMO.

The investigation will be high profile and I suspect the swiss may even get involved.

It's a sad day as the last PC6 is currently rolling off the production line.

 

[wingnut771]

Is State property insured? Also, who investigates crashes of State property?

 

[rvZA]

Is State property insured? Also, who investigates crashes of State property?

First part, no. Government, especially the SAPS does not have insurance. In this case, the Civil Aviation Authority will investigate the incident. The SAPS will also conduct their own.

 

[wingnut771]

First part, no. Government, especially the SAPS does not have insurance. In this case, the Civil Aviation Authority will investigate the incident. The SAPS will also conduct their own.

If an army plane crashes, does CAA investigate that too? LOL to the bold part.

 

[rvZA]

If an army plane crashes, does CAA investigate that too? LOL to the bold part.

Yes, any airplane incident will be investigated by the CAA. The SAPS will have to open an inquest to start with. This is something the CAA does not do.

 

[Fulcrum29]

SABC inteview with the SAPS,

2 SAPS members (1 survived, the pilot)
4 Technicians

The SAPS is unsure whether this was a mission or a maintenance schedule, which is odd since it should be on the record. At this point in time it does look like a routine, but too many unknowns at this time.

 

[JustJack]

Having a look at this article published last year,

Less than half of SAPS aircraft are operational - defenceWeb

Of the South African Police Service (SAPS) Air Wing’s 34 aircraft, only 15 are operational and the rest are undergoing maintenance or grounded after incidents. This is according to the reply to a parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Annette Steyn. Minister of Police Bheki...

www.defenceweb.co.za

which also brought upon correction to the errors I have made,



what happened to our PC-7s?

Regardless, the above raises the immediate concern I had, maintenance.

Airforce PC-7 vs PC-6 SAPS

 

[mojoman]

Media Statement
South African Police Service
​

Pretoria: The management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has conveyed its condolences to the families, colleagues and loved ones of the SAPS member and to those who lost their lives following yesterday’s light aircraft crash at the Rand Airport in Germiston.

On board the Pilatus Porter PC 6 were six people: two of them SAPS members and the rest, technicians from a company contracted to service and maintain SAPS helicopters.

According to a preliminary report, the aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from the Rand Airport just after 14:30 on Tuesday, 30 August 2022.

Warrant Officer Willem Erasmus, a SAPS airborne law enforcement officer with 29 years’ service was among the five people that sadly succumbed to their injuries on scene.

As an airborne law enforcement officer (ALEO) the member was responsible for providing air support during crime prevention as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. The sole survivor of the crash, a senior pilot with 16 years of service, Captain Casper Swanepoel sustained serious injuries and is currently receiving medical care in hospital.

Today, the Management of the SAPS met with the families of the two SAPS members and the representatives of the company that employed the four deceased technicians.

The Acting National Commissioner, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili has on behalf of the SAPS sent her condolences to all affected families and wished the pilot, a speedy recovery.

“This tragedy happens on the eve of the SAPS annual National Commemoration Day as we prepare to honour 33 police officers and reservists who died in the line of duty in the 2021/2022 financial year. Let’s allow investigations to unfold to be able to get to the bottom of what led to this tragedy. Our sincerest condolences to the affected families and we are wishing the pilot a speedy recovery”, said Lt Gen Mosikili.

The SAPS has established a Board of Inquiry to investigate the cause of the accident. An in

Services | SAPS (South African Police Service)

www.saps.gov.za

 

[rvZA]

Okay, so I just saw the photographs of the wreckage and an investigator confirmed the wing came off. Signs of old cracks and corrosion clearly visible on part of the wing. So, no maintenance. This is just terrible. They fly these aircraft like poor people who drive a car without ever servicing it.

 

[wingnut771]

Okay, so I just saw the photographs of the wreckage and an investigator confirmed the wing came off. Signs of old cracks and corrosion clearly visible on part of the wing. So, no maintenance. This is just terrible. They fly these aircraft like poor people who drive a car without ever servicing it.

Does the pilot not see this during his pre-flight inspection?

 

[upup]

Does the pilot not see this during his pre-flight inspection?

sometimes not visible with the eye. For that you must use testers. like some people just switch on the light to check if the power system is okay.

 

[ForceFate]

Okay, so I just saw the photographs of the wreckage and an investigator confirmed the wing came off. Signs of old cracks and corrosion clearly visible on part of the wing. So, no maintenance. This is just terrible. They fly these aircraft like poor people who drive a car without ever servicing it.

Then the company that services these planes is in trouble.