TNI Forms TPF To Investigate Bell 412 Helicopter Falls In Rancabali

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono/ANTARA/Genta Tenri Mawangi

JAKARTA - The TNI formed a fact-finding team (TPF) to investigate the crash of a helicopter belonging to the TNI Army type Bell 412 in Rancabali, Bandung, West Java.

TNI Commander Admiral Yudo Margono explained that the fact-finding team would investigate the cause of the helicopter crash.

"Of course, with the crash of the plane, we will check with the fact-finding team to check why it crashed, whether it was due to the weather, whether it was technical, and so on, of course later the team will check," said Yudo Margono as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, May 29.

The fact-finding team will work according to procedures to explore the cause of the fall of the Bell 412 helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Army in Rancabali, Sunday (28/5).

The Bell 412 TNI AD helicopter crashed in the Kampung Bayongbong area, Patenggang Village, Rancabali, Bandung, West Java, on Sunday at around 13.30 WIB, while supporting the pre-official exercise of the Infantry Battalion 300/Brajawijaya.

The helicopter, according to an official statement from the Indonesian Army Information Service, caught fire at the scene. However, there were no fatalities as a result of the incident, meaning the entire helicopter crew was five people, all of whom survived.

"The total number of five helicopters are safe, and only injured by the impact," said Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service Brigadier General Hamim Tohari as quoted from his written broadcast in Jakarta, Sunday.

Five helicopter crews were evacuated from the scene to the Dustira Hospital in Cimahi for treatment.

The helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Army was operated by the Army Aviation Center (Puspenerbad) in pre-official training, both in air mobilization and logistical support.

"The chronology and cause of the crash of the helicopter are still under investigation by the authorities. The Indonesian Army has sent an investigation team to handle the helicopter accident case," said Kadispenad.

The Bell 412 helicopter, which is the development of type Bell 212, is a multipurpose helicopter made by US company Bell Helicopter Textron. In Indonesia, Bell Textron collaborates with PT Dirgantara Indonesia to assemble 412 SP and 412 HP Bell helicopters.

Bell 412 helicopters in February 2023 also had an accident and crashed in Tamiai Village, Batang Merangin, Kerinci, Jambi, while transporting the Jambi Police Chief Inspector General Pol. Rusdi Hartono and his entourage.

All passengers and crew, with a total of eight people, survived and were successfully evacuated by the joint SAR team.