Bell 206 helicopter… Pilot’s error blew engine“As Chief of Staff, I have nothing to say about the helicopter…talk to your sources”—says Gary Best



The helicopter that had its turbine engine blown up on June 14, yesterday landed at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after engineers managed to fully repair the damaged turbine engine.
It was later flown to Camp Ayanganna.
This newspaper was reliably informed that, on June 14 last, the pilot burned the engine trying to start it without turning on the fuel, and later with a dead battery.
A senior engineer told this newspaper that when an engine burns and a turbine is damaged during a hanging start, miss-start or over temping of the engine, that leads to engine turbine damage and can be a catalyst to damage other equipment and cause other component failures.
The source continued that when the engine temperature is racing away during a start, the responsibility is always the pilot’s to abort the start and avoid engine damage, since the turbine engine is very sensitive. Further, it must be noted that turbine engine damage is always due to pilot error, he said.
“It flew for approximately 100 hours over the ocean from Texas to Guyana, and almost 4,000 miles and 40 stops with no problems…Why now?”
Meanwhile, Leader of the main opposition party, the PNCR, Robert Corbin, said that news of the most recent helicopter fiasco, “Is no surprise,” and illustrates the incompetence of the Administration.
Meanwhile, Chief of Staff of the Guyana Defence Force, Commodore Gary Best, says that the Kaieteur News article which stated that the turbine on the recently purchased Bell 206 had ‘blown up’ was erroneous and was irresponsible journalism; and on that note, “as Chief of Staff, I have nothing to say about the helicopter…talk to your sources.”
This newspaper, however, is adamant that its story is accurate and stands by its article.
On Sunday, Kaieteur News reported that, on June 14, one of the two Bell 206 helicopters recently bought by the Guyana Government blew up at Tacama, and the craft had to remain there until it was finally repaired.
According to reports, an examination revealed that the turbine had exploded, rendering the aircraft useless and causing it to be parked.
The authorities imported a new turbine but they failed to get the aircraft operational.
On Friday last, yet another part was brought in, which managed to have the down chopper repaired.
Eyewitnesses say that during the explosion there was an extremely large fire. The fault was traced to the fuel control.
There have been criticisms of the helicopter from numerous quarters, with some contending that the money spent on the two helicopters, some US$1.5 million, could have bought a brand new craft and a used helicopter.
When this newspaper first reported that one of the Bell 206 helicopters was down, Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon, had said that it was not the Bell 206 but the Bell 412 which had some problem with its blade tracking mechanisms.
The PNCR has long announced that, “Clearly, the purchase of the two Bell 206 has not made an impact on the crime situation in Guyana.”
This comment was made by Corbin in light of the recent brazen attacks, such as the one on the East La Penitence Police Station, the shooting to death of Arjune Narine on Middleton Street, as well as the attempted bombing of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
During the recent shootout with Police and suspected bandits aback of North Ruimveldt, and subsequently in Eccles, residents questioned why the helicopter was not in use, given that the area was pitch black and the helicopter is touted as being capable of being able to light half of a football field as well as its having infra-red surveillance capabilities.
Following the purchase of the helicopters, the Government came in for heavy criticism regarding the type of helicopter that was purchased, and Dr Luncheon had asked the public to wait and give the ‘copters some time to prove their worth.
One of the more prominent critics of the purchase was Captain Gerry Gouveia, who heads the Roraima Airways.
The Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo, had lashed out at Captain Gouveia’s comment that the choppers were not suitable for crime fighting because of their limited capacity to carry troops.
The President told the operatives of Government Information Agency (GINA) that, “One should understand the reason for purchasing the helicopters.” This, he said, was mainly for surveillance. “I think the comment that the helicopters are not for crime fighting because they have limited capacity to carry people is a silly one. You have to understand crime fighting in different ways; it is not just transporting troops. It is also about surveillance. It is about ensuring you have visibility, you can track people.”
Gouveia who is the Managing Director of Roraima Airways, in the April 5 edition of the Stabroek News, had said that the helicopters may have been a waste of taxpayers’ money and that they have limited capacity to transport troops and were unsuited for crime fighting.
The President reiterated that the helicopters were bought for crime fighting and this is what they will play a part in.
“The objective was more surveillance-type equipment which could move limited numbers of people, but it’s the surveillance that you need, so you can keep in touch with ground forces from the helicopters and track people.”
Dr Luncheon told media operatives that the helicopters which have been purchased at a cost of US$1.5M would be capable of seating four persons along with the pilot and are efficient for search and rescue as well as surveillance.
According to Luncheon, probably the most impressive capability of the helicopters will be the fact that they will be equipped with infra-red capability, which can be used to detect the warmth of a human body in dense terrain such as Guyana’s jungle.
According to Corbin, the only surveillance that the helicopters were observed doing was during his protest march.
The Alliance For Change has already placed on record that it intends to scrutinise the purchase of the helicopters in the highest forum of the land, namely the National Assembly.
In a previous interview with this newspaper, AFC Chairman Khemraj Ramjattan said that relevant questions will be posed in the National Assembly in relation to the recent purchase of two helicopters for the crime fight.
He noted that the clarifications by the party will surround the procurement circumstances and the technical advice solicited by the Government which led to the purchase of two Bell 206 B3 Jet Ranger helicopters.
Regarding the efficiency with which the choppers will be able to tackle the crime scourge, Ramjattan said that the party was still in the process of consulting with engineers, among other technical personnel, on the helicopter.
Among the characteristics listed for the Bell 206 B III Jet Ranger are a useful flying range (full fuel) of 365 nautical miles (676 km) with a cruising speed of 115 knots (133 mph) and a fuel burn rate of 125 litres per hour.
Sources close to the downed helicopter say that, prior to its arrival in Guyana, the helicopter had been flown for some 9,900 hours and it was operated by a Japanese Police Dept. for reconnaissance, surveillance and patrol activities, among other things, for many years.
Government bought two helicopters to aid in the crime fight and to supplement the ailing large Bell 412, which has, in recent times, been spending more time on the ground than in the air.

Suh, wha happen to the other two helicopters, the other 206 and 412?

Like Guysuco using dem to spray the canefields or wha?

Is Gary Best title still Chief of Staff or Chief Bamsie?

What was this helicopter KA-BOOM a secret for over a month?? Kaiteur News will be next to be banned for letting out this secret that has Chief Bamsie getting hemroids!

Commodore Best is at his worst when he, like Jagdeo (birds of one feather), gets cornered and doesn't know how to answer a question.

Rohee is another one! He either has no information, no knowledge or no comment on crimes. Yet he gets up and give long-winded speeches; he feels more comfortable when he does not have to answer questions or else he sticke his feet in his mouth. Both feet in both mouths sometimes.