NTSB Press Release
National Transportation Safety Board
Office of Public Affairs
NTSB ASSISTS GOVERNMENT OF KOREA IN AVIATION ACCIDENT
July 20, 2008
The National Transportation Safety Board has dispatched a team of investigators to assist the government of Korea in its investigation of yesterday's crash of a Korean- registered Sikorsky S-92A helicopter equipped with General Electric engines.
At approximately 5:20 p.m. local time on July 19, the helicopter experienced a hard landing after colliding with trees and other ground obstacles while attempting a precautionary landing on a nearby helipad due to weather. The helicopter was consumed by a post-crash fire.
Of the 16 persons onboard the helicopter, preliminary reports indicate that 3 persons suffered severe injuries and 7 suffered minor injuries. There are no reported injuries on the ground.
NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker has designated senior investigator Bill English as the U.S. Accredited Representative. His team will include an NTSB helicopter operations specialist, as well as technical advisors from the Federal Aviation Administration, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, and General Electric.
The investigation is being conducted by the Korean Aviation and Railway Accident Investigation Board (KARAIB) of the Ministry of Construction and Transportation which will release all information on the progress of the investigation. The agency's phone number in Korea is (82) 2 6096-1030 and the agency website is http://www.araib.go.kr.
NTSB Media Contact:
Bridget Serchak
(202)314-6100
Bridget.serchak@ntsb.gov
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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent federal agency charged with determining the probable cause
of transportation accidents, promoting transportation safety, and assisting victims of transportation accidents and their families.
