Over a period of just nine days, three of the Army's helicopters crashed in Kaeng Krachan National Park, Phetchaburi, plunging the nation into a state of shock at the tragic accidents that claimed 17 lives.
The first accident took place on July 16 and involved a UH-1H helicopter, known as a Huey. The crash happened in bad weather and poor visibility. All five officers on board perished. The rescue team found the charred wreckage at the crash site, about 10 metres below the mountaintop.
The crashed helicopter was refurbished following its decommission from the United States before being deployed in the Army's aviation service about 10 years ago.
Manufactured by Bell Helicopter, the Huey is a utility helicopter with twin engine, one two-blade main rotor and one two-blade tail rotor.
Its fuselage can accommodate up to 14 troops or six stretchers for medical evacuation. Its flight range is 512 kilometres and its airborne time is three hours. Cruise speed is 204 kilometres per hour.
In the second accident, a UH-60L, known as Black Hawk, went down on July 19, killing eight officers and one television cameraman on board. The utility helicopter crashed in bad weather and poor visibility while on a mission to recover the five bodies from the first accident.
The Black Hawk is ranked as one of the top ten helicopters in military service around the world. The Army began to deploy Black Hawks in 2002. The crash leaves six in deployment at the Army's Lop Buri Aviation Centre. Two new Black Hawks are on order and the Army plans to increase the deployment to 33 UH-60 helicopters.
Manufactured by Silorsky Aircraft Corporation, the Black Hawk has the capacity to transport 14 troops or six stretchers or lift 4,400 kilograms of cargo.
Its flight radius is 592 kilometres with a cruise speed of 278 kilometres per hour. It is a four bladed, twin engine, medium-lift utility helicopter.
In the third accident, a Bell 212 crashed on July 24 while on its way for maintenance checks after completing its mission to transport the nine bodies in the second crash. Of the four officers on board, one mechanic survived to recount the malfunction of the tail rotor.
The Bell 212, or Twin Huey, is a two-bladed, twin-engine, medium helicopter manufactured by Bell Helicopter.
Deployed in the Army since 1992, it has the capacity to transport 14 troops with a cruise speed of 186 kilometres per hour. Its flight range is 439 kilometres.
UH-1H, Huey, helicopter
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
Status: Refurbished and in commission for 10 years
Specifications
Capacity: 14
Length: 12.5 metres
Height: 4.4m
Maximum takeoff weight: 4,308 kilograms
Performance
Maximum speed: 204 kilometres per hour
Cruise speed: 204km per hour
Range: 512km
UH-60L, Black Hawk, helicopter
Manufacturer: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Status: new and commissioned in 2002
Specifications
Capacity: 14
Length: 19.76 metres
Height: 5.13m
Maximum takeoff weight: 10,660 kilograms
External cargo load: 4,400 kg
Performance
Maximum speed: 295km per hour
Cruise speed: 278km per hour
Range: 2,200km
Bell 212, Twin Huey, helicopter
Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
Status: new and commissioned in 1992
Specifications
Capacity: 14
Length: 17.43metres
Height: 3.83m
Maximum takeoff weight: 5.080kg
External cargo load: 2,268kg
Performance
Maximum speed: 223 km per hour
Cruise speed: 186 km per hour
Range: 439 km
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