HGP Nightly News – A helicopter crash investigation has raised serious questions about the co-pilot’s experience and readiness for the weather conditions that preceded the deadly accident.
According to the crash report, the 25-year-old co-pilot survived the crash but had limited flying experience and was not current for Instrument Flight Rules, known as IFR, at the time of the incident.
Investigators found that he had accumulated just 300 flying hours and had an expired instrument rating. The report also states that he was not certified to fly the Bell 412 EPi helicopter in instrument conditions.
That finding is significant because the aircraft later entered dense cloud over mountainous terrain, where pilots would have needed proper instrument training and certification to safely operate.
The report noted that although the Bell 412 EPi is a sophisticated aircraft capable of all-weather operations, the co-pilot had only minimal instrument training. Investigators also found that he had never completed an IFR check ride on that specific aircraft.
Before the crash, a Guyana Civil Aviation Authority examiner had reportedly warned that the crew was not ready for instrument operations.
At the time of the accident, the co-pilot was seated in the left seat and was serving as the Pilot Not Flying, meaning he was responsible for navigation and monitoring, while the captain was flying the helicopter.
The report states that the captain flew the aircraft into dense cloud over mountainous terrain. From there, investigators found, the situation deteriorated rapidly.
The co-pilot later told investigators that he has no memory of the crash itself. He said he only regained awareness moments later, standing outside the wreckage while the aircraft burned.
He survived with injuries after being pulled from the helicopter by another crew member.
The findings point to what investigators described as a dangerous gap between the conditions the crew encountered and their readiness to handle them.
In effect, the report suggests that the helicopter entered instrument conditions without a crew properly prepared or certified for that type of operation.
The crash report now places renewed focus on pilot training, crew readiness and whether the flight should have continued once visibility deteriorated.
