6 cheat death in chopper mishap

DAVAO CITY — Two military pilots and four crew members cheated death when the Philippine Air Force (PAF) helicopter they were taking on a test flight crashed yesterday morning on the runway of the Davao International Airport.

According to reports, the UH1H or Huey chopper with body number 716 crashed on Runway 05 of the airport at around 8:45 a.m.

The pilots, Air Force Capt. Matthew Ramillano and 1st Lt. Francis Imperial, and their crew members Sergeants Jing Santos, Rommel Villareal, Rocel Feleteo and Sofronio Rollen, escaped with minor injuries.

The six were able to jump out of the chopper that was reportedly already experiencing mechanical trouble.

They were rushed to nearby Davao Medical Center where doctors declared them out of danger.

Ramillano and Imperial, both of the PAF’s 206th Tactical Squadron, were sent to conduct a test flight on the UH1H helicopter in Davao City and started the flight mission at about 6 a.m.

Initial investigation by the PAF disclosed that the chopper took off smoothly before its engine started to malfunction.

According to Army Lt. Col. Danilo Servando, spokesman for the AFP Southern Command, Ramillano had radioed that they were at an altitude of 1,500 feet when he noticed the engine’s unusual reaction.

"So they decided to descend as the chopper rapidly went out of control," Servando said, quoting reports from the area.

The reports said the impact of landing caused minor bruises to the six on board.

Col. Antonio Bautista, commander of the tactical Operation’s Group 11, ruled out pilot error as cause of the crash.

No flights at the international airport here were affected by the crash as it occurred only on Runway 05, and airport personnel were immediately able to clear the area for incoming flights.

The crash of the vintage but still serviceable Huey yesterday further reduced the PAF’s fleet of choppers.

Air Transportation Office chief Adelberto Yap said the helicopter was a complete wreck after it hit the ground like "a stone that fell from the sky."

Yap said the helicopter malfunctioned when it exceeded its maximum revolution per minute, considering that its engine had already been "overused" for more than 20 years.

He recommended that all aircraft of the PAF be replaced by newer models, adding that "it would be a waste of good pilots and mechanics if the PAF continues to use them." –With Roel Pareño, Rey Arquiza