Description

On 26 August 2003, at night, a Eurocopter EC155, operated by Hong Kong Government Flying Service (GFS), performing a casualty evacuation mission (casevac), impacted the elevated terrain in Tung Chung Gap near Hong Kong International airport.

Synopsis

The following is an extract from the official accident Report published by the Accident Investigation Division of the Civil Aviation Department, Hong Kong:

“There was evidence to suggest that the pilot carried out a pre-flight briefing in the GFS flight planning room, but there was no evidence of any communication at that time or subsequently between the pilot and aircrewman that addressed the manner in which the flight was to be conducted. Both crewmembers proceeded independently to the helicopter and it was clear from the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) that at the time of manning the aircraft […] the pilot was not aware of the casevac destination.”

The flight plan was filed via Silvermine pass but the pilot decided to fly via Tung Chung Gap which, according to the Report, “was marginally more direct”.

“The weather forecast and Meteorological Aerodrome Report (METAR) at HKIA [Hong Kong Int’l Airport] were within GFS limits for single pilot flight at night over low-lying terrain and sea, but there was no precise information available concerning the weather conditions over Tung Chung Gap”.

After take off, the crew observed what seemed to be fair visibility conditions over Tung Chung Gap and proceeded according to the changed flight plan. Subsequently, in the gap the crew encountered low visibility conditions due to low cloud.