Pakistan International Airlines Flight 17

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Pakistan International Airlines Flight 17
PIA helicopter Dacca.jpg
A Sikorsky S-61N, similar to the accident helicopter
Accident
Date2 February 1966
SummaryMechanical failure
SiteNear Faridpur, East Pakistan
Aircraft
Aircraft type Sikorsky S-61N
Operator Pakistan International Airlines
Registration AP-AOC
Flight origin Dacca, East Pakistan
Destination Faridpur Heliport, Faridpur, East Pakistan
Occupants24
Passengers21
Crew3
Fatalities23
Survivors1

On 2 February 1966, Pakistan International Airlines Flight 17, a Sikorsky S-61N operating a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Dacca to Faridpur in East Pakistan, [a] crashed near Faridpur whilst on final approach to its heliport, killing all 3 crew members and 20 of the 21 passengers.

Contents

Background

Aircraft and crew

The aircraft involved was a Sikorsky S-61N registered as AP-AOC. [1] Onboard the aircraft were 24 occupants, including 21 passengers and 3 crew members. [2] The three crew members included 34-year-old Captain Shamsul Alam, [3] 30-year-old First Officer Nurur Rahman, [4] and 22-year-old flight attendant Ayub. [5] Both pilots were properly trained and certificated. [1]

Flight route

Flight 17 was a scheduled domestic flight from Dacca to Faridpur, East Pakistan. [1] After landing in Faridpur, the aircraft was then scheduled to fly to Kushtia, [6] from which it would fly to Rajshahi. [2] The flight from Dacca to Faridpur was meant to take 22 minutes; the flight from Faridpur to Kushtia was meant to take 20 minutes. [6]

Accident

On 2 February 1966, the aircraft, operating a scheduled domestic flight from Dacca to Faridpur, East Pakistan, took off at 14:03 local time. Within 15 minutes, an oil leak had started from an external pipe connected to the main gearbox. The flight continued on, relaying at 14:18:32 that they left the control zone and reporting at 14:19 that they were in contact with Faridpur Heliport, being 25 nautical miles (46 km) out and flying at 500 feet (150 m). After crossing the Padma River, the sole survivor noticed that an oil leak was visible in the passenger cabin. Around 3 miles (4,800 m) away from Faridpur, one of the helicopter's retreating blades was struck by a vulture; despite the collision, the flight continued normally and prepared for final approach to the heliport. The helicopter was flying at an altitude of 300 feet (91 m) with a speed not more than 90 knots (170 km/h) with its landing gear extended, when it experienced a loss of power to the main transmission, despite both engines running normally. The pilot corrected the resulting turn to the left, then the helicopter turned 90º and continued rolling and rocking in a steep, uncontrolled descent. At 14:23, the helicopter crashed into the ground with its nose low and a banking of 30º to the right. Witnesses reported seeing white rotor smoke under the rotorhead. [1] A fire subsequently broke out, [7] and heavy smoke was also being produced. [6] Passenger Muhammad Abdul Mannan managed to escape shortly after the crash and was taken to the by farmers working in rice fields. [7] [6] Taken to Faridpur Hospital, his condition was described as satisfactory and "out of danger". [8] He did not sustain injuries. [1] All the other occupants remained trapped in the aircraft, and the fire eventually consumed the cockpit and the main cabin. [7] All 3 crew members and 20 of the 21 passengers were killed. [1]

Investigation

On the same day, Asghar Khan, the Chief Administrator of Civil Aviation, ordered an investigation into the crash. PIA issued a press release stating that Khan and a Civil Aviation and PIA investigating team were leaving for Dacca the following morning. [9]

The accident was attributed to the disengagement of the left and right spur gear teeth in the main transmission, caused by the load imposed by the failure of the gearbox's rear sleeve bearing journals. The rear sleeve bearing failure was caused by an oil leak, although evidence was destroyed by fire and the source of the leak was not established. [10]

Notes

  1. ↑ Now Bangladesh

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 ICAO 1970, p. 32.
  2. 1 2 "23 die in helicopter crash". The Pakistan Observer . Vol. 17, no. 319. 3 February 1966. p. 1.
  3. ↑ "Capt. S. Alam". The Pakistan Observer . Vol. 17, no. 319. 3 February 1966. p. 1.
  4. ↑ "Flt Officer Rahman". The Pakistan Observer . Vol. 17, no. 319. 3 February 1966. p. 1.
  5. ↑ "The day will never come". The Pakistan Observer . Vol. 17, no. 320. 4 February 1966. p. 10.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "বাংলাদেশী প্রতিমন্ত্রী এম এ মান্নান: ৫২ বছর আগে হেলিকপ্টার দুর্ঘটনায় একা বেঁচে গিয়েছিলেন যিনি" [Bangladeshi State Minister M.A. Mannan: The lone survivor of a helicopter crash 52 years ago] (in Bengali). BBC Bangla . Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  7. 1 2 3 ICAO 1970, p. 33.
  8. ↑ "P. I. A. Press Release" (PDF) (Press release). Karachi, Pakistan: Pakistan International Airlines. 2 February 1966. pp. 846–847. Retrieved 22 January 2026– via National Assembly of Pakistan.
  9. ↑ "Enquiry". The Pakistan Observer . Vol. 17, no. 319. Karachi, Pakistan. 3 February 1966 [2 February 1966]. p. 1.
  10. ↑ UK CAA Document CAA 429 World Airline Accident Summary

Sources


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