Helicopter crash at Lake Turkana claims life of pilot and 4 Americans

[wabulabantu]

The pilot was the personal pilot of the Kenyan Vice President..

https://www.nation.co.ke/news/William-Ruto-pilot-Mario-Magonga-dies-Turkana-chopper-crash/1056-5007776-e83f9g/index.html

[Phone Wind]

Were they really flying single engine helicopters in the bush at night!
RIP to all the deceased

[B2N2]

No moonlight to speak of either.

https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/kenya/nairobi

Reason I checked is that full moon in Africa can be light enough to read a book and certainly able to avoid obstacles.
Alas.

[Phone Wind]

As far as I remember, helicopter night operations in Kenya are banned unless the pilot and aircraft are both licensed for IFR operations. The KCAA issued a warning to operators about flouting this rule 2 years ago when they were being used by a lot of politicians to fly to political rallies.

[Bell_ringer]

This must be one of the first accidents with a 505.
That funky panel and synthetic vision must be tempting for pushing the limits.

[wabulabantu]

It was the first 505 sold in Africa - Africair delivers first Bell 505 into Nairobi, Kenya - Africair, Inc. (http://www.africair.com/africair-delivers-first-bell-505-into-nairobi-kenya/)

[Raffles S.A.]

No pictures of the crash site. Will be interesting to see if there were obstacles.

[TWT]

Obstacles ?
A source at the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) told the Nation that the two choppers were taking the tourists to the Central Island.
"They were unable to land because that place is very hilly. We don't know why they were trying to access the island at night. One of the helicopters crashed as they attempted to find their way back to Lobolo,"


http://www.kws.go.ke/content/central-island-national-park

Central Island is made up of three active volcanoes that belch sulphurous smoke and steam

[Raffles S.A.]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6774241/Four-Americans-killed-Kenya-helicopter-crash-amid-bad-weather-trip-new-tour-company.html