KUALA LUMPUR – The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia has suspended all flight operations involving Blackshape aircraft models.
In a statement, CAAM chief executive officer Datuk Norazman Mahmud said the suspension, which takes effect tomorrow, involves the BS 115, BK 160, BK 160-200, and BK 160TR models operating in Malaysian airspace.
It stated that the suspension is in accordance with the European Union Aviation Safety Agency’s Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD).
“The issuance of the EAD by EASA was prompted by recent fatal accidents involving Blackshape aircraft, highlighting significant safety concerns,” Norazman said.
“CAAM is committed to prioritising aviation safety in Malaysia and will take all necessary actions to ensure the safe operation of flights.”
This comes after the Blackshape Gabriél BK160TR with the registration mark of I-POOC, which crashed in Kapar on February 13, was found to have exceeded its maximum take-off weight of 850kg by some 8.4% (71.3kg).
In the preliminary report released by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) last week, the aircraft’s actual total weight exceeded the maximum take-off weight limitation by approximately 8.4% for the accident flight.
The report took into account that there was no luggage taken onboard and no significant change in the weight of either the pilot or passenger since the time that their weights were recorded.
Meanwhile, the report also confirmed eyewitness accounts that the aircraft broke up mid-flight.
AAIB also concluded that the pilot was endorsed by the test pilot of the BK 160TR from Blackshape S.p.A, the manufacturer of the aircraft, to operate the BK 160TR, but not certified to instruct on the BK 160TR.
As for the 42-year old passenger and student pilot, he had never flown on the BK 160TR before the crash.
“Based on available history and physical examinations, the pilot and passenger had no known medical conditions that could pose significant hazards to flight safety,” according to AAIB.
The remains of the crash’s two victims, pilot Daniel Yee Hsiang Khoon, 31, and co-pilot Roshaan Singh Raina, 43, were found in the aircraft’s cockpit at a depth of 5ft in the ground at an oil palm plantation in Kg Tok Muda, Kapar.
The post-mortem found that both victims died due to multiple injuries from the plane crash. – March 19, 2024