Seven people lost their lives on Wednesday, August 19, after a helicopter crashed at Mt. Ololokwe in Samburu county, with no survivors among those on board.
Witnesses reported seeing the helicopter lose altitude before plunging into a steep valley, with the impact sparking a fire and sending thick smoke into the sky.
The incident was confirmed by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA), identifying the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC130 B4 bearing registration 5Y-GYM.
According to KCAA, the helicopter had departed from Loisaba and was en route to Ewasonyiro when it went down at approximately 0913 hrs local time.
A subsequent police report indicated the aircraft, known by the name Lady Lorry, had taken off from Soyian in Laikipia and was bound for Loisaba Conservancy before the crash.
Victims Of The Crash
All seven occupants perished in the accident.
They were identified as Josh Outran, who served as the pilot, alongside passengers Roger Duarte, Adam Navaty, Stephen Vasconquez, Henry Parra, Michael Contugi, and Suian Suarez, the sole woman on board.
Who Owns The Aircraft?
The aircraft has been linked to Lady Lori Helicopters. According to aviation data from Global Air, the EC130 B4 is a single-engine light utility helicopter originally developed by Eurocopter and subsequently carried under the Airbus Helicopters brand, where it is now catalogued as the Airbus H130.
The aircraft is powered by a Turbomeca Arriel 2D turbine engine and features a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system with an automatic back-up channel. It is also equipped with a vehicle and engine management display (VEMD), an Active Vibration Control System, advanced environmental controls, and backup hydraulics. One of its defining characteristics is the Fenestron shrouded tail rotor combined with automatic variable rotor speed control, which makes the EC130 B4 the quietest helicopter in its class, with a noise signature 6 dB below International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) limits.
The cabin interior was designed to seat up to seven occupants, with three seats beside the pilot and four at the rear, and can be configured for missions ranging from medical evacuation and tourism to private charter and business transport.
The cockpit is fitted with a Garmin G500H with Synthetic Vision System (SVS) and Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS). Production of the EC130 B4 ceased in 2015, with each unit priced at KSh 310.7 million (USD 2.4 million).
