By A Correspondent

The helicopter crash in Masvingo on Sunday has brought to light troubling issues related to the aircraft model used, revealing a decade-long history of safety problems.

The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, which crashed shortly after takeoff from Masvingo Airport on Sunday while en route to collect President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has a history of incidents that casts doubt on its reliability for critical operations.

The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, commonly used for both civilian and military purposes, has faced persistent safety issues over the past ten years.

This latest incident, involving the helicopter’s crash while on a mission to pick up Zimbabwe’s President, underscores ongoing concerns about its safety record.

A Troubling Track Record

Several significant accidents have marred the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma’s reputation:

• CHC Scotia Flight 23R (August 23, 2013): This notorious crash occurred when a Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma, operating as CHC Scotia Flight 23R, went down in the sea while traveling from the Borgsten Dolphin drilling rig to the Shetland Islands. Four passengers were killed, and twelve others, including two crew members, were injured. An investigation by the UK’s Air Accident Investigation Branch attributed the crash to pilot error but also raised concerns about the helicopter’s operational safety and design flaws.
• Rotor Blade Damage: In a separate incident, a Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma experienced significant damage to its rotor blades. Though not immediately dangerous, this damage compromised the blades’ stiffness, increasing the risk of “blade sail” upon shutdown—a potentially catastrophic condition if not addressed.
• Main Rotor Gearbox Failure: Another incident involved the failure of the Main Rotor Gearbox in an Aerospatiale (Eurocopter) AS332 L2 Super Puma, attributed to a fatigue fracture of a second-stage planet gear. This failure exposed vulnerabilities in the helicopter’s gearbox design, raising serious concerns among aviation safety experts.

Questions About Presidential Travel

Given the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma’s problematic safety history, its use for presidential transport is now under scrutiny. The crash in Masvingo has intensified calls for a review of the safety protocols governing high-profile travel and for reconsidering the use of this particular helicopter model.

An aviation safety expert commented, “The Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma has a well-documented history of mechanical issues and operational risks. Its use for presidential transport is worrying, especially when more reliable alternatives are available.”

Ongoing Investigation and Public Outcry

The Zimbabwean Air Force and relevant authorities have initiated an investigation into the crash, which has sparked public outcry.

There are increasing demands for a comprehensive review of all presidential transport procedures and a halt to the use of the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma for high-level government operations.

As the investigation unfolds, the crash is being viewed not just as an isolated tragic event but as indicative of broader issues with the safety standards of Zimbabwe’s official transport services.

The spotlight on the Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma’s troubled history may prompt a critical reassessment of the decisions affecting the safety of the nation’s leaders, highlighting the need for more stringent safety measures.