A Bell 429 helicopter, registered PK-WSW, was being operated by PT Whitesky Aviation in several helipads to serve the operation of the mining company of Indonesia Weda Bay Industrial Park (IWIP) in Halmahera area. The daily activity of the helicopter operation was centralized at the Kaorahai Helipad and controlled by the Helicopter Landing Officer (HLO).

On 20 February 2024, at 0239 UTS (1139 LT), the helicopter took off from Weda Bay Airport to Kaorahai Helipad and landed safely at 1152 LT. Subsequently, the helicopter conducted four flights to helipads for the mining operation uneventful.

The helicopter then continued a series of flights and at 1244 LT, the helicopter took off from the Kaorahai Helipad to Jiguru Helipad with 6 passengers. At 1252 LT, the helicopter landed at Jiguru Helipad and 5 passengers disembarked

At 1255 LT, the helicopter took off from Jiguru Helipad to Pinto East Helipad and carried 2 passengers. At 1301 LT, the helicopter arrived at Pinto East Helipad to disembark 1 passenger.

At 1304 LT, the helicopter took off from Pinto East Helipad to Kaorahai Helipad. Onboard this flight were two pilots and one passenger. About 2 minutes after departure, the Helicopter Deck Assitance (HDA) who assisted in the departure of the helicopter heard an explosion but was unable to identify the source of the sound. At the same time, the rain started and the visibility degraded significantly. Afterward, the HDA in Pinto East Helipad contacted the HLO in Kaorahai Helipad to inform that the helicopter had departed and to monitor whether the helicopter safely landed in Kaorahai Helipad.

At 1316 LT, the operator flight following indicated that the helicopter was inactive and the helicopter was considered missing. Subsequently, the search and rescue mission was activated.

On 21 February 2024 at 0955 LT, the helicopter was found in the rain forest about 1.5 Nm on radial 350 from Pinto East helipad, at the coordinate of 00 37’ 19.9” N; 128 06’ 30.6” E at an elevation of about 2,900 feet above mean sea level. All occupants were fatally injured.

The KNKT launched the ICAO Annex 13 investigation and forwarded a Notification to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) of the United States of America and Transportation Safety Board (TSB) Canada inviting participation in the investigation. NTSB and TSB appointed Accredited Representative and Advisers.

At the time of issuing this Preliminary Report, the KNKT had not been informed of any safety actions resulting from this occurrence and KNKT issued safety recommendation for the safety issue identified in the course of the investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. Should further safety issues emerge during the course of the investigation, KNKT will bring the issues to the attention of the relevant parties and issue safety recommendation(s) as required.