Following the accident at the Ramon base on Monday, August 7, 2017, in which Major (res.) David (Dudi) Zahar, 43, was killed and Lieutenant Ohn was critically injured, a wide team of experts, led by Colonel A. probed the fatal accident and prepared the final report, which was submitted to IAF Commander Major-General Amikam Norkin.

The experts’ research has been conducted extensively over the past five months, with the participation of the Boeing Company, the US Army and in consultation with civilian experts, to present the final report.

In addition, following the recommendation of the second interim report presented on September 24, 2017, the Apache system returned to operational activity in the IAF and carried out operational attacks in Gaza after completing all the necessary actions to restore it to operational status.

The final report corroborates the initial findings in the interim reports that the helicopter team identified a failure in the helicopter’s steering ability.

This type of failure does not allow landing on the ground, and therefore forced the crew to return to an emergency landing at the base on an airway.

The team, which carried out a mission in which Major Zahar guided Lieutenant Ohn, flew the helicopter in complicated conditions at night and managed to bring him to land in the base area. Zahar was killed, but managed to land at the base and allow the optimal and immediate treatment of Lt. Ohn by rescue forces.

Lieutenant Ohn returned to the Air Force two weeks ago after he was in critical condition in a hospital and underwent a rehabilitation process during this period.

From the conclusions of the report it is possible to determine the direct cause of the accident: the steering column was not installed properly, resulting in a loosening that led to erosion of the rod and its disconnection during the flight.

This caused the helicopter to turn sharply to the left and the crew lost control of tail rotor steering.

The scarcity and uniqueness of the problem led to the staff’s difficulty in diagnosing and operating it.

The instructions for installing the steering rods and components in the Apache helicopters were updated according to the findings of the investigation and will be embedded in the IAF’s technical system.

In addition, a training program was developed for air crews in the Apache system, which gathers all the insights formulated by the team of experts, which will be transferred to all the air teams in the system.

IAF Commander Major-General Amikam Norkin received the final report and his recommendations, and instructed him on measures to improve the training and qualification processes for technicians qualified for steering systems in general, and to improve the level of training for emergency situations in the helicopter fleet In flight and to examine a series of technological developments to improve flight safety.

The commander of the IAF noted that the crew’s performance in this complicated situation, in which Major Zahar managed to fly the helicopter to land at the base.

He also noted the inspiring rehabilitation process that Lt. Ohn underwent until he returned to service in the IAF.

The summary report was presented to families.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)