http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20101001-239968.html
> ASIAONE / NEWS / ASIAONE NEWS / SINGAPORE / STORY
Fri, Oct 01, 2010
my paper
Apache copter forced to land in HDB field
By Rachel Chan
MINDEF Apache crashes in Woodlands, Singapore
Click on thumbnail to view
For more photos, click here.
» RSAF suspends training
» Apache attack helicopter crashes
RESIDENTS of Woodlands Avenue 12 are used to the drone of military helicopters in their neighbourhood, but the next time they hear one, they would probably stop in their tracks to take a closer look.
Some who did so yesterday afternoon got a big surprise - an Apache copter broke into two parts when it made an emergency landing in an open field near the Housing Board estate.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft, an AH-64, was on a routine maintenance flight when it encountered engine problems and was forced to land in the field, which is a five-minute walk from a primary school and about a dozen blocks of flats.
No one was hurt and no civilian property was damaged, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) in a statement.
The two pilots also escaped unhurt. They had chosen to make the emergency landing at about 3.30pm in the field between Woodlands Avenue 12 and Woodlands Drive 64, away from buildings and populated areas, said Mindef.
Less than four hours later, the damaged aircraft was hoisted onto special transport vehicles deployed to remove it. The helicopter was taken back to Sembawang Air Base at about 8pm.
Business consultant Quintus Ong, 44, was driving when he saw the copter descend rapidly from the direction of Gambas Avenue. He took photos of it with his phone and sent them to citizen-journalism website, Stomp.
He told my paper: "It seemed the pilots were looking for the best spot to land. The main blades on top were spinning very slowly and the tail section was much lower than the nose, by about 30 degrees."
Upon impact, the copter's tail broke off and landed some distance away from the main body. Mindef said that the tail section of the helicopter was damaged during the landing.
The site of the incident is near Sembawang Air Base, where Apache helicopters are believed to be parked. A forested training area is situated just across the road from the field.
Some residents, such as IT professional Susie Rajoo, 30, were worried about their safety.
"I wonder whether the distance the aircraft keep (from civilian buildings) is enough."
In a comment posted on Stomp, Justice4You wrote: "The main thing is that the pilots managed to crash-land it in an open field. That itself is commendable.
"Another miracle is that no lives were lost, which we must acknowledge as an effort well-done. As to whose fault it was, let Mindef conduct its own investigations."
RSAF said that it would be suspending all training involving Apache copters.
Training involving the Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters, which have similar engines as those of the Apache AH-64 copters, will also be put on hold, Mindef said in a statement last night.
[email protected]
:oIo:
