The Ghana Air Force helicopter that crashed in August, killing eight people, met all maintenance and operational requirements but lacked several key modern safety systems that could have averted the tragedy, according to findings presented at the Presidency on Tuesday, November 11.
Captain Paul Fordjour, chair of the Accident Investigation Board, said the Z-9EH aircraft, acquired in 2015 and serviced according to schedule, was “in good working condition” before the flight.
“The aircraft was declared airworthy and duly signed off by both engineers and the captain,” he said.
However, the report revealed that the helicopter did not have a terrain awareness warning system, an enhanced ground proximity warning system, or an automatic flight control system. These, Fordjour said, would have “greatly enhanced situational awareness and reduced pilot workload.”
He noted that while the absence of these systems did not make the aircraft unfit to fly, it limited the crew’s ability to respond quickly to poor weather and mountainous terrain. “The crew had to manually fly the helicopter in low visibility, increasing cognitive load,” he said.
The board also confirmed that both the captain and co-pilot were fully qualified, having received FAA commercial and instrument ratings from the United States and re-categorised within the Air Force in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Their medical and psychological records showed no impairments.
The accident occurred when the crew, flying under visual flight rules, encountered worsening weather and entered heavy cloud conditions near Obuase. Despite attempts to regain visibility, the helicopter crashed in the Dampier Forest.
The investigators have urged the Defence Ministry to prioritise the acquisition of aircraft equipped with modern avionics, upgrade crew training on weather-based decision-making, and strengthen the Air Force’s safety oversight culture.
