TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Kalimantan-based aviation observer Syarif Usmulyani Alqadrie believed mechanical maintenance was behind the Airbus H130 PK-CFX helicopter crash in the Sekadau forest area in West Kalimantan. The incident killed all passengers on board, as well as the pilot and co-pilot, bringing the death toll to eight.
"We can rule out weather since based on footage and witness testimony, the weather was clear with no rain or extreme weather when the helicopter crashed," he said on Friday, April 17, 2026.
Syarif Usmulyani is the chair of the Indonesian Aviation Society (MTUI) for the West Kalimantan branch.
According to him, aviation accidents are generally attributed to five primary factors: human errors, weather, atmospheric disturbances such as wind shear, runway conditions, and mechanical maintenance.
The helicopter crashed after it departed from Melawi for Kubu Raya at around 8:34 a.m. Jakarta time. The last communication engaged before being reported lost contact was at around 10:40 a.m.
Based on initial analysis of circulating visual recordings, Syarif Usmulyani suspects a problem with the aircraft's main system, specifically the main rotor located in the center of the helicopter's fuselage.
"The helicopter did not appear to be freefalling, but was still attempting to land, which indicates possible mechanical failure, specifically the main rotor or propulsion system," he explained.
He added that the initial suspicion points to aspects of aircraft maintenance that require further investigation, including engine conditions, mechanical systems, and maintenance history prior to the flight.
Meanwhile, human factors only contribute around 10 percent to the incident, while the rest is dominated by technical and mechanical aspects," he said.
Syarif also underscored the lagging response after the helicopter was declared lost. "According to aviation standards, if a plane loses contact for five to ten minutes, it's a serious warning to relevant parties, such as AirNav. The response must be swift, but in this case, the plane was only discovered after more than two hours," he said.
He hopes the official investigation conducted by the relevant authorities will reveal the exact cause of the accident, including through reviewing aircraft components and available flight data.
"Everything must be reviewed thoroughly, from the technical side, the communications system, to emergency response procedures, to prevent recurring incidents," said Syarif Usmulyani.
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